Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

The Office for Human and Minority Rights of the Government of the Republic of Serbia announced that the First Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for the Realization of the Rights of National Minorities for the first and second quarter of this year has been presented on 28 November.

The event was opened by the Head of the Office for Human and Minority Rights Suzana Paunović, the Assistant to the Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Negotiation Group for Chapter 23 Čedomir Backović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Ivan Bošnjak and Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Andrea Orizio.

Paunović noted the importance of the work of national councils on improving and protecting the rights of national minorities, and issued a call to the councils to continue providing support to the implementation of the Action Plan for the Realization of the Rights of National Minorities.

Backović noted that by the very adoption of the Action Plan for the Realization of the Rights of National Minorities the Government of Serbia met one of the goals envisaged by the Action Plan for Negotiation Chapter 23.

Bošnjak said that the Government of Serbia invested a lot of effort during the preceding period into the development of dialogue and ensuring the development of the rights and freedoms of national minorities, by working with national councils on the Action Plan for the Realization of the Rights of National Minorities, as clearly shown by the First Report on its implementation.

Orizio noted that the improvement of the status and integration of national minorities is key for the functioning of an inclusive and democratic society. As a multicultural and multi-ethnic society, Serbia adopted a very progressive legal framework to ensure the protection of minority rights, prevent discrimination on any grounds and provide support to the improved integration of persons from minority communities in the political and public life, he assessed.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs