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CIVIL SOCIETY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS A PARTNER IN PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE SOCIAL GROUPS DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY

7. April 2020.

The National Covenant on the EU (NCEU) calls on state and local self-governmental bodies to recognize civic associations as partners in protecting the most vulnerable social groups during the state of emergency introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic requires an urgent response from all stakeholders aimed at providing adequate health care, as well as various types of social assistance and services to the most vulnerable categories of the population.

The NCEU states that assistance is needed for the elderly, people with disabilities, single parents, beneficiaries of cash benefits, residents of informal settlements, beneficiaries and residents of various collective centers and institutions, as well as by other groups that were at risk before the pandemic began.

In order to meet their needs as effectively as possible, apart from the capacity of the social protection system, the involvement of civic associations, which are otherwise focused on working with these groups and are a valuable resource, is needed in this situation.  

“That is why we appeal that all organizations that have direct contact with beneficiaries in the local community receive the necessary support for their operation, so that they could respond to the needs of the most vulnerable citizens and socially disadvantaged groups in a timely and best possible way,” the NCEU stated.

This involves, first of all, the provision of movement permits during “curfew” for the activists and volunteers of civic associations that deal with field work, so that they could  freely reach all those who need their help; providing the necessary protective equipment; involving CSO representatives in the work of Emergency Management Staffs to better coordinate support; a higher degree of flexibility to adjust CSO activities to the new situation and effect regular payments to them.

Source: Civic Initiatives and Coordination Body