Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic met with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to discuss the current state of human rights and equality, as well as the challenges in their implementation. During the meeting, it was emphasized that in complex social and political circumstances, the respect for human rights, the protection of equality, and the fight against discrimination are of particular importance.

The Commissioner stressed that all citizens must have equal access to justice, and that laws must be applied equally to everyone. She noted that discrimination and selective application of justice undermines trust in institutions, creates a sense of injustice, and fuels social tensions.

High Commissioner Turk highlighted that human rights institutions play a crucial role in every democratic society and have a duty to act in accordance with their mandates, which requires that they be provided with all necessary conditions for unhindered work. He added that, in accordance with international conventions and law, citizens must be protected from discrimination on all grounds, including gender, nationality, socioeconomic status, and membership in political, trade union, and other organizations.

Janković and Turk agreed that human rights  and the rule of law are fundamental principle of a stable and democratic society, and an important part of the solution in times of socio-political crises. In addition to institutions, all social actors must have equal conditions for action within the framework of the law, which is why human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society must be allowed to perform their work.