In 2018, as a part of the project Raising awareness on victims’ rights in Serbia, the Victimology Society of Serbia conducted a comparative analysis of victim services in the selected Balkan countries. The comparative analysis of victim support aimed to obtain information on the structure and functioning of victim support in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. The data was collected through a qualitative analysis of the normative framework and analytical documents on the victim support system in the selected countries, and the survey. The findings of the research present a basis for the improvement of victims' rights and establishment of a national victim support system in Serbia, taking into account the experiences and examples of good practice from the surrounding countries. The research results are presented in: Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S., Nikolić, J., Šaćiri, B. (2018) Podrška žrtvama u izabranim državama Balkana: Komparativna perspektiva. Beograd: Viktimološko društvo Srbije i IGP „Prometej“.

Collecting and recording data on cases of violence against Roma women 2017-2018

During 2017 and 2018 the Victimology Society of Serbia participated in the project For Active Inclusion and the Rights of Roma Women in the Western Balkans II, which was implemented in Serbia by the NGO Bibija - Roma Women's Center from Belgrade and CARE International Balkans. The VDS was engaged in the part of the project related to the collection and recording of data on cases of violence against Roma women in the family and intimate partnerships. The research aimed to find out the extent and characteristics of violence against Roma women in family and intimate partnership, factors influencing the exposure of Roma women to domestic and intimate partnership violence and forms of social response to violence against Roma women in family and intimate partnership.

Case study in the field of violence against Roma women in the family and intimate partnership

The case study of violence against Roma women in the family and intimate partnership was conducted as part of the project For Active Inclusion and the Rights of Roma Women in the Western Balkans II, which was implemented in Serbia by the NGO Bibija - Roma Women's Center from Belgrade and CARE International Balkans. The VDS conducted a research aimed at obtaining data on the functioning of the system of providing assistance and support to Roma women victims of domestic violence in practice, assessing the functioning of the system in these cases and making recommendations for its improvement. A central part of the methodology applied in this research was the collection of data on individual cases of violence against Roma women in the family and intimate partnership. For each individual case, data was collected by a combination of different techniques and from different data sources.

2017

Research of organizations and institutions on the territory of Serbia that provide assistance and support to victims of crime

In 2017 the Victimology Society of Serbia conducted a survey of organizations and institutions on the territory of Serbia that provide assistance and support to victims. The research was part of a broader project called Overview of existing victim support services in Serbia, implemented by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Justice Sector Support (MDTF-JSS) in partnership with Victim Support Europe. This project aimed to support the Government of the Republic of Serbia to, in the context of Serbia's accession negotiations with the European Union, develop and establish a national system of victim services, which is in line with the EU Directive establishing minimum standards on rights, support and protection victims of crime and contribute to the improvement of services for victims in Serbia. The subjects of the research were the organizations and institutions on the territory of Serbia that provide assistance and support to victims. The aim of the research was to map organizations and institutions that provide assistance and support to victims and to obtain basic information about each service, including the available forms of assistance and support provided, which type of victims are supported and the ways in which victims can get proper assistance and support. The results of the research are presented in: Overview of Existing Victim Support Services in Serbia, Victim Support Europe, 2017, which is available at http://mdtfjss.org.rs/archive//file/MDTF_Mapping%20report.pdf

2016

Alternative ways of looking at crime and insecurity - „ALTERNATIVE“ 2012-2016

Within the project Developing alternative understandings of security and justice through restorative justice approaches in intercultural settings within democratic societies, Victimology society of Serbia implemented a research work package Fostering victim-oriented dialogue in a multiethnic society. Research of the Victimology Society of Serbia aimed at developing alternative models of resolution of existing and prevention of future conflicts between members of different ethnic groups in Serbia, which may contribute to closing a circle of violence and the increase of overall security of the citizens. This research was a continuation of earlier action research aimed at finding out what model of truth and reconciliation is suitable for Serbia and aimed at further theoretical and practical development of the "Third Way" model in dealing with conflicts in Serbia.

