Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, spoke at the opening of 4th science conference „Sport events security management“, organized by Faculty of Sport at „Union – Nikola Tesla“ University in Belgrade.

Commissioner stated that combating violence in sports has been going on for years now and that in 2013 Government of Republic of Serbia issued the “National strategy for combating violence and inappropriate behavior at sport events” that should be implemented until 2018.

As a member of the Working group, I actively participated in creating activities in Action plan and Strategy that actually present our desired image of the future, said the Commissioner and added that institution of Commissioner plays an important role and continuously provides support to discriminated persons and social groups in the area of sport.

She accented that the fight against violence starts with combating discrimination, rooted in prejudices and stereotypes; that sport goes beyond all limits and differences – national, religious or cultural, while promotion of non-violence in sport presents promotion of sport and equality.

Although our reality is sometimes different, I am convinced that we share common attitude, that we are sport-loving country that has great individuals and we are well known worldwide in team sports – when we sum all our differences we get the winner team, concluded the Commissioner.

Speakers at the plenary session on sport events security management and challenges in this area were Paulo Gomes from Directorate for Human Rights and Equality of Council of Europe, Steve Frosdick, Director of IWI Associates Ltd, UEFA, Nenad Lalović, President of Wrestling Association Council and Dragan Mijatović, Deputy Head of Department for Monitoring and Prevention of Violence at Sport Events in Police Headquarters in Ministry of Internal Affairs.

All speakers agreed that it is necessary to work continuously at improvement of mechanism for prevention of violence at sport events, but also to have more efficient work of judicial and all competent bodies. They also discussed about terrorist attack that are happening more often near important sport venues and influence of internet and social networks on frequency and promotion of intolerable behavior at stands. Also, scientific papers related to this area were presented at the conference.

At the conference opening also spoke Sofia Tatiana Janceva, prorector for science and international cooperation of National Sports Academy “Vassil Levski” from Sofia, Dane Korica, advisor of the President of Sport Association of Serbia, prof. Dragan Atanasov and Ivanka Gajić, Dean of the Faculty of Sport at „Union – Nikola Tesla“ University in Belgrade.