Vučetić: Volunteering is an opportunity for a higher level of civic awareness and social humanization

Talking about the process of drafting the new volunteering law, Vučetić emphasized that it is a complex process requiring careful consideration of various forms of volunteering, citizens' needs, practical experiences, and broad consultations with interested parties. We have youth and children involved in ecological, humanitarian, and educational activities, volunteering in non-governmental organizations and local communities, as well as very specific forms of voluntary engagement, such as protection and rescue," said Vučetić. "Due to differing opinions on one of the most sensitive issues – the relationship between volunteer experience and work experience – the Ministry has already organized special public consultations with the participation of institutional representatives, civil society organizations, and social partners, and surveys have been conducted to gauge public opinion. The existing Volunteer Work Law was enacted in a different social and institutional context, and the experience of its implementation and the development of new forms of civic engagement have shown the need to view volunteering more broadly than the concept of 'volunteer work.' Panel participants pointed out the need for the future legal framework to be aligned with relevant sectoral laws, and to further consider the status of voluntary engagement and its relationship to work experience. An important prerequisite for developing a culture of volunteering was highlighted as the influence of educational institutions in promoting volunteering and validating volunteer experience, including a proposal to introduce civic education as a mandatory subject in the education system.