Belgrade, 9 February 2026 — The Government of the Republic of Serbia and the United Nations in Serbia signed today the Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2026–2030, setting the strategic direction of their partnership over the next five years.The launch event brought together Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić, Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović, and UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Matilde Mordt, along with representatives of government institutions and the United Nations Country Team.The Cooperation Framework represents the collective contribution of the United Nations system in Serbia to national priorities through policy support, technical expertise and partnerships.The framework focuses on three strategic priorities:supporting Serbia’s transition towards a greener, more resilient and more competitive economy,investing in people through stronger health, education and social protection systems that respond to demographic change, andstrengthening institutions, the rule of law, human rights and civic trust as foundations of inclusive and sustainable progress.The new cooperation cycle builds on Serbia’s progress in recent years, including digital transformation, economic resilience, and improvements in health, education and social inclusion, while supporting responses to demographic trends, climate and environmental risks, and inclusive governance.Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić emphasized Serbia’s commitment to international cooperation and the United Nations system:“The signing of this Cooperation Framework represents the strongest confirmation of Serbia’s commitment to multilateralism and to the role of the United Nations as a cornerstone of the international order. The framework connects Serbia’s national priorities with global sustainable development goals and reflects our shared commitment to solidarity, responsibility and inclusive progress,” said Minister Đurić. Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership:“For Serbia, the United Nations remains the most important international organization. The goals of this Cooperation Framework are closely linked to Serbia’s European path, as reforms are not only about meeting standards, but about improving the quality of life for all citizens,” said Minister Starović. UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Matilde Mordt highlighted the importance of partnership in shaping the next phase of cooperation:“This Cooperation Framework reflects a shared vision for Serbia’s future — one where economic transformation, strong institutions and investment in people move forward together. The United Nations is proud to work alongside the Government of Serbia and partners across society to support solutions that strengthen resilience, expand opportunities and improve everyday life for people across the country,” said Mordt. The Cooperation Framework aligns Serbia’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with its European Union accession process, supporting reforms that advance sustainable growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.Developed through consultations with government institutions, civil society, development partners and the private sector, the framework will guide the work of the United Nations system in Serbia through 2030.  Full remarks from the launch of the Cooperation Framework are available here.
 

“Stefan is a cheerful, positive child who has always wanted to have friends and spend time with others. With the help of the communicator, his confidence has grown, his desire to socialise has increased, and so has other people’s willingness to spend time with him. Stefan’s life is now easier. And so is our life together with him,” says Marija, Stefan’s eldest sister.Stefan is twelve years old and attends the sixth grade at Primary School “Mića Stojković” in Umčari. We meet him during a music class. Amid the hum of children’s voices, one voice stands out: “Good morning. I’m Stefan.” The class replies in unison, “Hi, Stefi. How are you feeling today?”Stefan received “his voice” a year ago. Until then, there was a silence that was difficult for everyone to accept. “We realised very early on that there was a developmental delay. He was 14 months old when he first went to a health facility, to the Clinic for Neurology and Child Psychiatry, and at that time we expected that he would start speaking. However, speech did not develop, but his understanding did. He used natural gestures and a few simple words. ‘Mama’ was the first word to appear, and for a long time that was the only word he could say. Later came ‘yes’ and ‘no’,” explains Marija.When Stefan started school, new challenges emerged. Gestures and nodding were no longer enough for his family, teachers and classmates to understand his needs, wishes and interests.“We needed help, some form of support, to be able to establish two-way communication with him,” says Marija. Support came from the school, through Jovana Savic, a school speech therapist who has worked with children for ten years and in this role for the past four. She met Stefan at the beginning of the third grade. “I quickly understood that he has a lot to say, but that spoken words cannot come out, and that a communicator enables him to express himself in a way that works for him. When it was time for him to move from the fourth to the fifth grade, I decided to contact the Grocka Municipal Intersectoral Committee to request approval for the device. They connected us with the ‘Mara Mandic’ Resource Centre in Pancevo, who felt it would be better to approach the closer ‘Radivoj Popovic’ Resource Centre in Zemun. They scheduled an assessment, where it was determined that Stefan was a candidate for a communicator, which was ultimately provided through the Resource Centre in Kragujevac. So this was a broad network of different institutions working together, doing the right thing, and ensuring the device for this child. Now we have a voice that supports Stefan through schooling, education and learning, as well as through friendships and social relationships more broadly,” explains Jovana.For some children, like Stefan, assistive technology makes the difference between exclusion and inclusion. It removes barriers to communication, socialisation, learning, mobility and daily life, while strengthening quality of life and self-confidence.As part of the project “Improving Quality Education for Every Child through Assistive Technologies,” the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with UNICEF, is equipping resource centre libraries with assistive technology packages. The enrichment of these resources is also supported by the Intesa Foundation.How much a particular assistive technology helps a child depends, among other things, on the support of family members, teachers and peers. Stefan’s class has shown the real power of that kind of support. During music class, Stefan is often seated next to Magdalena, who explains what communication with him was like before; and how it changed after he received a communicator.