On 11 December 2025, a one-day training for civil servants on the application of the human rights-based approach (HRBA) in the work of local self-government was held at the City Municipality Zvezdara. The training was organised aiming at strengthening the organisational capacities of local self-government units through educating their representatives on the HRBA approach, within the project “One Step Forward To Return”, implemented by the IDC in parthership with the Municipality of Palilula Niš and the City Municipality Zvezdara.

Eight (8) officials from different organisational units attended the training. Through lectures and discussions, they learned about the basic principles of HRBA, the role of local institutions as duty-bearers, and the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs), Roma, and other vulnerable groups. The training emphasized how participation, non-discrimination, accountability, and transparency can be applied in planning, service provision, and communication with citizens, and introduced concrete tools for using this approach in daily work.

The training is an important step in strengthening the capacity of the City Municipality Zvezdara to carry out daily tasks in line with human rights standards and the needs of the most vulnerable citizens. It also helps build trust among vulnerable groups in local institutions and their role in protecting, respecting, and fulfilling human rights.