The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality submitted the fifteenth annual report on the protection of equality for 2024 to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

Regarding the basis of discrimination, in the majority of submitted complaints gender as the personal characteristic is stated, followed by disability, health condition, and age. Regarding areas, most complaints were filed due to discrimination in proceedings before public authorities, in health care, work, and employment, as well as education and professional training, provision of public services, or use of facilities and spaces. As in previous years, in the field of work and employment, the issue was most often multiple and/or cross discrimination – gender and marital and family status in connection with pregnancy and maternity, health condition and disability in connection with reasonable adjustment and assignment to an adequate workplace.

During the year, the Institution of the Commissioner acted in over 3,600 cases, of which more than 700 cases were formed based on complaints. Over 400 recommendations for measures to achieve equality and protection against discrimination, over 40 opinions and initiatives to amend regulations were sent to public authorities and other persons, a proposal was submitted to the Constitutional Court for assessment of constitutionality and legality, and a strategic litigation and three criminal charges were initiated. The recommendations were acted upon in 85.1% of cases, which indicates that the trend of acting on the Commissioner’s recommendations continued, as in previous years.

During 2024, the institution independently organized 11 conferences and expert gatherings, and more than 1,200 participants were included in the trainings implemented to recognize and react to discrimination.

The annual conference marking the International Day of Tolerance entitled “Everyone should know what equality means” was dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of educating children and youth about discrimination and the unacceptability of any form of violence, which were also the topics of new workshops for primary and secondary school students that were started during the year.

In addition to the regular annual report, the Commissioner issued five publications and conducted three surveys.