“He usually answered us by nodding his head for ‘yes’ or ‘no’, or he would just smile and shrug his shoulders. Now that he has a communicator, he always tells us if he needs something. It seems to me that he has become more at ease, less shy about telling us anything, and happier,” says Magdalena. Jana, who sits at the desk behind him, has known Stefan since kindergarten. She remembers him from that time as a quiet child who often kept to himself. She says the communicator has made a real difference in how Stefan engages with others. “It’s not a magic wand that can change everything, but it has strengthened his confidence in so many ways. He is very joyful. He loves to play, enjoys board games, music, movement, colours and animals, and he loves spending time with others. He is a very polite boy and always asks how you are, what you’re doing. He always wants to learn more about us, because for the past four years he wasn’t able to do that,” explains Jana. Mia Matković has been teaching Stefan music for almost a year. She recalls that at first he felt hesitant about using the communicator. With her support, as well as the support of other teachers, classmates and the speech therapist, that hesitation gradually faded. “Using the communicator has taught us, teachers and students alike, patience, and how to adapt, which I think is incredibly important,” says Mia.She explains that the communicator has helped Stefan connect more easily with other children at school. “Since he received this type of assistive technology, which allows him to be more open and express his thoughts, to ask and answer questions, tell us what he wants and show his emotions, we’ve seen a clear change, both in how he interacts with me as his teacher and with his classmates,” Mia explains.She says the communicator has become an important step forward for Stefan’s education, learning and the development of his potential.“In my class, Stefan is now more involved in group work, more active, and he often initiates conversations on his own, both with me and with other students,” she adds. Life for Stefan’s family is now more joyful, easier, and enriched by one more voice.“Now Stefan can tell us about his day, what school was like, who he spent break time with, whether he has homework, whether he’s hungry and what he wants to eat. He can really take part in activities at home,” says his sister Marija.Stefan is a kind, diligent and witty boy who is easy to like. His teachers and classmates don’t hide that at all. His sociable nature, now with a voice of its own, makes it easy to grow fond of him.

Every fourth person in Serbia has encountered some form of digital violence. Among women, the figure rises to nearly 30 per cent. Yet only three per cent of victims report these experiences to institutions - a gap that points to a problem that is systemic rather than incidental.This reality shaped the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, led by UN Women in partnership with the Embassies of Canada and Switzerland. The focus was on digital and technology-facilitated violence, from harassment and threats to digital control and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. The message was unequivocal: violence does not stop online.Opening the campaign’s flagship event, Minister without Portfolio in charge of Gender Equality Tatjana Macura said that amendments to Serbia’s Criminal Code are expected to more clearly regulate the misuse of photo and video material without a victim’s knowledge or consent, commonly referred to as revenge pornography. She stressed, however, that legislation alone will not bring lasting change without strong preventive action.The global dimension of the issue was underscored by H.E. Michelle Cameron, Ambassador of Canada, who noted that harassment, threats and the publication of intimate content without consent have been enabled by modern technology. She emphasized that the United Nations and the international community are committed to standing in the way of digital violence.The debate was grounded in new national research on digital violence against women, conducted by the organization ATINA with the support of UN Women. The findings reveal not only how widespread the problem is, but also how deeply ingrained victim-blaming attitudes remain. As many as 84 per cent of respondents believe that women are at least partly responsible for the digital violence they experience, while only seven per cent say unequivocally that the victim is never to blame. Perpetrators are most often men, frequently current or former partners, and online abuse often mirrors and escalates violence offline. “Digital violence is real violence, with serious consequences for women’s safety, dignity and full participation in public life,” said H.E. Anne Lugon-Moulin, Ambassador of Switzerland, warning against dismissing online abuse as a private or secondary issue.Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, pointed out that digital and technology-facilitated violence disproportionately affects women in public life, as well as young women and girls. She reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to combating online violence, strengthening accountability and promoting safer digital spaces.Jelena Sekulić Nedeljković of UN Women Serbia highlighted the need for a collective response, stressing that violence does not end when it moves online. Responsibility, she said, lies not only with individuals, but with institutions, digital platforms and society.A performative intervention featuring “digital shadows” - silent figures distributing messages resembling everyday online comments directed at women - left a strong impression on participants. Without theatrics, the intervention captured how digital violence operates in practice: persistent, intrusive and often normalized.The 16 Days of Activism campaign opened a broader conversation about accountability. Digital violence is not a by-product of technology, but a reflection of tolerance toward misogyny and inequality. And as the data makes clear, silence continues to work in its favor. 

