On the occasion of marking of February 20, the World Social Justice Day, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic says that achieving a higher level of social justice is inextricably linked to the improvement of the economic status of the population.

Beside the recent announcement by the Government of Serbia that the risk of extreme poverty in our country has been reduced, as many as 25.7% of Serbia’s population was at risk of poverty in 2017, while the percentage of persons living in absolute poverty is 7,2. The key imperative of our society and all responsible actors should be reducing of this percentage on a daily basis, says Commissioner and emphasizes that it is necessary to create a common strategy that would define all activities aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment, promoting equality, combating discrimination and respecting of human rights.

To achieve the society of social justice, we need changes in all segments of social life, for which is necessary to have political will and patience. It is crucial to amend the Law on Social Protection, the Law on Financial Support to the Family with Children, and strengthen the Centers for Social Work in every possible way. Commissioner stresses that improving of the education system, which should be accessible to everyone, is one of the most important things in the process.

We must work together to improve the quality of life, and the equal treatment of all citizens is the responsibility of all public authorities. In recent years, Serbia has proved to be a society of solidarity and that we as citizens can create a society in which poverty will not be a stigma and everyone will be equal regardless of their financial status, says Jankovic.