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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Elections for 19 national minority councils next year

Belgrade, 28 December 2009

Minister for Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic today announced that next year 19 national minority councils will be elected, adding that 2009 will be a bench mark for the Ministry’s plans for 2010.

Svetozar Ciplic

Presenting his Ministry’s achievements in 2009 to a press conference, Ciplic recalled that this year the Anti-Discrimination Law and the Law on national minorities’ councils were adopted.

He explained that the Anti-Discrimination Law is one of the documents required for the synchronisation of Serbia’s legislature with that of the EU, noting that certain EU members still do not have such a law.

The Minister stressed that Serbia received top scores for the adoption and the content of this law, announcing that next year the parliament will appoint an ombudsman against discrimination.

Serbia’s Law on national minorities’ councils was also highly assessed, the Minister said, adding that it helps to implement the minority self-government guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution.

The implementation of the law began with the registration in special voters lists which were opened in November, said Ciplic, recalling that in 2009 the Strategy for Improving the Position of the Roma was also adopted and that the National Minority Council was formed. Ciplic said that 2010 will be the year when members of 19 local minority councils will be elected, explaining that the formation of these councils will complete the structure of the minority self-government.

He said that next year the preparation of a human rights strategy will begin, which will coordinate all activities to guarantee and protect human rights.

The Minister said that one of the key projects next year will be to train judges and prosecutors for implementing international human rights conventions.

Ciplic said that training will also be available for media representatives so that the public is informed in the best possible manner about human rights.