Dragana Ciric Milovanovic

Dragana Ciric Milovanovic, Director, Serbia Office of Mental Disability Rights International.

"Following graduation in 2003, Dragana Ciric Milovanovic volunteered with Child's Heart, a humanitarian organization supporting young people with mental disabilities. Soon after, she became responsible for the development and evaluation of projects as well as facilitating workshops and trainings for people with disabilities, their families, and volunteers.

"In July 2004, Dragana joined People in Need, a Czech organization, as a Program Officer for their mission in Serbia, supporting the transformation of residential institutions for children and people with disabilities. In addition to managing all PIN projects in Serbia, Dragana acted as a Chief Coordinator in a pilot project for supported living for people with mental disabilities, the first project of that kind in Serbia. She also acted as a Chief Editor of bulleting on disability issues. The bulletin had been issued quarterly, discussing different topics important for people with disabilities, professionals and service providers. Dragana is an author of a manual for supported living service providers.

"Dragana became involved with MDRI in September 2003, when she assisted MDRI in facilitating advocacy trainings for integration and other systemic reforms. Since 2006 Dragana supported MDRI in all aspects of their work in Serbia, including making and maintaining contacts with non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies; arranging and conducting site visits to institutions and community programs; organizing discussions and a press campaign. She appeared as a research-team member as well as co-author of MDRI report, “Torment Not Treatment: Serbia’s Segregation and Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities.” In March 2008, Dragana joined the MDRI team as the Country Director in Serbia to provide further support to an advocacy movement for the human rights protection of people with mental disabilities.

"Dragana has completed Advanced Training Course in Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Theory and Practice with Albert Ellis Institute, RET Center Belgrade."