Member of the MIGREC team Natalija Perišić participated at the academic conference “Social Vulnerabilities and Innovation in Social Work” organized by the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Sarajevo, with online presentation “Irregular Migration Governance during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Serbia” on March 16, 2021.
The conference was aimed at contributing the re-creation of inclusive sociality for the post-crisis period, by launching a dialogue between academic and professional communities on possibilities for (self)critical re-description of professional paradigm on the platform advocated by the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2020-2030, with focus on welfare and wellbeing of all on the principles of social citizenship, human rights and social justice. The conference was envisaged as a place for presentations, discussion and critical reflection of innovative policies, programmes and approaches of professional social work in promoting, advocating and realization of inclusive, democratic, just and solidary society. The plenary session has been accompanied with four thematic panels.
Prof. Natalija Perišić’s presentation focused on the actions of the Government of the Republic of Serbia during the state of emergency proclaimed in March 2020, in the field of irregular migration. The adoption of the decision on limitation of movement of irregular migrants and asylum seekers as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in overcrowded capacities in the asylum and reception centres. In order to facilitate the situation, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia increased accommodation capacities and took numerous urgent measures. However, the adjustment of other state institutions to new circumstances was extremely slow. This influenced aggravation of living conditions of irregular migrants and asylum seekers, particularly combined with limiting non-governmental sector to involve in provision of support and assistance. The presentation delivered by Prof. Natalija Perišić pointed to the needs for more careful planning of decisions and measures pertaining to irregular migration governance, in coordination with other policies important for irregular migrants and asylum seekers.
