The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, met with representatives of the Forum of Belgrade Gymnasiums and the Independent Trade Union of Education Workers of Serbia, Ana Dimitrijević and Dušan Kokot, with whom she discussed the activities carried out by the Commissioner in accordance with the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination, relating to cases of dismissal and termination of employment contracts of education workers.

The Commissioner informed them that, following complaints submitted by certain education workers due to potential discrimination based on political or trade union activity, proceedings to determine discrimination have been initiated within the institution.

With regard to other cases mentioned in the public, which were also the subject of the discussion, the Commissioner reminded that the institution of the Commissioner does not have the possibility to act ex officio, that is, on its own initiative. Proceedings can be initiated exclusively based on a submitted complaint. Only within that framework is it possible to determine whether there has been a violation of the provisions of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination.

The Commissioner emphasized that all forms of discrimination are prohibited by law, including discrimination on the grounds of political beliefs, against an individual or a group of individuals, as well as discrimination based on belonging or not belonging to a political party or trade union organization, as prescribed in Article 25 of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination.