The Belgrade Center for Human Rights presented its annual report “Right to Asylum in the Republic of Serbia 2016” at the press conference held on 20 March 2017.

A total of 12,821 foreigners expressed the intention to seek asylum in Serbia in 2016. The state’s treatment of migrants in 2016 was primarily influenced by the policies of the neighbouring countries and decisions taken at the EU level. Although the number of people granted asylum was the highest (42) since the Asylum Law came into force, the status of asylum-seekers and beneficiaries of international protection did not improve much in 2016. The valid legal framework failed to respond to many issues arising in practice, wherefore a large share of the activities the state authorities conducted with respect to the migrants involved ad hoc steps primarily aimed at extending them humanitarian aid and accommodation.