Q:
A:
Law on national minority councils to secure full respect for human rights
Belgrade,
21 July 2009
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic today stated that the law on national minority councils will provide effective mechanisms for the respect of human rights.
Author:
Beta
Ciplic stressed that the draft law has been approved by national minorities, adding that it will help increase the responsibility of national councils and provide more efficient mechanisms for realising the constitutional rights of national minorities.
A total of 28 national minorities have set up 16 councils, said Ciplic, adding that the law envisages that national minority councils will enable Serbian citizens to acquire their constitutional rights through national minority self-governments.
Ciplic noted that the national councils should be directly appointed by national minority members and that there is also a possibility of making separate electoral rolls. He stressed that it would not jeopardise the constitutional and human rights of the national minorities.
He noted that national minorities can decide whether to register on the electoral roll or not, adding that their decisions will not affect their constitutional rights and freedoms.
If more than 50 % of their members applied to register for the electoral roll, that national minority would participate in direct elections. Otherwise, it would vote according to the electoral system.
He pointed to the importance of councils’ influence on the education and health systems and the usage of national minority languages.
We have managed to grant the national minority rights guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution, concluded Ciplic.
A total of 28 national minorities have set up 16 councils, said Ciplic, adding that the law envisages that national minority councils will enable Serbian citizens to acquire their constitutional rights through national minority self-governments.
Ciplic noted that the national councils should be directly appointed by national minority members and that there is also a possibility of making separate electoral rolls. He stressed that it would not jeopardise the constitutional and human rights of the national minorities.
He noted that national minorities can decide whether to register on the electoral roll or not, adding that their decisions will not affect their constitutional rights and freedoms.
If more than 50 % of their members applied to register for the electoral roll, that national minority would participate in direct elections. Otherwise, it would vote according to the electoral system.
He pointed to the importance of councils’ influence on the education and health systems and the usage of national minority languages.
We have managed to grant the national minority rights guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution, concluded Ciplic.
-
Belgrade, 7 November 2025Parliament adopts multiple laws
-
Belgrade, 22 October 2025Parliament adopts several laws, ratifies multiple international agreements
-
Belgrade, 15 October 2025Vučić welcomes Ursula von der Leyen in front of Palace of Serbia
-
Belgrade/New York, 24 September 2025Respect for UN Charter obligation of all countries
-
Belgrade, 13 August 2025High level of understanding, agreement between Serbia, Austria
-
Belgrade, 13 May 2025Serbia's sincere, firm commitment to European path, reforms and dialogue
-
Belgrade, 13 May 2025Vučić welcomes European Council President in front of Palace of Serbia
-
Belgrade, 16 April 2025New Serbian government voted in
-
Belgrade, 15 April 2025Building unity through dialogue, tolerance, respect for value system
-
Belgrade, 14 April 2025National Assembly speaker convenes session on government election