Asylum seekers have the right to be informed about their rights and obligations relating to material reception conditions, at the latest, within 15 days from the date of submission of their asylum application,[1] as well as about NGOs providing free legal aid.[2] (See the section on Information for Asylum Seekers).
The House Rules of Asylum and Reception centres are translated in languages asylum seekers understand. The camp managers in Asylum Centres hold information sessions with every person who arrives in the camp, while the House Rules are clearly displayed on the bulletin board in English, Farsi and Arabic. Interpreters are also available for Arabic and Farsi in Sjenica and Krnjača, the latter also providing interpreters for Pashtu and Urdu funded by the Crisis Response and Policy Centre (CRPC) and IOM.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, CRM, CSOs and UNCHR provided refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with the relevant information on COVID-19 and the measures taken by the Government of Serbia. The Guidelines on preventive measures were also translated to Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Pashto, English and French and were publicly displayed in all facilities. However, the overcrowding rate in almost all reception facilities, accompanied with the lack of hygiene and privacy, created an extremely risky situation considering WHO recommendations.
[1] Article 56(2) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 56(3) and (4) Asylum Act.