Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Preparation of anti-discrimination bill completed

Belgrade, 30 November 2006

Director of the Serbian government’s Service for Human and Minority Rights Petar Ladjevic said today that the anti-discrimination bill will be presented at the international conference titled “Prohibition of discrimination, law and application”, which will be held in Belgrade from December 5 to 6.

Author: Fonet

Ladjevic told a press conference that the draft law, which has been prepared with the support of the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), contains the definition of the concept of discrimination, principles of equality and decrees on prohibition of discrimination.

He explained that this law also envisages the formation of an independent commission for protecting equality, which will take preventive measures such as educating citizens and spreading awareness that discrimination is unacceptable, and will also ensure that the law is implemented.

According to Ladjevic, the law states that the commission, upon receiving a complaint regarding discrimination, could issue reminders and warnings to, or publicly condemn a functionary, employee or person providing services on the basis of the conclusion reached in a case regarding the violation of prohibition of discrimination.

Similarly, according to the bill, the government of Serbia, representatives of civil societies and national minority councils will be authorised to propose members of the commission.

Ladjevic added that representatives of groups which are discriminated against, such as the Roma, persons with disabilities, refugees and internally displaced persons took part in the preparation of the draft law on prohibition of discrimination.

Resident representative of the UNDP in Serbia Lance Clark said that this is a quality bill, and during the next week experts will assess in a public debate to which degree it is compatible with the Serbian Constitution and the constitutions of the EU countries.

Clark explained that after the document is adopted by Serbian parliament, the UNDP will also engage in its implementation.

Representative of the EAR May Walsh stressed that the fight against discrimination is a priority for all EU member countries, and it is an important precondition for countries which want to join the EU.

Walsh said that Serbia, unlike other countries in the region, has strong anti-discrimination mechanisms.

The international conference themed "Prohibition of discrimination, law and application", which will be held in the organisation of the Serbian government's Service for Human and Minority Rights, the EAR and UNDP, will be attended by human rights experts from the country and abroad, and representatives of the Serbian government and the civil sector.

As part of the conference, a public debate on the anti-discrimination bill will also be held, which will be forwarded to Serbian parliament for adoption.