Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic said that the Report of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality provides a clear picture of the human rights situation where persons with disabilities, LGBT people, Roma and women, especially in rural areas and especially elderly women, again happen to be the most vulnerable groups. The analysis of gender equality in the decision-making processes in local self-government units is a new segment of the Report, Omerovic said. Domestic violence and violence against women was a topic a sizeable portion of the report was dedicated to, containing recommendations how the MPs can help by amending the relevant legislation. The Committee Chairman believes that the Parliament has to emphasize the importance of independent bodies which have proved to be very helpful.

The over 200-page long Regular Annual Report and its 29 recommendations were presented by the Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic. In 2017 the Commissioner handled 1098 cases and according to the conducted analysis persons with disabilities remain the most discriminated population group. Age discrimination is also alarmingly high, though complaints by women of gender discrimination have gone down.

Jankovic said that judging from the reported domestic violence cases in 2017 the law has had some effect and contributed to synchronisation of institutional efforts, but the staffing capacities of social welfare centres still need to be boosted in order to ensure the quality of their service. The presentation was followed by a discussion.

The Committee went on to adopt the Decision to have a public hearing on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at the National Assembly House on Friday, 15 June.

The Head of the Focus Group for the Development of Control Mechanisms for the Process of Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals briefed the Committee members on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Committee also established a Working Group for National Minority Rights, to be headed by Olena Papuga, and comprise Enis Imamovic, Ljibuska Lakatos, Tomislav Zigmanov, Olivera Ognjanovic, Ljupka Mihajlovska and Elvira Kovacs.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Marjana Maras, Vesna Ivkovic, Tomislav Zigmanov, Ljibuska Lakatos, Marija Janjusevic, Natasa St. Jovanovic, Enis Imamovic, Milanka Jevtovic Vukojicic, Oliver Ognjanovic, Elvira Kovacs, Ljupka Mihajlovska and Ljiljana Malusic.