IOM and NGOs on Migration and Challenges in Serbia: A Dialogue on Shared Solutions

Belgrade, May 2025 – A meeting was held at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) premises in Belgrade between IOM representatives and civil society organizations working on migration-related issues in Serbia. The meeting was attended by Artur Erken, IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia; Laura Lungarotti, Chief of Mission of IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans; and Zejnal Hadžijev, Chief of Mission of IOM in Serbia.

The organizations IDEAS, Group 484, and NGO Atina participated in the discussion on behalf of the civil sector. These organizations have been actively engaged for decades in protecting the rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and people on the move.0

The meeting focused on current migration trends in the region, the challenges faced by foreign nationals and asylum seekers in Serbia, and their specific needs to improve their status and conditions. Special emphasis was placed on cooperation and information exchange between international organizations and local actors who work directly in the field.

Civil society representatives highlighted the importance of an inclusive approach to migration, one that is grounded in human rights and gender equality, as well as the need for sustainable solutions in the areas of integration, protection, and support for the most vulnerable groups, including women, children, and victims of human trafficking.

This meeting represents an important step toward strengthening partnerships between IOM and community-based organizations. It reaffirms a shared commitment to building a safer, fairer, and more humane system of protection and support for all people on the move.