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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia commended for progress on human rights

Belgrade, 12 December 2008

Minister for Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic today stated that at the meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva Serbia was commended for the progress it has achieved in protecting human rights.

Svetozar Ciplic

Ciplic told a press conference that after presenting its report for the Universal Periodic Review on the state of human rights, Serbia was commended particularly for minority rights protection, adding that it has been declared the regional leader of countries with a large number of multinational communities.

He said that 41 states welcomed Serbia’s progress and gave their recommendations, which the UN Council will take into consideration when assessing Serbia’s report.

According to him recommendations mostly refer to the position of the disabled, legal protection from discrimination, better position of the Roma, children, women, advocates of human rights and journalists.

The largest number of these recommendations are already being incorporated in laws against all kinds of discrimination, the Minister stressed, announcing that before the year’s end the government will also adopt a strategy for improving the position of the Roma.

Next March the UN Human Rights Council will present a report on the basis of Serbia’s report and recommendations from other states, said Ciplic, voicing his hope that Serbia will be positively assessed.

He noted that the 2009 budget projects RSD 1.1 billion for improving the Roma position, which is more than in this year’s budget.

Ciplic explained that, apart from his, other ministries are also concerned with vulnerable categories of the population, such as persons with special needs and the disabled, Roma, children and the HIV positive.

He stressed that education of the Roma is crucial for the improvement of their position, which implies help both during their education and in their search for jobs.