OSCE Mission to Serbia, together with Serbia’s public institutions, launches Professional Practice Programme for youth from southwest Serbia

The OSCE Mission to Serbia, in co-operation with Serbia’s institutions, launched the 2019 Professional Practice Programme on 17 September in Belgrade.  The Programme enables five young professionals from Novi Pazar and Raška, southwest Serbia, to work with central institutions from September to December 2019. It is the first part of the two-year project Legal Learning Project for Southwest Serbia, funded by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE.

The participants were selected through a merit-based recruitment procedure and will work with the National Assembly, the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society, and the Commissioner for Protection of Equality. Each institution has assigned a mentor to support the participants during their placement, integrating them into the work of each institution.

Head of Mission Andrea Orizio welcomed the participants and mentors from the selected institutions in Belgrade: “The OSCE Mission to Serbia is proud to implement the Legal Learning Project, as part of its joint efforts with Serbia’s public institutions in the area of the rule of law, focusing on the future leaders of this country. This initiative clearly illustrates the OSCE Mission’s approach, based on close partnership with the host country, with the aim to increase local ownership of reforms, to benefit Serbia’s citizens.”

“The Professional Practice Programme aims at building the capacities of young professionals from southwest Serbia, acquainting them with the institutions supporting the rule of law, and providing them with practical experience and the opportunity to become part of the wider legal and professional community of Serbia,” he added.

Investing in youth from all communities is central to the OSCE Mission’s youth mainstreaming approach. It is also aligned with the priorities identified by the current Slovak Chairmanship of the OSCE.