July 30, 2007 | Belgrade
The Institute for Sustainable Communities, through our Civil Society Advocacy Initiative program, supported the drafting of the Law on Associations, which will create the overall legal framework for the operation of civil society organizations (nonprofits) in Serbia.

Through this program, ISC’s implementing partners, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law and Civic Initiatives, participated in a working group with the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government to produce a draft Law on Associations. The law considers specific needs and current issues faced by the civil sector as well as relevant practices and experiences from other countries in the region.

ISC is pleased that the draft law was met with approval by all relevant state institutions at the roundtable on July 27th attended by President Boris Tadic, Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic and the Minister of State Administration, and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic.

In his address at the roundtable, President Tadic said, “By producing this draft law, the State demonstrated its awareness of the importance of civil society. Our regard for civil society stretches beyond human rights nongovernmental organizations, and includes those who work on social care issues as well as on promotion of civil society itself. All this will bring Serbia closer to the European Union.”

The Institute for Sustainable Communities gives passionate, committed people around the world the tools, skills, and resources they need to make their communities a better place to live. Through Civil Society Advocacy Initiative in Serbia, funded by USAID, ISC helping Serbia’s civil society organizations become recognized as relevant partners of government, while encouraging active citizen engagement through these organizations.