Serbian Refugee Council (SRC) was founded in June 2004 as a consortium of six local refugee / IDP assisting NGOs, with the view of enhancing their common advocacy efforts on a higher policy level aimed at finding durable solutions for the displaced in Serbia and the West Balkans region.
SRC is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with a vision to create a fairer world for refugees, IDPs and other people affected by forced migrations, to improve the overall tolerance in the society, making it more equitable and prosperous.
Founding members of the Serbian Refugee Council are: Group 484, Hi Neighbour, International Aid Network (IAN), Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre (NSHC), Centre for civil society development PROTECTA and Serbian Democratic Forum Belgrade (SDF).
The strategy to achieve the common vision relies on a sustained effort to advocate for key issues related to displacement and asylum. The SRC advocacy activities involve refugees and IDPs, their local communities as well as general public.
Through this partnership, we strive to make a change in the following areas:

Finding durable solutions for refugees, IDPs and other forced migrants by participating in the implementation of relevant government strategies and policy formation
Adoption and ratification by the state of all relevant refugee related and human rights conventions and protocols
Active participation and input in preparing reports on human rights to the UN and other bodies dealing with forced migrants and related issues;
Becoming a watchdog for policy implementation and refugee related practice in Serbia and advocacy on behalf of SRC target groups
     The passing of asylum legislation in Serbia (accompanied by changes in other related laws) and its implementation

In 2005, SRC has conducted four advocacy campaigns on the following topics, perceived as crucial by the Council members:

Asylum legislation in Serbia and Montenegro
Promotion of return to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina
Access to rights for IDPs from Kosovo
Promotion of integration as a durable solution for the displaced, focusing on the role of youth in this process

In addition, SRC has laid a foundation for its Documentation and Research Centre, aimed at gathering and systematising publications, reports, testimonies and other relevant materials related to displacement issues in Former Yugoslavia.

For the following two-year period (2006 – 2007) SRC continues to work on improving the situation of beneficiaries (refugees, IDPs, asylum seekers) through projects focusing on the following advocacy topics:

Promotion of integration as a durable solution for the displaced with the special emphasis on the following aspects of the local integration:

Job creation and strengthening economic capacities and sustainability of families of the displaced people in Serbia
Social inclusion of vulnerable groups of the displaced, with special focus on elderly, children, women and single-headed families
Strengthening the role of youth as agents of social and cultural change in the context of local integration of the displaced in Serbia
Enhancing the role and responsibility of local authorities and local communities in the process of local integration of the displaced

Promotion of repatriation of refugees to Croatia and BiH, including promotion of reintegration of returnees, with the special focus on further strengthening contacts with the representatives of local communities and civil society in the areas of return
Access to rights for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kosovo, with the special focus on finding durable solutions for internally displaced minorities
Asylum and protection of rights of forcefully displaced people, including advocacy and lobbying for development and adoption of the Asylum law in the Republic of Serbia

By taking concrete steps towards incorporating standards of accountability through the cooperation with Humanitarian Accountability Partnership – International (HAP-I) SRC has already set the benchmark for further civil society development in Serbia.
SRC keeps a strong focus on networking as well as establishing strategic links and cooperation with networks in Europe, other refugee councils, refugee assisting NGOs, as well as prominent individuals, UN and international organisations.
Special emphasis is given to enhancing strategic relationships with other initiatives and networks in the region, contributing to the improved coordination on the regional level among civil society actors in the field of refugee assistance.

SRC aims to become an influential organisation in Serbia, recognized by local and international players as a key refugee assisting umbrella agency, bringing together organizations with a variety of expertise in direct assistance to individuals, advocacy, research, analysis and documentation.
The establishment of the SRC was financially supported by the  Neighbourhood Programme of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), via their civil society transition and development programme in Serbia. This funding will continue until the end of 2007.