The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, presented to the members of the Committee for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality the Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner on the situation in the field of protection of equality for 2019. The report was submitted to the National Parliament of the Republic of Serbia in March, just before the introduction of the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is being considered in extremely difficult circumstances when the entire society has been focused on preserving people’s health and lives.

Similar to previous years, one third of the total number of submitted complaints are related to area of labor and employment, followed by complaints related to proceedings before public authorities, area of education, health and social protection. The deputies were acquainted in more detail with the recommendations for combating discrimination and promoting equality, which relate to decent work, reducing insecurity at work and enabling flexible working hours; promoting gender equality and strengthening the capacity of institutions to provide protection against domestic and partner violence; improving the work of social protection institutions, as well as health, educational and other institutions in order to adequately respond to the needs of all groups at risk, such as Roma men and women, persons with disabilities, youth, etc .; involvement of all social actors in the recognition and prevention of hate speech in public space. Also, among the recommendations is the need to draft strategic documents, especially strategies for prevention and protection against discrimination, as an umbrella strategy for the institution of Commissioner, strategies for aging and development of social protection, as well as laws on gender equality and registration of same-sex unions.

According to the assessment of President Muharem Bačevac and members of the Board, this 10th regular report of the Commissioner contains a comprehensive overview of the situation and relevant data that may be important for further creation and improvement of public policies. The Committee adopted conclusions by which almost all the Commissioner’s recommendations were taken as relevant and which were urgently sent to the National Assembly, so that the deputies could adopt recommendations with measures to improve the situation in the mentioned areas and send them to the Government of Serbia.