In the last two years, the world has changed dramatically, so the eradication of poverty, the fight for equality, the absence of discrimination and violence, greater employment, and the right to dignified work are becoming goals that are much more difficult to achieve, especially because the foundations and postulates of social justice have been crudely relativized in the global space, said Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, on the occasion of the International Day of Social Justice.

After the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, the scope and method of sending and providing aid in these two countries are an explicit example of the existing societal and social inequality, says Janković. She adds that our country has not been bypassed by these trends either, which is indicated by insufficient social cohesiveness, solidarity, and tolerance for diversity, but also insufficient equality with a particularly prominent gender dimension. According to the European Commission’s progress report for 2022, 46 percent of Serbian residents consider themselves poor. According to many indicators, the quality of life of vulnerable social groups – children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, long-term unemployed persons, Roma, and other minorities – is not at a satisfactory level. According to the latest data from the Republic Institute of Statistics, for the year 2021, more than a fifth of the population (21.2 percent) belongs to the circle of those at risk of poverty.

Bearing in mind the numerous challenges that lie ahead, it must be taken into account that poverty and social exclusion can be the cause of social instability, the Commissioner points out. That is why it is necessary to work more intensively on the activation of the most vulnerable citizens, alleviating and eradicating all types of poverty with adequate tax and social policy measures, as well as a set of service measures. Commissioner Janković adds that proposals for improving social injustice and equality are contained in the recommendations and initiatives of the Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, which will be submitted to the Parliament of Serbia by March 15, 2023.