Respect for human rights is the foundation of every democratic society and implies constant improvement of their protection and reporting of their violations. Therefore, on this day, we call on citizens to report violations of the right to equality, that is, when they feel that they have been discriminated against by unequal treatment based on any personal characteristic, said Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. She pointed out that the procedure before the Commissioner is free and does not require any other type of legal assistance, it is enough to file a complaint.

Janković notes that citizens turn to the Commissioner due to discrimination on various grounds, but most often due to discrimination based on age, health condition, disability, nationality or ethnic origin, gender, marital and family status, and that this year also saw an increase in the number of complaints due to discriminatory speech in public space, on social networks, and in the media.

Numerous crises caused by wars, migrations, economic upheavals, and changes in the labor market affect the lives of ordinary people and lead to the deepening of divisions on a global level on various grounds. Although we live in times that are challenging for all of humanity, this must not discourage us because, in difficult times, we must make additional efforts to preserve and protect fundamental human rights, which, as a very important one, include the right to equality, said the Commissioner, and pointed out that this year we also mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted after the Second World War to emphasize the importance of freedom, justice and peace in the world.