"Human rights obstacles remain in Serbia"

There are still big obstacles to achieving human rights standards in Serbia, which is why the anti-discrimination law is necessary, says a CoE commissioner. Thomas Hammarberg said in his report that the anti-discrimination law is needed in Serbia. In his report, he points to the difficult position of some minorities, above all the Roma. "Human rights obstacles remain in Serbia" Hammarberg said that the conditions in which Roma live are not good and need to be improved. “It is necessary to ensure that their children go to school,” he said. Although there have been visible improvements concerning the position of people with special needs, the report says that they continue to be isolated from society, face widespread prejudices and have problems with educational and employment opportunities. Hammarberg expressed concern because of the “unfriendly surroundings” in which human rights activists and organizations work, above all those who are involved in gay and lesbian rights as well as rights for bisexuals and transsexuals. “Politicians use discriminatory language and similar texts appear in the media unpunished. Human rights activists in most cases confront intolerance, hate speech and threats, and sometimes even physical attacks,” he said. “Such incidences must be condemned by the political elite and answer to sanctions,” he says in the report. The report point to problems with long court processes, inconsistent application of laws, an insufficiently transparent justice system and problems connected to judge and prosecutor independence, as well as bad prison conditions. “In some areas there is notable progress, for example the opening of the Ombudsman’s office which has taken over initiatives to protect human rights in the country,” said the CoE commissioner. The CoE human rights commissioner wrote the report based on his visit to Serbia from Oct. 13-17, 2008 and it is available on the internet.

"Human rights obstacles remain in Serbia"

Hammarberg said that the conditions in which Roma live are not good and need to be improved. “It is necessary to ensure that their children go to school,” he said.

Although there have been visible improvements concerning the position of people with special needs, the report says that they continue to be isolated from society, face widespread prejudices and have problems with educational and employment opportunities.

Hammarberg expressed concern because of the “unfriendly surroundings” in which human rights activists and organizations work, above all those who are involved in gay and lesbian rights as well as rights for bisexuals and transsexuals.

“Politicians use discriminatory language and similar texts appear in the media unpunished. Human rights activists in most cases confront intolerance, hate speech and threats, and sometimes even physical attacks,” he said.

“Such incidences must be condemned by the political elite and answer to sanctions,” he says in the report.

The report point to problems with long court processes, inconsistent application of laws, an insufficiently transparent justice system and problems connected to judge and prosecutor independence, as well as bad prison conditions.

“In some areas there is notable progress, for example the opening of the Ombudsman’s office which has taken over initiatives to protect human rights in the country,” said the CoE commissioner.

The CoE human rights commissioner wrote the report based on his visit to Serbia from Oct. 13-17, 2008 and it is available on the internet.