Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, submitted to the National Parliament The Regular Annual Report for 2020, a year undoubtedly marked by the current situation caused by the pandemic, when most complaints were filed due to discrimination on grounds of health and age, which was expected. Following are complaints on grounds of ethnicity, mostly from Roma minority, gender and disability. When it comes to areas of discrimination, most complaints were filed in the area of protection before public authorities, followed by the employment and work, providing services or due to the inaccessibility of public facilities and spaces. The following are the areas of education, social protection and public information.

The report provides recommendations regarding the need to further strengthen the health care system and improve its accessibility, especially for the elderly, young and people with disabilities; the need for greater variety of support services for the elderly and families, with special emphasis on services and measures aimed to harmonize work and parenting, as well as measures to reduce social exclusion and poverty of vulnerable groups, especially Roma men and women. The recommendations also address the reduction of disparities between urban and rural areas, and the creation of public policies aimed to  reduce job insecurity and provide greater equality in employment, without giving preference on any grounds. Also, there is a need for adopting clear and applicable procedures for crisis events are needed, with involvement of representatives of vulnerable social groups and human rights institutions in procedures making process. When it comes to the media and social networks, it is necessary to promote the culture of tolerance, dialogue and gender equality more intensively, as well as to improve the control of media and public content, especially regarding discriminatory attitudes and offensive reporting.

Behind us is a year of great challenges that we have faced both individually and as a society, and which are extended to the present moment. Having in mind the current situation, it is of special importance to actively act on protection against discrimination and promotion of equality, on which the institution will continue to work intensively and dedicatedly, Commissioner concludes.