Legal and social (un)protection of LGBT community in Kosovo

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The Kosovo society remains deeply patriarchal and even hostile towards sexual minorities. Even though Kosovo is one of only ten European states to have constitutionally banned discrimination against these minorities, society is very much close minded when it comes to their rights. People who dare to “come out” are, in most cases, kicked out of their family homes, or, among other, subjected to some form of treatment to cure their “sexual illness”. This is all a consequence of the widespread believe that LGBT people are deviant or suffer from mental illness that needs to be cured. Constant repression towards members of this community often results in their pulling back in closed, under the radar, circles, or in some cases, even asylum seeking.

Iris network supported the project “Diversity week” and its member QESh, which is a NGO that advocates for the rights of the LGBT community in Kosovo. Amongst other activities throughout the project, they raised visibility of LGBT individuals organizing concert, art exhibitions, monologue performances, open panel discussions, workshops with experts, health activities, as well as film and documentary screenings, including a documentary currently in production by QESh. People from various backgrounds including artists, youth, university students, health care providers, and experts from different fields are now more connected and the LGBT community is more present. Their project brought together representatives not only of LGBT community and NGO sector, but also government institution to discuss the importance of improvement and development of different kind of social services to this community. Most importantly, questions about the need for safe houses and shelters for people who are being kicked out of their homes and excluded from their families, where raised.

First National helpline for victims of domestic violence in Montenegro

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Statistic information on domestic violence in Montenegro remains inaccurate. There is still no national strategy or data, and each of the responsible institutions addresses this problem differently. Woman and children, vicims of violence, are forced to seek help from different, mainly non-governmental organization and services. Female service assistance and support in Montenegro have a key role in empowering victims and providing intensive care and support. SOS hotlines proved to be the ost effective initial support to these victims, having over 30 000 phone calls annually. There is still no national SOS hotline, even though this is envisaged in all relevant UN and EU documents.

SOS telephone Niksic, member of the IRIS network, received funds to advocate for a free National helpline for domestic violence and violence against women in order to influence much needed reforms in this field. SOS telephone Niksic, with three more partners from towns of Ulcinj, Bjelo Polje and Berane and in close collaboration with all relevant ministries in Montenegro, developed and adopted a Rule book on operation of the first national helpline in Montenegro. Additionally, the, work group of these organizations became partner of the Government in all future decision-making processes considering reforms in this field.

“Little Sparrows” – Supporting the inclusion of people with psychotic disorders

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Psychotic disorders are treaded mostly in relevant facilities, but when these patients go out of the hospitals, they often face difficulties in adjusting and reintegrating into the community. Myths and prejudices against the mentally ill are deeply rooted, and negative attitudes may be present with the officials’ involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of such persons. This may adversely affect the attainment of certain rights, inadequate treatment and the occurrence of other discriminatory behaviour. The role of NGOs in providing services is important, but limited due to lack of cooperation with experts in the field of mental care, and the activities are often not coordinated, long-term planned and sustainable.

The Croatian Iris network member “Little Sparrows”, offers different support programs for patients and their families to improve their health care and also they are an important link that connects institutional forms of assistance and other mental health informal support programs. The Network funded their project which aimed at reducing the negative attitude towards psychiatric patients in all segments of the society. Throughout the project, members of Little Sparrows organized activities with different government stakeholders in order to exchange their experience and knowledge in this area. They influenced not only the officials, but also wider public with various shows, theatrical performances and media appearances in which patients with different kind of psychiatric disorders had main roles.

Local Action Plan for Roma population in BiH

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Roma are the most numerous minority group in BiH, with the estimated population of 50-60,000 people. Around 70 per cent of Romani cannot provide for their basic physical existence, while 90 per cent do not have the necessary documents enabling free health care and protection. Even though in Bosnia 1,5 million EUR is allocated annually for implementation of “Action Plan for Roma in the field of housing, employment and health care” no significant improvements were made particularly because local municipalities don’t know how to address the needs of this population. Roma NVOs are the only ones who have the knowledge and experience in this field. With the funds provided by the IRIS network, “Euro Rom”, created the Guidelines for municipalities which will become a tool for them in quality implementation of the Local Action Plans. This will finally allow the proper allocation of resources and the resolution of some of the biggest problems faced by Roma in Bosnia.

