Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Zorana Mihajlović, speaking on 25 February on the occasion of the visit of the GREVIO expert group, noted that Serbia is one of the first countries to ratify the Istanbul Convention and achieve significant results in combating violence against women, and that she expects further progress during the forthcoming period.

Mihajlović, also the president of the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, stated before the presentation of the First national report of the Republic of Serbia on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention to the GREVIO expert group, that she is proud that the Government has prepared this report, coordinated by the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, with the participation of over 260 different organizations.

She recalled that a lot has been achieved during the preceding period in preventing violence against women – from the adoption of the Strategy for the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women in Domestic and Intimate Partner Relations 2011-2015 and the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, to amendments to the Criminal Code.

The Deputy Chairperson of the GREVIO group Simona Lanzoni said she is convinced that the GREVIO expert group will conduct successful monitoring and achieve constructive cooperation with the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

Aleid van den Brink, a Dutch member of the GREVIO group, said she is happy to have the opportunity to talk with representatives of state institutions in Serbia on combating violence against women and that she believes all of the information collected will find a place in the report.

Serbia is one of the first countries to ratify the Istanbul Convention, in October 2013, thereby showing political readiness and taking on the commitment of establishing a system for the prevention of gender-based violence, ensuring comprehensive victim protection and punishing offenders, applying the provisions of the Convention and ensuring standards in accordance with best European practices, states the notice of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Source: www.srbija.gov.rs