Parliament Committee for Poverty Reduction

The Parliamentary Committee for Poverty Reduction in Serbia was established on May 30, 2003, and became active on April 8, 2004. The Committee comprises 15 members from six parties represented in the Parliament: 3 members—Democratic Party of Serbia; 1 member—Serb Renewal Movement; 2 members—Serbian Socialist Party; 5 members—Serbian Radical Party; 2 members—G17 Plus and 2 members—Democratic Party.

Activities of the Committee are directed at introducing solutions aimed at improving living standards of poor citizens into new laws adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Tasks of the Committee are the following: connecting with institutions and organizations that are responsible for the PRS implementation, exchange of experience with Parliaments of other countries, establishment of cooperation with international organizations and establishment of contact with citizens on the ground.

Activities of the Committee:

• Promotion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy among the MPs in the Parliament of Serbia;
• Establishment of cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Affairs with the aim of the PRS implementation;
• Implementation of the Proposals of New Legislation Aimed at Reducing Child Poverty in Serbia Project (financed by OSCE)
• Recommendation on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women has been adopted;
• Presentation of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities has been held, with the topic “Poverty Reduction Strategy – Challenges at the Local Level”;
• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was marked in the Parliament of Serbia ( October 17, 2004 );
• Participation at the Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia, held on February 22, 2005 in Plandište.

Cooperation with UNDP

• Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Parliament Committee for Poverty Reduction and UNDP on December 16, 2004.
• Organized a seminar with the topic: Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation – A Step Towards Prosperity. The Seminar was held at Palić, on November 26-28, 2004.
• Organized a study visit to the Parliament of Israel funded by UNDP, on June 5-12, 2005.

Assistance to flooded municipalities

The session dedicated to the analysis of the situation in flooded municipalities of Banat and Southern Serbia was held on May 12, 2005. Apart from the Committee members, the session was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister's PRS Implementation Focal Point and representatives of flooded municipalities of Banat and Southern Serbia ( Žitište, Leskovac, Plandište, Kruševac, Sečanj, Bela Crkva, Žitorađa), as well as the Heads of Jablanica and Toplica counties. As a result of this meeting, UNDP will, at the initiative of the DPM PRS Implementation Focal Point and the Parliament Committee for Poverty Reduction, hire an expert to evaluate the needs in the flooded municipalities and write project proposals to assist the population in the flooded municipalities.

Plans for the ensuing period

• Monitor and analyze the effects of adopted laws;
• Expand cooperation with other Parliament committees;
• Intensify cooperation with ministries;
• Get acquainted with the experiences of parliamentary committees in other countries;
• Organize a regional conference on the means of fighting poverty;
• Analyze new laws from the aspect of poverty reduction and prevention;
• Create a parliament library on poverty issues;
• Improve cooperation with UNDP.

For more information on the activities of the Committee see at the Webpage of the National Assembly at: http://www.parlament.sr.gov.yu/content/eng/index.asp

Presentation of the Parliament Committee for Poverty Reduction presented at the Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia, held in Plandiš te on February 19, 2005.