Support in emergency situations

Shelter for older people

The shelter “Prihvatilište za odrasla i stara lica” provides food, healthcare and psychological support to adults and older people in need. This shelter provides shared accommodation.

You can usually stay for up to 12 months.

You’ll also be helped to find a lasting solution for the time after your crisis.

You’ll be given advice in the shelter about how you can get further help from other organisations and authorities.

The shelter will take you in if you live in Belgrade. A doctor will check your mental condition in advance. They’ll see if shared accommodation like this is suitable for you.

For more information please feel free to contact the centre on site, by email or phone.
 

Advice relevant to your situation

You’re looking for advice that provides a good overview. You’re living in Serbia or have returned to Serbia from abroad. Are you finding it difficult to integrate? Or do you have a business idea that you’d like to turn into reality? Would you like further training? Or are you looking for a job?
 
Then you can get help from the German Information Centre on Migration, Vocational Training and Employment (DIMAK). In addition to its 2 main centres in Belgrade, there are 6 hotspot offices in Novi Pazar, Kraljevo, Bor, Novi Sad, Kruševac and Niš.
You can go to these to find out, for example:

• How and where you can ask for emergency accommodation
• How and where you can get an identity card or health insurance
• Your rights and the services to which you are entitled
• How to find a job or a suitable training course
• How to submit the best job application

Your current situation may be very difficult. Perhaps you or a member of your family feels unable to cope. Here, too, DIMAK can provide support. It can refer you to people who will listen to you and help you. These people are trained in psychosocial work. Their goal is to help you rediscover your potential, build your self-confidence and set you on the path to a new improved situation.

Here you can learn more about this and how the centre can support you.

You are welcome to contact DIMAK on site, by phone or online for further information.
 

Contact details for the centres:

Belgrade
Opening hours: weekdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +38162204258
+38163415294 (New Belgrade)

Novi Pazar
Opening hours: Mondays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518891

Kraljevo
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381638557494

Bor
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518893

Novi Sad
Opening hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117019

Kruševac
Opening hours: Thursdays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381631117024

Niš
Opening hours: Fridays, 8:30 to 12:30
Telephone: +381695518892

Help for children

The Centre for Children's Rights (CPD) helps children in need. It organises summer camps and lessons during the holidays, for example.

The centre in Belgrade will provide you with more information on children's rights in Serbia.

The CPD also provides courses and training sessions for people who want to campaign for children's rights.

You can find more information here: https://cpd.org.rs/

Help for children and young people

The “Centre for Youth Integration” helps children and young people in everyday life and with training.

Its services include:

• Help with starting a career
• Vocational training programmes for young people
• Psychosocial support

It also has two places in Belgrade where children can eat and wash themselves.

Advice on all aspects of reintegration

You can get information and advice from the German Information Centre for Migration, Training and Employment (DIMAK). Each consultation is designed exclusively to meet your needs.

This offer is aimed at:

• Returnees from Germany and other countries
• Locals who are interested in emigrating to Germany

DIMAK helps you with your return and reintegration and can refer you to the appropriate agencies. These can be governmental and non-governmental institutions dealing with areas like:

• Job hunting in Serbia
• How to start your own business in Serbia
• How to assert your rights
• The opportunities that may be available
• “Social protection” as a key concept
• Improving your qualifications

DIMAK's contacts can be found here.

Help for women

The Bibija Roma Women’s Center in Belgrade helps women.

You can take various training courses here. For example:

• Health care
• Self-defence This is where you can learn how to protect yourself from violence.
• Vocational training courses.

And this is where you can find out about your rights.

You do not have to pay for these training courses and other services.

You will find further details on the website. 

Against violence and human trafficking

The Citizens Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Gender-Based Violence (Atina) helps victims of human trafficking and violence.

There is a house in Belgrade where you can get temporary protection. Atina also provides help in other ways. For example:

• Looking for new accommodation or a new apartment
• Legal advice
• Medical support
• Psychological support

You will find more information on the website and on Facebook. You can also pass on the information to other people who are affected. Call if you have questions or need help. You do not have to pay for any services provided by Atina.

Sexual health and rights

The Serbian Association for Sexual and Reproductive Health (Asocijacija za seksualno i reproduktivno zdravlje Srbije - SRH) provides you with information about your rights and about sexual health.

It offers advice on sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

You can also get psychological support and legal aid.

• Getting health insurance
• Applying for personal documents

The contact centres are located in public institutions such as municipal authorities. You can go there directly. The mediators are available to you there Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00.

For more information, please contact DIMAK in person, via telephone or online.

You do not have to pay for this advisory service. 

Refuge for children

The “Children’s Shelter” in Belgrade provides help in duration of 6 months for children and young people who no longer have a family or whose family is not able to look after them.

Besides accommodation, activities provided are:

• Determining the user’s identity
• Hygienic care and health care
• Provision of meals for users
• Providing conditions for maintaining personal hygiene
• Procurement of clothing and footwear
• Provision of accommodation for users
• Mediation in ensuring the availability of services in the community (social, legal, educational, health, etc.)
• Education and support of users
• Provision of psycho-social assistance and support to users

Help in legal matters

The Association of Roma Prokuplje offers legal advice.

A lawyer can come out to the residential estates in Prokuplje or Bojnik and provide you with legal advice. You can discuss various legal matters.

You will find further details on the Facebook page.

You do not have to pay for this service.

Legal support

“Praxis” is an NGO that provides advice in various legal areas. You can get help with applying for personal documents, registration in civil registers and acquisition of citizenship.

And “Praxis” can also authenticate your certificates for you.

You will find more information on the website and on Facebook.  

Help with legal matters

The pravnapomoc.org website provides help on legal matters. It is supported by the Serbian government and the EU.

The website provides details of legal advice centres in a number of towns and cities. You can obtain advice on the following:

• Protecting your property rights
• Applying for personal documents
• Other legal matters

Your specific case is discussed in detail. If you have to go to court, you can get a lawyer to represent you in certain cases. You do not have to pay for this advice and legal representation.

See the website for further details.

Legal support

Yucom can help you if you would like to apply for personal documents such as a passport. You can have certificates and other official documents authenticated by Yucom.

Yucom can also advise you if you have questions about legal matters.

You will find further details on the website. The website also has a map showing other organisations which provide free support in legal matters. 

The service is free of charge.

Legal support

CHRIS can provide you with legal advice.

You will find out more about your rights and you can obtain help if you have legal problems.

In serious cases, CHRIS lawyers can represent you in court.

CHRIS lawyers work in numerous towns and cities.

You will find more information on the website and Facebook page.

The service is free of charge.

Commitment to human rights

The Sandzak Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms advises you if you have been the victim of discrimination.

There are various forms of discrimination. For example:

• Discrimination at the workplace
• Discrimination based on your religion
• Discrimination based on your gender

You can also consult the committee if you have been the victim of violence.

You will find further details on the website. The services are free of charge.