On Tuesday 23 June in the Belgrade Media centre a press conference was organised to present the results of the research “Social Inclusion of Migrants: Research of attitudes towards migrants and recommendations for reducing discrimination”. The research study was implemented by the Red Cross of Serbia in in partnership with PIN – Psychosocial Innovation Network with financial support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Norwegian Red Cross.

Speakers at the conference were Ljubomir Miladinovic, Red Cross of Serbia, Secretary General, Davron Mukhamadiev, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jovana Bjekic, PIN – Psychosocial Innovation Network and Nataša Todorovic, psychologist, Red Cross of Serbia.

Ljubomir Miladinovic, the Red Cross of Serbia Secretary General underlined the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross of Serbia and the tradition of many decades of providing support to different persons  and populations in need including those at risk of poverty, those far away from their homes and families and living in fear. He reminded the audience that many of these persons we see as migrants today had to flee their homes and are now effectively homeless, out of touch with their closest families.

The conference was organised to also mark the World Refugee Day, 20 June and contribute to improving the position of refugees in Serbia as well as to remind the public that the Red Cross of Serbia always presented a positive example in providing accommodation for refugees and respecting all international conventions and international laws and standards ever since it was established back in 1786.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies representative Dr Davron Mukhamadiev praised the important work of the Red Cross of Serbia in this area.

Jovana Bjekic of the Psychological Innovation Network presented the results of the research study that had 304 participants from six Serbian cities. 61% of the participants agreed that one should have the right to flee their country if there is war and persecution there and seek shelter in other countries including Serbia, while 53% agreed that persons should have the right to move to another country – including Serbia – for economic reasons, that is to ensure they can live a better life.

One quarter of the participants think that migrants should be able to stay in Serbia if they so wish but not be supported to do so, while one fifth advocates for closed borders policy that will disallow migrants to enter Serbia.

Natasa Todorovic of the Red Cross of Serbia presented the recommendations related to social inclusion of refugees and migrants and the ways to use the global network of the Red Cross Red Crescent to advocate for improving social inclusion of migrants and reduce discrimination. It is necessary in every country on the migration route to inform the citizens about the UN conventions that guarantee respect for human rights and establish the obligations of members states in relation to migrants. It is also necessary to increase the knowledge of citizens about discrimination, how it manifests, how to recognise it and what states can do to reduce it. At the same time, there should be education of migrants and domicile population on cultural mediation and intercultural understanding.

http://www.mc.rs/socijalna-inkluzija-migranata-istrazivanje-stavova.4.html?eventId=11352