The scientific conference “Equality Through Affirmative Action”, organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in cooperation with the Committee for the Study of the Life and Customs of Roma of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) and the Committee for the Study of National Minorities and Human Rights of SASA, brought together experts and researchers from various fields with the aim of discussing the importance of affirmative measures for achieving social equality and equity.

We have today connected science, institutions and practice on a topic of crucial importance for every society, because equality, justice and equal opportunities are not only legal and political categories, but also profoundly civilizational issues, emphasized the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković.

In her welcoming speech, the Commissioner also stated that affirmative measures should not be viewed as privileges or concessions, but as one of the tools of social equality through which we create space for social groups that have remained on the margins due to historical, social or economic reasons, to gain equal opportunities.

In my everyday work, together with my team, I encounter stories of people who, because of their origin, gender, disability, social status or some other reason, have remained invisible, marginalized, deprived of the opportunity to express their potential. Therefore, within the difference between “equal rights” and “equal opportunities” lies a great challenge, but also the deepest meaning of the struggle for equality, added Janković.

After the welcoming remarks by Academician Zoran Knežević, President of SASA, and Academician Tibor Varady, the scientific conference was held in three thematic sections: Affirmative Actions in the Field of National Minorities, Affirmative Actions: Gender Equality and Persons with Disabilities, and Implementation of Affirmative Actions Toward Serbs Outside Serbia (Hungary, Romania, Croatia, North Macedonia).