During 2012 VDS conducted theoretical research, i.e. a literature review and qualitative research of civil society’s and state’s dealing with interethnic and related political and intercultural conflicts in Serbia in the period 1990-2012. The research results are presented in the research report Dealing with interethnic conflicts in Serbia and the place of restorative justice and victims.

Full text of the research report is available here.
Summary of the research report is available here.

In addition, the research findings are presented in: Ćopić, S. (2013) Aktivnosti i diskurs državnih organa i institucija u Srbiji u bavljenju međuetničkim sukobima, Temida, 3-4, str. 61-94; Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Šaćiri, B. (2013) Bavljenje međuetničkim konfliktima od strane organizacija civilnog društva u Srbiji: aktivnosti i diskurs. Temida, 3-4, str. 27-60; Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S. (2016) Dealing with the past in Serbia: achievements in the past 20 years, U: M. Fischer, O. Simić (ur.) Transitional Justice and Reconciliation – Lessons from the Balkans, Oxon, New York: Routledge: 141-168.

Prior to conducting the empirical research study in 2013, VDS conducted a research on organisations, institutions and independent state agencies that provide services (assistance, support, protection, information, mediation etc.) to victims of violence, discrimination and other forms of human rights’ violations, including those that are ethnically motivated, particularly focusing on the regions where the research sites are situated. The aim of the research was to collect the data on relevant organisations, institutions and agencies, to develop a database and to prepare informative material with the list of relevant organisations, institutions and agencies in three multiethnic regions in Serbia with their contact details, target groups and available services. The data was collected through the electronic questionnaire. Based on the collected data, a database of these organizations, institutions and independent bodies was developed and informative material was prepared, which was later distributed by the interviewers to the citizens (respondents) during the empirical research.

During 2013 VDS conducted an empirical research study with the aim to find out how people from multiethnic communities in Serbia deal with interethnic conflicts in their everyday life, to identify problems and positive experiences in solving them, and to analyse how victims are treated, how the security is perceived by the citizens, and what is the place of restorative approaches in dealing with conflicts and security. The research consisted of two parts: qualitative research and a quantitative survey on interethnic relations, existing micro-level interethnic conflicts and ways of dealing with them by citizens in the three multiethnic communities in the border regions of Serbia: 1) Bac and Backa Palanka (the region of Vojvodina), 2) Medvedja (South Serbia), and 3) Prijepolje (South-West Serbia). The research had an action character. The research results are presented in the research report Conflicts, security and justice in intercultural context of Serbia

Full text of the research report is available here.
Summary of the research report is available here

In addition, the research findings are presented in: Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S., Petrović, N., Šaćiri, B. (2015) Viktimizacija i pravda u interkulturalnom kontekstu Srbije. Temida, 2, str. 31-58; Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S., Petrović, N., Šaćiri, B. (2015) Security and justice in the multi-ethnic communities in Serbia, U: D. Kolarić (ed.) International Scientific Conference ’Archibald Reiss Days’ – Thematic Conference Proceedings of International Significance, Beograd: Kriminalističko-policijska akademija/Academy of Police and Criminalistic studies, tom/vol. II: 27-36; Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S., Petrović, N., Šaćiri, B. (2017) Conflicts, victimization and restorative justice in intercultural settings: an example of action research in Serbia. In: I. Vanfraechem, I. Aertsen (eds.) Action Research in Criminal Justice – Restorative Justice Approaches in Intercultural Settings, pp. 99-116.

