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Serbia advances Action Plan to strengthen minority rights

Over 40 representatives from national and provincial authorities, minority councils, and civil society took part in a working group meeting in Belgrade on 4 March to advance the Action Plan for the Protection of National Minority Rights.

Opening the discussion, State Secretary Prof. Dr. Rejhan Kurtović highlighted the strong cooperation with the Council of Europe and reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to fulfilling its international obligations. He noted that the draft Action Plan, developed based on key recommendations from the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee, will set clear objectives for strengthening minority participation in public life and ensuring sustainable rights protection mechanisms.

The meeting also introduced a structured methodology for finalising the Action Plan, including smaller thematic working groups on education, culture, media, and other areas. Expert support for this process is being provided through the action “Combating discrimination and promoting diversity in Serbia” which is part of the EU/CoE joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

As the process moves forward, stakeholders will refine the Action Plan’s priorities and implementation roadmap, ensuring that Serbia continues to strengthen its legal and institutional framework for minority rights.

Belgrade 4 March 2025
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Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia


What is the goal?


► To strengthen the capacity of national and local stakeholders to better address issues related to anti-discrimination, combating hate-speech and protecting rights of national minorities and LGBTI persons in line with the standards and recommendations set by the Council of Europe – especially those of the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).
► The action also aims at supporting Serbia’s accession negotiations with the European Union in the field of fundamental rights.


Who benefits from the Action?


► The citizens of Serbia
► National and local authorities, including law enforcement agencies
► Education professionals
► National minorities, LGBTI population, and other vulnerable social groups
► Civil society organisations engaged in promoting and protecting human rights
How will the Action work?
► Through a combination of legal and strategic support to institutions; capacity building activities; peer-to-peer exchanges with regional and European partners; raise-awareness campaigns and public discussions on selected anti-discrimination topics; support to CSOs and local authorities by small grant schemes, to enhance their capacities to tackle discrimination and reach out to the citizens.
► It builds on the results of earlier co-operation programs in the field of anti-discrimination in the country, also co-funded by the Council of Europe and the European Union.


What do we expect to achieve?


► To improve the record of implementation of anti-discrimination policies and legislation, at the central and local level (especially on protection of the rights of LGBTI persons, and on combating hate speech/hate crime).
► To enhance the dialogue and co-operation between institutions and civil society organisations in promoting and protecting human rights.
► To strengthen the awareness of citizens on their rights and mechanisms to defend them.
► Ultimately, to achieve better protection of human rights of the citizens of Serbia and build a more diverse, equal and tolerant society.


How much will it cost?


► The total budget of the Action is 650.000 EUR.
► The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 Million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).


How to get more information?


► Council of Europe, website of the Anti-discrimination Department: www.coe.int/antidiscrimination
► Social media: www.facebook.com/coeantidiscrimination
► Horizontal Facility website: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/horizontal-facility/home
► Marija Simić, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, Marija.SIMIC@coe.int, +381 63 601 337
Besnik Baka, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, Besnik.BAKA@coe.int, +355 69 217 8430

HORIZONTAL FACILITY II