SVILAJNAC, Serbia – In the morning, while the soft smells of breakfast and the first coffee still drift through the air, Andreja Avramović, 18, who has an intellectual disability, locks the door of his small flat. In his pocket are keys and work gloves — symbols of something that until recently felt out of reach: independent living.“Since I started living on my own, I can organize my day and get things done,” he said. “Starting work meant a great deal. I have my own income, I can help my mother, and I have enough for myself. It’s genuinely easier.”Andreja works at the municipal public utility company in the central Serbian town of Svilajnac. He graduated from the Agricultural School’s horticulture technician stream. Today, he lives independently, relies on himself — and knows that the community stands behind him. Across town, Jelica Dragašević, Secretary of the Association for Cerebral and Childhood Paralysis of the Municipality of Svilajnac, leafs through a workshop notebook: brief lines, questions and ideas born of conversations with persons with intellectual disabilities, their parents and friends.“I took part directly in the workshops,” Jelica says. “What makes me happiest is that we sat together — members, families, friends — and everyone had the space to say what they needed. When you truly listen, the picture changes: you see what is urgent, what is feasible, and who can support whom.” These two personal stories are at the heart of what is happening in Svilajnac under the “Building the Future” project, supported by the Global Disability Fund – an effort to ensure that improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities, especially persons with intellectual disabilities, moves from principles to everyday life.From rights on paper to life in the communityThe Government of Serbia has been a leader in advancing disability inclusion,  ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and adopting the national Strategy for Improving the Position of Persons with Disabilities. The five-year plan, adopted in January 2025 with UNFPA support, defines a series of measures aimed at improving the quality of life and ensuring the equal participation of persons with disabilities in all spheres of social life.However, putting these policies into practice remains a challenge. The right of persons with disabilities to live with dignity and autonomy in their community is still too often obstructed by prejudice, stigmas and outdated practices.“Generational isolation and discrimination are sometimes so embedded in everyday life that neither persons facing them nor their parents recognise them,” says Lidija Milanović, senior expert at IDEAS, one of UNFPA’s local partners. “That is why it is vital that the community sees, hears and includes – and that ‘support’ is not synonymous with an institution, but with life in the neighbourhood.”This is precisely where the “Building the Future” project comes in: Svilajnac, together with the southern city of Pirot, is strengthening local capacities so that public policies, budgets and services are tailored, targeted and data-driven to respond to real needs.  Step by stepIn order to understand what a community truly needs, those in charge begin by listening to its members. Interactive preparatory workshops were held in Svilajnac, involving eighteen experts from institutions and organizations supporting disability inclusion. During these sessions, they mapped community needs, existing services, and service gaps affecting daily life.Mentoring sessions were provided throughout the process to support all participants, including local self-government representatives, civil society members, persons with disabilities, and their families and caregivers. The goal was to help them turn their insights into concrete proposals for new or improved community services. At the municipality’s request, a questionnaire for parents was also distributed to capture their perspectives and contribute to the assessment.“We have involved the Centre for Social Work, the Family Support Centre, the Red Cross, healthcare institutions and the municipality,” explained Monika Petronijević, a member of the Municipal Council. “But most important is that persons with disabilities themselves have actively taken part. That brought clarity: we now know exactly which services are realistically needed.What is already changingFor Jelica, from the Association for Cerebral and Childhood Paralysis, this is not a checklist but the face of a community: “When families see that someone is listening and that something is happening, they start to move on their own. All the families we invited to speak accepted, including members with intellectual disabilities. That is trust. And trust changes everything.”The longer-term effects will come when, based on the assessment findings, new community-based services are introduced as alternatives to institutional care: personal assistance, supported housing and other flexible forms of care. These changes are also being instilled through the knowledge and practices of the local government, ensuring they do not disappear when the project ends.For people with disabilities in Svilajnac and Pirot, the foundations of a more inclusive future are already taking shape. They can be seen in simple moments, like Andreja proudly carrying his jingling keys in his pocket, or planning a day on his own terms. They can also be seen through the community stepping forward to actively support the needs of people with disabilities and create a sense of belonging for everyone. Together, they send a powerful message: the right to independent living is not a distant ideal, but an achievable everyday reality for all. This activity is part of the joint UN programme “Strengthening Rights, Equality and Inclusive Actions,” which is being implemented by UNFPA in partnership with UNDP and UN Women, with the support of the Global Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The programme focuses on improving the lives of people with disabilities through better legislation, inclusive policies, and improved access to services.