Civil society organizations, including the Autonomous Women's Center, have suspended cooperation with the legislative and executive authorities in Serbia. In the press release it was said: Thanks to the students, an increasing number of citizens realize that there will be no prosperity for Serbia until the institutions start working in accordance with their competences and until the concentration of power in the hands of those who are not in charge has been reduced. In this way, unreserved support was provided to all students' requests.

The organizations, signatories of the Decision, state that for years, the government in Serbia has been deviating from basic democratic standards and principles of the rule of law almost every day. Despite the sincere will to use specific knowledge to help establish a more functional institutional system, by formally involving civil society, the government only continues to fake democratic processes. For these reasons, the signatories withdraw from membership, formal or informal, in the working groups of the Government and ministries, as well as in other permanent or ad hoc bodies in whose work they are involved.

In the press release, it is emphasized that it is not possible to overestimate the importance of the struggle led by students, precisely because it is aimed at the responsibility of institutions and public office holders as the basis of the functioning of society. Also, the signatories remind us of the frequent harassment, arrests and expulsion of foreign citizens and targeting of citizens with dual citizenship, sharing of personal data and jeopardizing the safety of students.

It is stated that civil society organizations have been exposed to pressure, threats and hate campaigns, spying and intimidation of activists, journalists and other critics of the government for too long. Enmity towards the civil sector was given an institutional form through the Bill on a special register of agents of foreign influence, modeled on Russia and Belarus.

In conclusion, the signatories emphasize that they will not give up on returning the institutions of the Republic of Serbia to their responsibilities and citizens, that they will continue to monitor decision-making processes and to regularly inform the public about their effects, as well as using all legal, administrative and other mechanisms in order to protect human rights and other interests of citizens.

You can see the text of the decision and the signatories HERE.