Today at the National Assembly House, the Council of Europe Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights Berry Kralj talked to representatives of the National Assembly Deputy Groups.

The deputies briefed the guest on the state of human rights in Serbia, the difficulties in their realisation and respect, as well as specific problems in certain environments, especially concerning the protection and integration of national minorities. A positive shift has been noted, but so has the necessity for a wider public discussion on the state of human rights in Serbia. In the meeting, special attention was paid to the issues of discrimination, including women’s rights and children’s rights and the need for an expedient adoption of a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of discrimination has been pointed out.

Among other, attention was called to the difficulties in the functioning of the judicial system and the need for the Constitutional Court to play a larger role of in this area. There was also talk of the realisation of rights of refugees and internally displaced persons and issues of private property protection.

The Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights deemed that Serbia has made progress in the area of human rights, but that many problems still exist. In January 2009, the Council of Europe will publish a report giving an estimate of the condition of human rights protection in Serbia and make several recommendations for their improvement, Berry Kralj stated.

The meeting included: the President of the Democratic Party of Serbia Deputy Group Milos Aligrudic, President of the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia Deputy Group Momo Colakovic, Vice President of the Minorities Deputy Group Bajram Omeragic and deputies Elvira Kovac and Riza Halimi, on the behalf of the Liberal Democratic Party Deputy Group Vesna Pesic, Deputy Group For European Serbia Gordana Comic and Socialist Party of Serbia – United Serbia Deputy Group Djordje Milicevic.