Assistance to elderly and disabled citizens of Beli Manastir, Croatia

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In Osjecko-Baranja County (Croatia) around 20 % of population are over 65 years old which makes it one of the areas with the oldest population in Europe. Many of them live alone in rural and remote parts, with no close relatives nearby and with not enough financial resources. Public social sector proves to be inefficient in these cases, so civil organizations needs to be their main support system. IRIS network member organization “Oaza”, throughout their project, educated around 70 members of different civil society organizations which are now fully trained to provide much needed assistance and services to over 1500 elderly and disabled citizens of town of Beli Manastir.

Supporting Social Investment – the Enlargement Perspective

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Supporting Social Investment – the Enlargement Perspective

ROUND TABLE Organised by IRIS Network and SOLIDAR

At the beginning of the new parliamentary term when enlargement process is still ongoing, it is undoubtedly relevant to emphasize the importance of the socio-economic development of the Western Balkan region. Cutting the unemployment rate, social services enhancement, empowering the social investments and job creation in this sector are the priorities in the forthcoming times. In order to achieve aforementioned goals and to give a new impulse to the integration process, it is essential to include and to highlight social dimension of the enlargement in the policies shaped by the EU decision makers.

This round table will offer the possibility to discuss services of general interests, active inclusion and the role of social service providers in the Western Balkans in promoting quality jobs, economic growth and social investments. Members of the “IRIS Network – Improving social services in SEE” will present their daily work in the context of the EU Enlargement policies and will give good practices examples on combating poverty and promoting social cohesion. In addition, SOLIDAR’s Annual Monitoring report on the EU enlargement will be launched.

Agenda

NEW PARTNERS OF IRIS NETWORK FROM ALBANIA AND FYR OF MACEDOINA

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It is our great pleasure to present you our new partners from FYR of Macedonia and Albania and their national networks. Now IRIS has not five, but seven national secretariats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia and two in formation in FYROM and Albania.

Based on previous cooperation, we added new partners to IRIS network:
Association of students and youth with disabilities from FYROM (ASYD) and
Social Organization for the Support of Youth (ARISIS) from Albania.

Association of students and youth with disabilities from FYROM (ASYD)

ASYD was founded in 2002 by a group consisting of students with disability, special educators and rehabilitators and also students without disabilities.The mission of ASYD is to promote inclusive secondary and higher education young people and students with disability by provision of all necessary conditions, representing the social model in the approach to disability and fulfilling further planned goals of the organisation.

The association is the only organisation in Macedonia that is strictly working on overcoming the barriers in secondary and higher education for students with disabilities.

National network of FYR of Macedonia
Association of invalid pensioners in Municipality Chair
Association of students and youth with disability
Association on Social Workers of the city of Skopje
Food bank Macedonia
Association Regional Center for persons with intellection disability ” Poraka Nasa”- Kumanovo
Roma Community Center ” DROM”- Kumanovo
Women’s Civic Initiative “ANTICO”
Organization”Mladi Info”
Association of women s and childrens
Center for women and children
Roma center
Association for pensioners
Ekocenter Gostivar
Youth organization from Tetovo


Social Organization for the Support of Youth (ARISIS) from AlbaniaCente for Civic Perspective

ARSIS was established in 1992 and is working in Tirana since 2005  due to the active participation of members, volunteers and young people. ARSIS mission in Tirana takes actions for the prevention of children/youth exclusion (0 to 25 years old). In this frame, ARSIS develops new methods and tools for children/youth support, organizes and participates in networks for social solidarity, cooperates with public and private services and promotes improved methods for the social policy of youths.

