Sixth Youth Rights Talks Organized in Belgrade Highlighting the Right to Education

More than a hundred young people from all over Serbia gathered on Wednesday, November 15, for the sixth Youth Rights Talks – the largest event on human rights of young people in Serbia, organized by the Youth Program of the Belgrade Center for Human Rights. The theme of this year's Youth Rights Talks was the right to education as a basic human right and the challenges faced by young people in Serbia in this process, from unequal access to education through distrust in institutions, concerns and fears regarding school safety, to the need for adequate reform of the education system.

Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue Tomislav Žigmanov, opening the event, commented on the position of young people in our society, pointing out that young people in Serbia should not agree to the role of extras, but should be partners who talk to the elderly and decide together. "With education, a child becomes a man and becomes a citizen, and thus becomes a person who inherits the fundamental values of human rights – solidarity, empathy, moral correctness, philanthropy, respect and acceptance of diversity without which there is no humane society," he said, pointing out that education must always and everywhere be available to everyone and that it must be free of charge in every segment.

Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Youth Ivana Antonijević emphasized the importance of non-formal education and the important role played by non-governmental organizations in this process. "In addition to formal, non-formal education gives 'empowerment' to young people, enables young people to transfer their knowledge, experience and their strength to others and at the same time to become aware of their potential," she said, adding that the line ministry is there to hear, listen and see how it can act for young people through institutions.

UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Serbia and WHO Representative, Fabio Sano praised Serbia for adopting the Youth Strategy, whose ultimate goal, according to him, is for young people to become part of the decision-making process, adding that "knowledge represents the power that gives young people the tools to be active members of society."

Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Serbia Plamena Halacheva commented on the importance of engaging, empowering and connecting young people as a strategic focus of the EU. "This is a valuable opportunity to hear from young people their ideas on how to adapt the education system to full personal development, respect for human rights and freedoms, and most importantly -- their future," Halacheva said in her opening speech.

The opening ceremony was followed by speeches by ten young people entitled "Young people holding classes" on various social topics: non-formal and formal education, access to education, importance of inclusive education, art and education, quality of education, sign language in education, as well as creative proposals and initiatives that could significantly improve education in Serbia.

The speech was followed by a conversation between young people and representatives of institutions, followed by a panel discussion "Education: what and where" about what changes in education we need and what is the role of young people in all this. The panel discussion was attended by: Aleksandar Baucal, professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, Aleksandar Markov, President of the Forum of Belgrade Gymnasiums, Tatjana Matijaš, National Association of Teachers of Civic Education and Associates (NAGVIS) and Elizabeta Jagica from the Union of High School Students of Serbia.

Youth Rights Talks is an event that for the sixth year in a row provides young people with space to freely express their views on current social issues, to see and hear the perspective of young people, their views, opinions and personal stories. Under the slogan #NeGaziCveće Youth Rights Talks 2023, in addition to young people from all over Serbia, it gathered representatives of international organizations, academia, youth workers, media, decision-makers and institutions that deal with issues, challenges and the future of young people in Serbia at the policy level.

The event was organized by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights in cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Team in Serbia. The event is supported by the European Union and the Ministry of Tourism and Youth. The event is part of the program of activities "75 days for 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".