Mapiranje usluga javnog i civilnog sektora u zaštiti migranata i tražioca azila tokom pandemije COVID-19 u Republici Srbiji

The aim of this paper is to gain insight into changes in the provision of services in the system of protection of migrants and asylum seekers and to map the challenges in the implementation of joint activities of the public and civil sector in the Republic of Serbia. A survey was conducted with actors in the system of protection of refugees and migrants. The methodology used includes empirical research to analyze and understand the functions of the public and civil sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic in the system of protection of migrants and asylum seekers. Two focus groups with fourteen professionals and six interviews with key stakeholders were conducted, focusing on cooperation between different protection systems and changes in their activities. The results show that experts faced numerous challenges during and after the suspension of the state of emergency, which affected the lack of adequate cooperation with the health, education and legal systems, as well as the cessation of civil society activities in asylum centers and reception centers. The pandemic shed light on existing systemic problems and created new challenges in public-civil cooperation.