1 June 2018, the Faculty of Law Belgrade - Launching of the Monograph on Legislative Drafting by the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade, UNDP and SDC was  a unique opportunity to bring together practitioners that draft law on daily basis, correct amendments and approve drafts with the academics and all layers among the legislative path. In addition, the Monograph is not only contributing to the setting up of a systematized approach for a more thorough knowledge of the subject, careful attention to detail, and adherence to such common-sense principles as simplicity, clarity and good organization, but also a culture of participatory and harmonized approach to processes.

Legislative drafting is rarely drawn on precedence as each law requires a unique approach. Drafting requires ruthless analyses but also creativity. Legislative drafting requires precision, and focus as to not overstep the line and make up new policy. Although laws affect our everyday life we often wonder how we can change them, would like to be informed of who is drafting them but also would like to be sure that it is done in an attentive and effective manner, in a participative process allowing for both pre- and post-legislative scrutiny.

Within the Swiss Development Cooperation-funded (SDC) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) implemented Project “Strengthening the oversights Function and Transparency of the Parliament” two grants were awarded to the Faculty of Law. The goal was to have the new generations of students and civil servants learn directly from the people who are drafting and amending the laws that govern their lives. Such knowledge -sharing was not possible until now and we are looking forward to all the positive effects that are to come as a result of these two grants.

The lecturers of the Faculty of Law carried out a university Course in Legislative Drafting for national level institutions which gathered 135 participants, of whom 81 were civil servants from all the government ministries and institutions and 54 students from the Faculty of Law in Belgrade. The course became part of the regular curricula at the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade. On top of that a Legislative Drafting course was also organized for the representatives of Local Assemblies and Self-Government Administrations in three regions (South Serbia, Central Serbia and Vojvodina) in 2017, featuring lecturers from the Faculty of Law and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The ability to impact society through well-written legislation is unparalleled. Thanks to the SDC and UNDP support, the experts of the Faculty of Law in Belgrade produced the Monograph being the first such  publication and the first response to the well-recognised need for improvement in legislative procedures that will help the members of the parliament in performing their legislative and overseight role.