The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality, in conformity with the law and the Statute: carries out tasks of the provincial administration in the field of social protection, protection of families and children, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, single parents with children, the youth, adults and old, legal protection of family and custody, pension insurance, veteran and disability protection and civilian invalids of war, which pertain to the preparation of acts for the Assembly or the Provincial Government which: regulate matters of provincial interest in social protection of family, children, the youth, adults and old, in accordance with the law; establish, in accordance with financial possibilities, more favourable conditions for exercise of social protection, if the funds for that purpose have been previously appropriated in its budget; establish and ensure higher level of protection of the family, children rights, pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave and single parents with children, in accordance with the programme of demographic development of the AP Vojvodina, along with respective implementation measures; establish institutions of social protection in the territory of the AP Vojvodina, in accordance with the law and act of the Provincial Government and exercise the founder’s rights thereof; found the Provincial Institute of Social Protection; give consent for the modification of activities and status changes of social protection institutions, founded by the province; give consent to the statute and the act on organisation and job systematisation in social care institution, founded by the province; enact the Social Welfare Improvement Programme; enact the Programme of Demographic Development of the AP Vojvodina, along with the respective implementation measures; provide its opinion on the decision proposal on a network of social welfare institutions which provide dorm accommodation, social-healthcare institutions and family accommodation and adoption centres, founded by the Republic of Serbia, i.e. autonomous province, in the part which refers to the network of institutions in the territory of the AP Vojvodina; give consent for the appointment of directors and acting directors of social work centres in the territory of the AP Vojvodina; propose a director of the Provincial Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance. The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality carries out executive, expert and development tasks of the provincial administration and supervises the enforcement of regulations under Paragraph 1 of this Article. Within its scope of work, it monitors, supervises and assists the work of institutions and public services, founded by the AP Vojvodina and cooperates with organisations and citizens’ associations.
The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality monitors the implementation of conventions relating to children protection, family planning; provides funds for the implementation of the social protection improvement programme in the autonomous province, family protection, single parents with children, for the implementation of programmes and activities of disability, social-humanitarian organisations and citizens’ associations that contribute to improvement of socio-economic and social status, rehabilitation and socialisation of disabled and other persons, in need of social assistance; provides funds for the implementation of work programmes of its founded institutions, with the exception of institutions of dorm accommodation and provides funds for the implementation of innovative services and services of social protection of specific interest for the autonomous province.
The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality determines whether the requirements to start the work and performance of activities of social welfare institutions for the accommodation of the beneficiaries, have been fulfilled.
The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality monitors the situation and proposes measures in the field of providing social security for refugees, expelled and displaced persons; it monitors the implementation of the Programme of Demographic Development of the AP Vojvodina; it undertakes activities aimed at family planning and propose measures to stimulate the birth of children in the AP Vojvodina.
In the field of social protection, legal protection of family and custody, children’s social care, veteran and disability protection, protection of civilian invalids of war and in conformity with the law, the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality carries out conferred tasks of the state administration, that are conferred upon the authorities of the AP Vojvodina, by the law. The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality decides on appeals against the decision of social protection inspectors. In accordance with the law and the Statute, the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality carries out the tasks of the provincial administration pertaining to: the preparation of the analytical and other materials regarding the implementation of regulations in the field of gender equality for the Assembly and the Provincial Government; activities for the improvement of gender equality in the province; promotion of equal opportunities for men and women; monitoring of the situation and proposing measures for the improvement of the position of women and the implementation of equal opportunity in the province; monitoring of the implementation of ratified conventions and recommendations of international organisations in this field; establishment of cooperation with non-governmental organisations, unions and other associations and the media; proposal and implementation of measures of affirmative activities for the improvement of the economic and social position of women, especially vulnerable women groups, as well as the elimination of violence against women and domestic violence; cooperation with the republic and provincial administration authorities and the authorities of local self-government, in the field of gender equality; activities leading towards the integration of the principle of gender equality into all aspects of the work of provincial authorities and the provision of expert support. As a conferred task, the Secretariat is responsible for the supervision of the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality in the territory of AP Vojvodina.
The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality carries out the tasks of the provincial administration pertaining to: the implementation and application of strategies for the integration of the Roma and the realisation of action plans in the territory of the province; coordination of different projects of the integration of Roma people in the territory of the province; establishment of coordination with the Roma councils in the province and with corresponding organisations and bodies at the international level; encouraging and improving women and human rights and the rights of Roma men and women, in the territory of the province; preparation of the analytical documentation for planning and programming of activities, regarding the integration of the Roma people in the province; establishment of cooperation and consultations with the governmental and non-governmental organisations and authorities, in the field of the integration of the Roma and the improvement of their position; realisation of projects which were founded on the goals, defined in strategies and action plans, coordination of the implementation and realisation of domestic and international programmes for the integration and improvement of the Roma position; information-documentation activities and record keeping, regarding the integration of the Roma in the territory of the province; monitoring and gathering of information regarding the measures taken in the Republic of Serbia and other countries, for the purpose of improvement of the expertise, regarding the integration of the Roma, as well as monitoring of the training and professional improvement of experts, in the field of Roma integration.
The Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality also carries out other tasks when they are conferred upon it pursuant to the law, Provincial Assembly Decision or another regulation.