OSCE supports public participation in flood management practices in Serbia

On 27 and 28 June 2013, in partnership with Serbia’s Government Office for Civil Society Co-operation, the OSCE Mission to Serbia organized a seminar for 20 human rights and environmental civil society organizations to promote mechanisms for stronger public engagement in flood prevention, protection and mitigation.

The two-day seminar included study visits to four locations (Gruža Lake, gravel pits near Kruševac, Prvonek dam and Trgovište) that are prone to flooding in central and south-east Serbia. These visits aimed to increase the organizations’ capacities to engage in the municipal decision-making on water management and flood-related issues. The participants  were acquainted with the strengths and shortcomings of water management practices in the municipalities and assessed ways to address challenges through stronger public involvement at the policy-making, development, implementation and monitoring levels. They also met local authorities responsible for water issues in the selected locations.

“Current practices in water management offer limited space for public involvement. Building capacities of civil society groups with regard to developing and implementing comprehensive schemes for water management and flood protection, and mobilizing the public in flood risk situations, is therefore crucially important,” said Mithat Nokic from the civil society organization, Eco Family from Novi Pazar.

The OSCE Mission works on promoting good environmental governance and identifying niches for partnerships between authorities at state and local levels and civil society groups.