The issue of protection and promotion of human and minority rights and freedoms is a very important topic within regional cooperation, and it is good that this year’s expert conference was dedicated to the exchange of experiences of independent institutions in court proceedings, that is, in conducting strategic litigation. In this matter, Serbia has a very good and rich legal practice, which is demonstrated by the number of successfully conducted lawsuits, which is the largest in the region, but also within all European institutions for equality – emphasized the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, at the 6th Regional Conference of Institutions for Equality in Southeast Europe in Skopje.

The positive outcome of strategic litigation sends an additional and unequivocal message through court decisions that discrimination is not allowed and will be sanctioned. I am satisfied with the number and outcome of the lawsuits that we conducted in the public interest, and which are important because they initiated the resolution of major social issues, the establishment of standards and court practice for future similar cases, Commissioner Janković added.

The conference, which was attended by representatives of North Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania and the OSCE, was opened by the President of the Assembly, Talat Xhaferi. The President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, also met with the participants. The exchange of experiences and practices of regional bodies for the protection of equality was institutionalized in 2016 precisely at the initiative of the Republic of Serbia – the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, when the first regional conference was held.