"Racial discrimination widespread," charges commissioner

BELGRADE International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is being marked on Thursday in Serbia. On this occasion, Commissioner for Protection of Equality Nevena Petrusic underlines that racial intolerance and discrimination are still widespread in Serbia, so all parts of society must join the fight against these negative occurrences. "Racial discrimination widespread," charges commissioner In a statement to Tanjug, Petrusic underscored that one could hear about racially motivated incidents, hate speech, the segregation of Roma children on a daily basis, adding that recently one could witness not so rare expressions of intolerance toward asylum seekers from African and other countries. Another cause for concern is that perpetrators in these cases are not punished in an appropriate way, and that the public often does not condemn the incidents. That means that racial prejudices against the Roma and other people of various races are still quite widespread, and one should know that this type of discrimination, sentiment, and prejudice will not disappear by itself, but it will continue to exist until we all engage in the fight against discrimination, she said. According to Petrusic, the Roma are the social group facing the most explicit discrimination in Serbia, the discrimination being particularly visible when it comes to securing employment, social security and housing. Education is the most important thing for the successful fight against racial discrimination. This particularly refers to young people and children who should learn in schools that every person deserves respect, to have a human dignity, and that they should live together in harmony. Nevena Petrusic (B92, file) More discrimination than before, worst in hiring More than a third of Serbian citizens - 36 percent - think there is more discrimination now than three years ago, while 37 percent say it is worst in the job market, according to an annual report by the commissioner for the protection of equality, which says all social actors need to be mobilized to increase tolerance. The report, which covers the period between January 1 and December 31, 2012 and has been submitted to the national parliament, says it is evident that discrimination is still widespread in all segments of society. The report includes the results of a public opinion poll looking into the people's view of discrimination in the country conducted by the commissioner's office in cooperation with the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID), which showed that the most common basis for discrimination is sexual orientation, religion, citizenship, ethnic background and nationality. "In other words, our citizens are largely homophobic, intolerant of other religions and xenophobic. In addition, the people polled exhibited a certain degree of negative stereotypes about the Roma and a certain dose of anti-Semitism, but respondents without negative attitudes prevailed in both of these segments," reads the report. Over 60 percent of respondents said there is a high or considerable level of discrimination in Serbia, only three percent said there is none, 14 percent that there is some, and 16 percent were uncertain. The Roma are the most vulnerable group according to 38 percent of respondents, followed by the poor (28 percent). People with disabilities (22 percent), the elderly (18 percent), women (17 percent) and sexual minorities (14 percent) come next. As far as ethnicity, the greatest distance is felt toward Albanians, followed by Croats, Roma and Bosniaks. Hungarians are the most accepted ethnic group. According to the poll, 32 percent of respondents condemn discrimination, while 18 percent are prone to it. Half of the respondents are not prone to discrimination, but do not condemn it. The percentage of respondents who said they were subjected to discrimination is down eight percent compared to a survey carried out in 2010, with 16 percent reporting they personally experienced discrimination in 2012. Tanjug

"Racial discrimination widespread," charges commissioner

In a statement to Tanjug, Petrušić underscored that one could hear about racially motivated incidents, hate speech, the segregation of Roma children on a daily basis, adding that recently one could witness not so rare expressions of intolerance toward asylum seekers from African and other countries.

Another cause for concern is that perpetrators in these cases are not punished in an appropriate way, and that the public often does not condemn the incidents.

That means that racial prejudices against the Roma and other people of various races are still quite widespread, and one should know that this type of discrimination, sentiment, and prejudice will not disappear by itself, but it will continue to exist until we all engage in the fight against discrimination, she said.

According to Petrušić, the Roma are the social group facing the most explicit discrimination in Serbia, the discrimination being particularly visible when it comes to securing employment, social security and housing.

Education is the most important thing for the successful fight against racial discrimination. This particularly refers to young people and children who should learn in schools that every person deserves respect, to have a human dignity, and that they should live together in harmony.

More discrimination than before, worst in hiring

More than a third of Serbian citizens - 36 percent - think there is more discrimination now than three years ago, while 37 percent say it is worst in the job market, according to an annual report by the commissioner for the protection of equality, which says all social actors need to be mobilized to increase tolerance.

The report, which covers the period between January 1 and December 31, 2012 and has been submitted to the national parliament, says it is evident that discrimination is still widespread in all segments of society.

The report includes the results of a public opinion poll looking into the people's view of discrimination in the country conducted by the commissioner's office in cooperation with the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID), which showed that the most common basis for discrimination is sexual orientation, religion, citizenship, ethnic background and nationality.

"In other words, our citizens are largely homophobic, intolerant of other religions and xenophobic. In addition, the people polled exhibited a certain degree of negative stereotypes about the Roma and a certain dose of anti-Semitism, but respondents without negative attitudes prevailed in both of these segments," reads the report.

Over 60 percent of respondents said there is a high or considerable level of discrimination in Serbia, only three percent said there is none, 14 percent that there is some, and 16 percent were uncertain.

The Roma are the most vulnerable group according to 38 percent of respondents, followed by the poor (28 percent). People with disabilities (22 percent), the elderly (18 percent), women (17 percent) and sexual minorities (14 percent) come next.

As far as ethnicity, the greatest distance is felt toward Albanians, followed by Croats, Roma and Bosniaks. Hungarians are the most accepted ethnic group.

According to the poll, 32 percent of respondents condemn discrimination, while 18 percent are prone to it. Half of the respondents are not prone to discrimination, but do not condemn it.

The percentage of respondents who said they were subjected to discrimination is down eight percent compared to a survey carried out in 2010, with 16 percent reporting they personally experienced discrimination in 2012.