During 2014 and 2015 an action research was conducted to test the applicability of the "Third Way" model in three multiethnic communities in Serbia, which were more directly affected by the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and its further, theoretical and practical, up-grading. In addition, the action research aimed to come up with the ideas and suggestions for further steps and to develop a tool (practical guide/manual) for the application of restorative approaches in intercultural contexts in Serbia. The action research consisted of two parts: participatory seminars entitled From the conflict towards the peaceful life in the community, which were held in three multiethnic communities in Serbia (Medvedja, Prijepolje and Backa Palanka) and developing a Manual on the best practices of application of restorative approaches in intercultural settings, which should serve to raise awareness and educate about restorative approaches in conflict transformation: Ćopić, S., Nikolić-Ristanović, V. (2016) Priručnik o najboljim praksama primene restorativnih pristupa u interkulturalnom kontekstu. Beograd: Viktimološko društvo Srbije i Prometej-Beograd, which is available at http://www.vds.rs/File/Prirucnik2016.pdf

Part of the results of the action research presented in: Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Srna, J., Ćopić, S. (2015) Primena restorativnih pristupa u interkulturalnim sredinama u Srbiji: Teorijska polazišta i metodološki pristup akcionog istraživanja VDS u tri multietničke sredine. Temida, 3-4, str. 81-102; Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Ćopić, S., Petrović, N., Šaćiri, B. (2017) Conflicts, victimization and restorative justice in intercultural settings: an example of action research in Serbia. In: I. Vanfraechem, I. Aertsen (eds.) Action Research in Criminal Justice – Restorative Justice Approaches in Intercultural Settings, pp. 99-116.

2015

Promoting Alternative Sanctions and Restorative Justice Measures 2014-2015

As a part of the partnership project Promoting alternative sanctions and restorative justice measures (with the Center for Democracy Foundation), Victimology Society of Serbia conducted the research on citizens’ and policy makers’ attitudes on alternative sanctions and restorative justice measures. The research aimed to find out the level of knowledge of citizens and professionals on restorative justice and alternative sanctions as forms of social response to crime, their opinion on the possibilities of restorative justice and alternative sanctions as social responses to crime and the level of support for using these measures. In addition, when it comes to professionals, the aim of the research was also to find out their so far experience in terms of using alternative sanctions and solutions with elements of restorative justice in practice, and the problems and obstacles they face. The research findings are published in the book: Nikolić-Ristanović, V., Vučković, N. (ur.) (2015) Stavovi građana i stručnjaka o alternativnim sankcijama i restorativnoj pravdi, Beograd: Fondacija „Centar za demokratiju“, which is available at: http://www.vds.org.rs/File/alternativne%20sankcije-%20glavna%20publikacija.pdf.

2014

ISRD3 – International self-reported juvenile delinquency study 2013-2014

The Victimology Society of Serbia, together with the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Belgrade, was included in the third round of the International self-reported juvenile delinquency study – ISRD3. The coordinator of the International self-reported juvenile delinquency study was prof. dr Martin Killias, professor of Law at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The national coordinator of the project for Serbia was prof. dr Vesna Nikolic-Ristanovic. The research in Serbia was conducted during 2013 and 2014 on a sample of 1344 students of primary (VII and VIII grades) and secondary schools (I to IV grades) in Belgrade and Novi Sad. For the first time in Serbia, the research on a representative sample yielded data on the scope, structure and characteristics of juvenile delinquency, factors influencing its occurrence, as well as data on victimization of juveniles and the relationship between juvenile delinquency and victimization. The results of the research were published in the book: Nikolić-Ristanović, V. (ur.) (2016) Delinkvencija i viktimizacija maloletnih lica u Srbiji: Rezultati Međunarodne ankete samoprijavljivanjem delinkvencije, Beograd: Prometej, which is available at http://vds.rs/File/KnjigaDelinkvencijaIViktimizacijaMaloletnih.pdf. In addition, the following brochure was printed: Nikolić-Ristanović, V. (ur.) Delinkvencija i viktimizacija maloletnih lica u Srbiji: Rezultati Međunarodne ankete samoprijavljivanjem delinkvencije – Sažetak i preporuke. Beograd: Prometej, which contains a summary of the research findings and recommendations for the prevention and suppression of juvenile delinquency and assistance, support and protection of child victims, which arose from the empirical research of juvenile delinquency in Serbia.
 

