Zoom forum of the Igman Initiative about the realization of the CARE project in Croatia
AN IMPORTANT AND USEFUL PROJECT
On November 11, 2020, the Igman Initiative forum dedicated to the realization of the CARE project was held in Croatia. The project “CARE” – Contribution to the access of refugees and IDPs to employment rights and opportunities” in Croatia was recognized by the forum participants as important and useful in other efforts and measures implemented in the country in the framework of refugee care.
In addition to representatives of the Igman Initiative, the conference was attended by representatives of the Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing Care, the Civil Rights Project (PGP), Sisak, Dvor Municipality, the Serbian National Council, project beneficiary Milan Durman, as well as representatives of other civil society organizations and media from Croatia. During the discussion, it was pointed out that the project achieved full and quality cooperation between relevant actors from the public and civil sector: the Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing, UNHCR, the Serbian National Council, civil society organizations of the Civil Rights Project, Sisak and others. The participants of the forum saw the project as a something that ensured the continuity of dealing with the topic of refugees and returnees, as a continuation of all that seems to have been dealt with by civil society organizations in the last 25 years in Croatia, especially in the status of persons and families who fled to the other countries of the region (Serbia, Montenegro and BIH). During the discussion at the forum, it was pointed out that despite the significant percentage of returnee families who are provided with housing, both from the funds of the Republic of Croatia and with the help of various projects and funds provided from outside (EU funds and donations), the issue of allocating apartments to a number of families whose tenancy rights have been confirmed still persists, because according to the information of the representative of the Central State Office for Reconstruction and Housing, there is a lack of financial resources for the complete fulfillment of the state’s obligations. It was especially emphasized that all measures, projects and interventions that are planned and implemented towards Serb returnees, should be implemented in cooperation with the Serbian National Council as an institutional structure that knows the problems and represents the interests of this social group. The recommendations below are taken from the discussion at the forum.