On the occasion of June 20, the World Refugee Day, the Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre (NSHC) presented the annual award for prominent refugees and IDPS to artist Branka Mraović, refugee from Vrginmost, Croatia, now living in Dobanovci, near Belgrade. Mraović got the award for her courage in overcoming difficulties and challenges of a life as a refugee.

In addition to her art and painting and participation in over 300 group and individual exhibitions and art colonies, Mraović is a prominent humanitarian worker with UN peace forces, JEN and NSCH. Branka Mraović founded the “Better Way” Ngo and in 2005, she took active participation in the process of creation of new standards for humanitarian work in Copenhagen and Geneva, under the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International.

NSHC used the occasion to remind the Serbian public of the need to round-up and complete the system of refugee protection and to find sustainable and just solution for several tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons in Serbia.

„The social and economic status of refugees and IDPs in Serbia remains bad, with poverty rate among them five time that of the domicile population. Only a small number of them have solved their housing issues and unemployment rates remain high, especially for high-paying jobs”, says NSHC, adding that a part of the refugee population is a vital segment of society with great development potential.

Serbia is ranked 1st in Europe and 13th in the world in terms of number of refugees living on her territory.