UPR Sexual Rights Database

The Strategy for the improvement of the status of women and improvement of gender equality 2011-2015 established a comprehensive and consistent state policy aimed at eliminating the discrimination of women, improving their status, and integrating the principle of gender equality in all areas of activity of system institutions as one of the factors for the modernization and democratization of society. The Strategy covered areas regarding the participation of women in drafting public policy, in decision-making, in business, as well as in the field of education, healthcare, elimination of violence against women, as well as the issue of gender stereotypes in media.
The new National Strategy for Gender Equality 2016-2020 and the Action Plan for 2016-2018 aims one of the strategic goals towards increasing the equality of women and men by applying equal opportunity policies and measures with the objective of, inter alia, improving the status of groups of women discriminated against and vulnerable based on multiple grounds.
The Strategy for the prevention and protection from discrimination and relevant action plan are used to implement activities towards the improvement of the status of persons of diverse sexual orientation.
The Action plan for the exercise of the rights of national minorities is being implemented with the aim of combating discrimination based on ethnic differences. Various media campaigns are stimulating the development of awareness on the culture of diversity among the general public.
The adoption of the Law on Gender Equality is expected. The Draft Law is in the presentation phase, and a positive opinion of the content was provided by over 25 institutions, independent bodies and civil society organizations. The Law will pay particular attention to the prevention of violence against women, as well as measures for their economic empowerment.
The Strategy for the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination in the Republic of Serbia and the relevant Action Plan establish the policy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia through 2018 in the field of prevention and protection from discrimination. It is the first document treating the issue of discrimination in a comprehensive manner.
The Strategy recognizes nine vulnerable social groups exposed to increased risk of discrimination in various areas; based on affiliation with national minorities; women; LGBT persons; persons with disabilities; elderly persons; children; refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable migrant groups; based on religious affiliation and other persons whose health may be a reason for discrimination.
The systematic nature of monitoring the implementation of measures and activities is achieved through the work of the Government Council for monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination.
The Council was established on 13 August 2015, tasked with monitoring progress in the implementation of measures and activities, adherence to the envisaged timeframes, and timely warnings of challenges in implementing measures under the realization of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy. The Council has 14 members, representatives of state bodies, autonomous province bodies, local self-governments, representatives of civil society organizations and the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media.
Representatives of the competent committee of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ombudsman, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Protection of Personal Data, as well as Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the provincial Ombudsman have the right to attend Council sessions and otherwise be involved in its work. If needed, the Council may invite representatives of other bodies and organizations to attend their sessions.
Aiming to establish continuity in monitoring the measures and activities envisaged by the Action Plan, as well as more efficient intersectoral cooperation, all sectors tasked with the implementation of goals from the action plan nominated contact persons and their deputies.
The Action Plan is being monitored through periodic reports, with five periodic reports on the implementation of the Action Plan produced thus far, concluding with Q2 2017.
As part of the preparations for drafting a new strategic document, since the current Strategy is valid through 2018, the professional analysis is under way of the effects of the application of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination for the period 2014-2018.
In the field of protection of Roma, national minorities, women, persons with disabilities, strategies and action plans are being implemented for the improvement of the status of these vulnerable social groups.
In accordance with the Rulebook on the contents and method of submitting the Plan of measures for eliminating or mitigating the unequal representation of sexes and the annual report on its implementation to the competent ministry, the Ministry of Labour received 428 plans and reports by businesses in 2016, and another 409 by 31 March 2017.
During 2015 labour inspectors completed 3,157 cases of supervision over the application of the Gender Equality Law, and adopted two decisions to eliminate deficiencies. Employers were ordered to adopt a Plan of measures for eliminating the unequal representation of sexes, as well as to rectify their records on the gender structure of employees.
One deposition was made to the Labour Inspectorate in 2015 regarding a violation of the Gender Equality Law. During 2016, labour inspectors completed 1,632 cases of supervision over the application of the Gender Equality Law, and found no irregularities.
Due to the need of harmonizing the existing Gender Equality Law with the European Union regulations and standards, work is under way on a new draft Law on Gender Equality.
Activities aimed at implementing the recommendation are being continuously implemented.

National Report:
Para 45) All government officials publicly condemned all assaults on LGBT persons and attacks on Roma. All forms of violence, discriminatory behaviour and graffiti with hate speech prompted a public reaction in both print and electronic media, in addition to the prosecution of the perpetrators of such acts.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 20) CoE stated that CoE-Commissioner, while acknowledging the progress made in advancing the rights of LGBTI persons, noted that homophobia and discrimination against them persisted.

National Report Annex:
The new Law on Public Assembly came into force in February 2016, harmonized with contemporary standards of police work in the field of public assembly, and supporting the law to the freedom of peaceful assembly, emphasizing this right under Article 2 of the Law.
All prosecutors’ offices, under their regular competence and with the aim of protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms, act on criminal reports of violations prescribed by the Criminal Code. Endangerment of security as per Article 138 of the CC, as well as Racial and other discrimination as per Article 387 of the CC incriminate violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms based on differences in race, colour, religion, nationality, ethnicity or another personal characteristic.
Aiming to assess the need for potential preventive measures for the prevention of violence, incitement to violence and online hate speech, supervision was implemented over groups on social networks known for previous cases of displeasure with the organization and holding of the Pride Parade.
Members of the police took part in several meetings organized on the topic of improving the status of the LGBTI community. Measures and activities have been implemented regarding the safety of sexually diverse persons, further activities were considered in this field with representatives of 15 non-government organizations working on the protection of the rights of sexually diverse persons, the Ombudsman, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and representative of the Negotiation Team.
Activities aimed at implementing the recommendation are being continuously.

National Report:
Para 45) All government officials publicly condemned all assaults on LGBT persons and attacks on Roma. All forms of violence, discriminatory behaviour and graffiti with hate speech prompted a public reaction in both print and electronic media, in addition to the prosecution of the perpetrators of such acts.

UN Compilation:
Para 13) … The UN country team asserted that, regarding the recommendations made during the previous review on the right to peaceful assembly of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, Belgrade had successfully held annual pride events in three consecutive years (2014-2016).

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 20) CoE stated that CoE-Commissioner, while acknowledging the progress made in advancing the rights of LGBTI persons, noted that homophobia and discrimination against them persisted.