Belgrade – The Office for Cooperation with Civil Society calls on local self-governmental units and their crisis staffs to base their relations and cooperation with associations and other civil society organizations on a partnership basis during the state of emergency and the combat against the spread of the coronavirus infection.

The Office recommends that local self-governments and civil society organizations operating in local communities "cooperate and coordinate their activities with each other, guided by all the measures and decisions of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, central crisis staffs and recommendations of the competent authorities."

In this regard, the Office particularly emphasizes the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the support of particularly vulnerable categories of citizens by introducing movement permits during the curfew for providers of home assistance and personal assistance services, a special platform for volunteer registration and the potential mechanisms that enable civil society to act during the state of emergency.

The Office recalls that "in the current circumstances in which we all face serious life-and-health challenges, civil society, as in previous similar situations, has put its capacity at  our disposal and shown a willingness to contribute to the overcoming of the current situation as easily as possible, and we call for their recognition and inclusion".

The Office is fully available to local self-governments and other governmental bodies, as well as to civil society, for all the activities within its scope that would be in the interest of protecting the citizens.

Source: Office for Cooperation with Civil Society and the Coordination Body