Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic and Minister of Justice Maja Popovic met and discussed the promotion of human rights, mechanisms for protection against discrimination and the rule of law, as well as other important activities for the effective implementation of the Chapter 23 Action Plan.

Jankovic and Popovic agreed to establish the first integral database of all procedures for protection against discrimination, through a central register kept by the Commissioner, after the amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination are adopted. The Ministry of Justice will regulate the procedure and deadlines within which the courts will submit pseudonymous decisions to the Commissioner in order to keep these records. In this way, the system for monitoring the situation in the field of equality protection will be significantly improved and fully completed.

At the meeting, Commissioner also pointed out the need to improve the protection of persons with disabilities through cooperation between the two bodies and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights for them, especially for those who are deprived of legal capacity. The abolition of the institute of complete deprivation of legal capacity and the transition from a medical to a social approach to disability implies the removal of obstacles for greater participation of citizens with disabilities in society, Janković and Popović agreed. Minister announced that it is being considered to increase the number of court interpreters for sign language for citizens with sensory disabilities, in order to improve their access to justice.

Jankovic and Popovic agreed to extend the cooperation in order to improve the equality of all citizens.