ARSIS is a Non Governmental Organization, specializing in the social support of children/youth that are in difficulty or danger and in the advocacy of their rights. The main target is the prevention of their marginalization, the elaboration of policies which defend their rights and the active social support towards disadvantaged people. We offer our services to young individuals and communities who live under conditions of poverty, neglect, victimization, conflict, disapproval, exploitation, isolation, racism or they are having problems with law, they are institutionalized, have dropped out school and they face social discrimination.

National network of Albania

Different & Equal
Children of the World Albania- Human Rights
National Association Education for Life – SHKEJ
Psycho-Social Centre “Vatra”
LGBT Alliance Albania
Institute of Romani Culture in Albania – IRCA
MEDPAK Association
Tjeter Vizion
TLAS (Tirana Legal Aid Society)
ADRA Albania
ARSIS – Social Organisation for the Support of the Youth
“Amaro-Drom” Union
National Association Education for Life – SHKEJ

Training programme “Efficient management – better services” for members of Albania and FYROM national networks

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Training programme Efficient management – better services for members of Albania and FYROM national networks

Training programme  “Efficient management – better services”  for members of Albania and FYROM national networks starts today and it will last until Friday, 31 October. New members of IRIS gathered in hotel “Metropol”, Lake Ohrid in Macedonia to improve their knowledge in areas of organizational management, planning, financing and development of new services.

Around 40 representatives of CSOs working in these two countries will learn how to manage their organization, how to position it in the market, how to develop good strategies, how to find sources for financing of their CSO etc.This is the fourth time we organize the training programme  “Efficient management – better services”, but now for our new partners. Members of Bosnian,Croatian, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbian networks have already participated in this seminar.

Invitation: Croatia national network conference

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Dear Mr/Mrs,

We wish to invite you to participate in closing conference of the project „Improving the provision of Social Service Delivery in South Eastern Europe through the empowerment of national and regional Civil Society networks“ in Croatia, organized by IRIS network partner Organization for Civil Initiatives (OGI). Event will take place in Hotel „Vila Ariston“ in Osjek, 16th of October 2014.

Purpose of the conference is to present findings and successfully concluded activities of IRIS network in first two project years and to present planned actions for 2015. and 2016. Members of the National network of Croatia will also sign Declaration of joint principals of action.

Thanks to the efforts of the organizers and with the financial support of the EU, there is no fee for the conference, and all costs of transport are covered by OGI. Travel costs will be refunded on the spot so we kindly ask you to save your tickets or gas receipts.

Please send filled application form no later than Tuesday, 14th of October to ogi@os.t-com.hr.

We are expecting you!

Social service providers in BIH: How far did we come in the first two project years

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National conference of CSOs, members of IRIS network and national network of social service providers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was successfully finished today in Banja Vrucica, Teslic. Around 50 representatives of these organization and national and local government officials gathered to discuss results of the first two years of existence of the only regional network of social service providers – IRIS.

Participant of the one-day conference „ Positioning the National network in the field of social services“ concluded that civil sector and CSOs became inevitable government partner in the field of social care. Further more, one of the main focuses, in this area, will be connecting the public and civil sector with the aim to improve provision of social services in BiH. Representatives of IRIS network members got a chance to learn more about standardization and licensing of social services, accreditation of their progremmes and experiences of the similar types of organizations from the region.

„ In the first two project years we succeeded to connect over 30 organizations who provide various types of social services to vulnerable groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Throughout our conferences and training programmes 100 professionals improved their knowledge in the areas of social management, development of new services, advocacy campaigns, financial and organizational management, and also exchanged experiences and good practices. Iris network became great support system for these grass root organization which enabled them to develop new and improve existing services in their local communities“ said Mrs Biljana Zgonjanin, president of LIR civil society and coordinator of national network of BiH.

Members of BiH national network signed the Declaration of joint values which will also be a guide for future members of this network. One of the main objectives of the project „Improving the provision of Social Service Delivery in South Eastern Europe through the empowerment of national and regional Civil Society networks“ in the next two years is broadening regional network IRIS and national networks in the Balkan region.