Human Rights Day marked in Serbia

December 10 – Human Rights Day – is being marked in Belgrade with a series of events this Wednesday. Officials of the UN, European Commission, Human and Minority Rights Minister and citizens took five symbolic steps in downtown Belgrade today to mark the occasion. Human Rights Day marked in Serbia The date was chosen to mark the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration for Human Rights, while the five steps represent the fight against discrimination which the most vulnerable groups face—women, children, disabled persons, minorities, especially Romas, and people infected with HIV. Human and Minority Rights Minister Svetozar Ciplic said at one of the events that the courts, which should be protecting these rights, paint the most accurate picture of the state of human rights in Serbia. “What we in the ministry know is that progress has been made in the last eight years. But, we must be aware that it is not enough, and that the status of human rights depends on the people, and the state, which must reform and understand that it is there to protect human rights,” Ciplic said. UNHCR Chief in Serbia Lennart Kotsalainen said that there has been progress made in Serbia, but that more can be done. EC delegation head in Belgrade Josep Lloveras said that in the last 60 years, progress in respecting human rights has been made, but there were many difficult moments, in Europe, in this region and in Serbia. Deputy Ombudsman Tamara Luksic-Orlandic said that about 4,000 complaints arrived to Serbia’s institutions from citizens who believe that their rights had been violated in some way. She said that most complaints come from pensioners, but went on to say that she "does not believe that they are the most vulnerable group", adding that children and the poor are just as susceptible to having their human rights violated. Luksic-Orlandic said that the 150,000 children living under the poverty line and as many close to that are "certainly considered vulnerable, but they are not filing complaints". Officials gathered at the Federation Palace mark Human Rights Day (Tanjug) Kosovo, "black hole" Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic also made a statement today, to say that Kosovo is the “black hole” of Europe when it comes to observance of basic human rights. “There is still no rule of law in the province, there is no full freedom of movement for Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and, even after almost ten years since the arrival of the international community in Kosovo-Metohija, they still live in fear and uncertainty," Bogdanovic told Tanjug. He pointed out that many people in Kosovo who are true owners cannot access their property and that others farm their land. Bogdanovic pointed out that the international community has to realize that Kosovo is the “black hole” of Europe when it comes to human rights.

Human Rights Day marked in Serbia

The date was chosen to mark the adoption of the UN Universal Declaration for Human Rights, while the five steps represent the fight against discrimination which the most vulnerable groups face—women, children, disabled persons, minorities, especially Romas, and people infected with HIV.

Human and Minority Rights Minister Svetozar Čiplić said at one of the events that the courts, which should be protecting these rights, paint the most accurate picture of the state of human rights in Serbia.

“What we in the ministry know is that progress has been made in the last eight years. But, we must be aware that it is not enough, and that the status of human rights depends on the people, and the state, which must reform and understand that it is there to protect human rights,” Čiplić said.

UNHCR Chief in Serbia Lennart Kotsalainen said that there has been progress made in Serbia, but that more can be done.

EC delegation head in Belgrade Josep Lloveras said that in the last 60 years, progress in respecting human rights has been made, but there were many difficult moments, in Europe, in this region and in Serbia.

Deputy Ombudsman Tamara Lukšić-Orlandić said that about 4,000 complaints arrived to Serbia’s institutions from citizens who believe that their rights had been violated in some way.

She said that most complaints come from pensioners, but went on to say that she "does not believe that they are the most vulnerable group", adding that children and the poor are just as susceptible to having their human rights violated.

Lukšić-Orlandić said that the 150,000 children living under the poverty line and as many close to that are "certainly considered vulnerable, but they are not filing complaints".

Kosovo, "black hole"

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović also made a statement today, to say that Kosovo is the “black hole” of Europe when it comes to observance of basic human rights.

“There is still no rule of law in the province, there is no full freedom of movement for Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and, even after almost ten years since the arrival of the international community in Kosovo-Metohija, they still live in fear and uncertainty," Bogdanović told Tanjug.

He pointed out that many people in Kosovo who are true owners cannot access their property and that others farm their land.

Bogdanović pointed out that the international community has to realize that Kosovo is the “black hole” of Europe when it comes to human rights.