2013

Developing metodology of monitoring the application of domestic violence legislation in Serbia

The project Developing metodology of monitoring the application of domestic violence legislation in Serbia started realising in 2010. in cooperation with UN Women. The role of Victimology society of Serbia in project realisation was: developing metodology of monitoring the application of domestic violence legislation in Serbia and pilot survey. The survey findings can be found in the study that prof. dr Vesna Nikolić-Ristanović wrote Monitoring the application of domestic violence legislation in Serbia:  pilot survey findings. In 2013. study become available in electronic form on Serbian and English, http://rs.one.un.org and on the web page of Victimology society of Serbia www.vds.org.rs.

Research of the level of inter-sectoral cooperation in protecting victims of domestic violence in the territory of the city of Kragujevac

Within the project Improving the protection of victims of domestic violence through the establishment of a system for monitoring and evaluation of inter-sectoral cooperation which is realising by the NGO “Oasis of safety” from Kragujevac, Victimology society of Serbia conducted the research about functioning the system of protection of victims of domestic violence and the level of inter-sectoral cooperation in the proces of protection of domestic violence victims in the teritory of the city of Kragujevac. The research aimed at gaining the knowledge on how the system of protection of domestic violence victims works and what is the level of inter-sectoral cooperation in protecting victims of domestic violence in the territory of the City of Kragujevac. The role of the Victimology society of Serbia in the research realisation was:

·   Developing research metodology;

·   Processing and analysis of data;

·   Writing research report, which includes proposals for improvement of the system of protection of victims and inter-sectoral cooperation in protecting victims in the teritory of the city of Kragujevac.

In addition, dr Sanja Ćopić and Jasmina Nikolić developed and realized one-day training of interviewers who were engaged in collecting data in Kragujevac. The training was realised on 12^th June 2013.

People who have been directly involved in this activity were: Prof. dr Vesna Nikolić-Ristanović, dr Sanja Ćopić, Jasmina Nikolić, Bejan Šaćiri, Nikola Petrović, Milica Popović  and Una Radovanović.

The research was financed within the project of NGO “Oasis of safety”, which was financially supported by the EU Delegation to Serbia, within the EIDHR programme.

European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice

By the end of 2012. Serbia was involved in data collection for the fifth edition of the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice, after a call that was sent to prof. dr Vesna Nikolic-Ristanović by the chairman of the European Sourcebook, prof. Dr. Jorg-Martin Jehle, to accept the coordination of this activity. The collection, data entry and verification, as well as contacts with relevant institutions, were achieved through the Victimology Society of Serbia and with the support of the research team of the project 179044 Development of methodology of recording crime as a basis for creating effective measures for combating crime, which is financed by Ministry of education, science and technological development of the Republic Serbia.

Within this activity, Prof. dr Vesna Nikolić-Ristanović participated on the meeting of national and regional coordinators of European Sourcebook of crime and criminal justice, which was held in Hague from 13^th to 16^th February 2013.

People engaged in this activity were: prof. dr Vesna Nikolić-Ristanović, dr Sanja Ćopić, doc. dr Danica Vasiljević-Prodanović, as well as Milica Popović and Una Radovanović, volunteers of Victimology society of Serbia and master students on Faculty of Special education and rehabilitation, University of Belgrade. This was a volunteer activity.

Research and analysis of VDS info and support service

Continuous research of the work of VDS info and support service is conducted since 2004., and from mid-2005. the data are maintained and processed by using a specially designed questionnaire and on the basis of the adopted uniform methodology of data entry and processing. In this way, the basis for regular monitoring, research, comparison and analysis of the work, or Service’s data, for better connection of theory and practice, as well as better utilization of the total capacity of the Victimology Society of Serbia, was set. Besides, in this way basis for uniform guidance of VDS info and support service’s data was set.

2012