Autonomous Women’s Center presents a study on social policy in Serbia, from the gender perspective and from the perspective of women with experience of gender-based violence. It is a presentation of activities aimed at transposing the acquis communautaire of the European Union into the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, from the recently adopted Action Plan for Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment. The analysis focuses on four areas: social inclusion, social protection, prohibition of discrimination and equal opportunities.

The study provided, among other things, a summary report on the interventions suggested by Autonomous Women’s Center (in the period 2017-2020), with the aim of influencing changes in gender and protection policy for women with experience of violence, which would improve the position of women. Moreover, the development processes of social protection services in the community were commented, with special emphasis on support services for women with experience of violence, showing the establishment of the “national SOS helpline” as an illustration of what could be called an example of a “captured state”.

Autonomous Women’s Center presents a study on social policy in Serbia, from the gender perspective and from the perspective of women with experience of gender-based violence. It is a presentation of activities aimed at transposing the acquis communautaire of the European Union into the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, from the recently adopted Action Plan for Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment. The analysis focuses on four areas: social inclusion, social protection, prohibition of discrimination and equal opportunities.

The study provided, among other things, a summary report on the interventions suggested by Autonomous Women’s Center (in the period 2017-2020), with the aim of influencing changes in gender and protection policy for women with experience of violence, which would improve the position of women. Moreover, the development processes of social protection services in the community were commented, with special emphasis on support services for women with experience of violence, showing the establishment of the “national SOS helpline” as an illustration of what could be called an example of a “captured state”. The Republic of Serbia has not yet opened the negotiating Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment. In the conclusions of our study, it was pointed out that based on several sources, it can be concluded that the efforts made by the state in the considered areas do not lead to an improvement in the situation. At best, “some progress” has been made, most often in passing laws or strategic documents, but there are a number of non-compliances with standards, concerns about the implementation of regulations and strategic measures, and a serious lack of up-to-date information. At the same time, the reports and recommendations of the relevant international bodies have insufficient or no impact on the processes and outcomes of adopting legal and strategic solutions. This also applies to the GREVIO report on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which Serbia received in January 2020.