Brankica Janković, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality stated that the call for awarding scholarships announced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development cannot not contain the condition requiring candidates to submit a clean bill of health proving that they do not suffering from any contagious diseases, including HIV test results. Namely, the call for awarding 2016/2017 scholarships within “World in Serbia” project announced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, contains a condition that “a candidate must provide a clean bill of health proving that she/he does not suffer from any contagious disease, including HIV test results.”

Commissioner Janković stressed that the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia as well as numerous other international and national regulations prohibit discrimination on the grounds of health condition and that such conditions amount to discrimination. In addition, the Commissioner reiterated that persons living with HIV infection belong to a most stigmatized social groups in Serbia and that they face discrimination, exclusion and rejection on daily basis.

For all these reasons Commissioner Janković will issue a recommendation to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development to delete this condition from its call for awarding scholarships.