On International Human Rights Day, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights alerts that the state of human rights in Serbia is dissatisfactory in nearly all walks of life. This fact has not gone unnoticed by the citizens, particularly with respect to their social and economic rights, equality, anti-discrimination, threats to their freedoms of assembly and expression, as well
as media freedoms, coupled with the alarming presence of hate speech in the public arena.
The analysis of data the BCHR collected through an online questionnaire Rate Your Rights* filled by over 10,000 people shows that 86% of the respondents think that the protection of their work-related rights is inadequate and that women are not equal to men in the labour market. These public perceptions are corroborated by the official data of the Protector of Citizens, showing that most of the proceedings initiated by his office concern work-related rights (12.55%) and economic and property rights (39.68%). As many as 73% of the respondents said that their monthly income did not suffice to live a life of dignity; their views are confirmed by official statistics on average wages, inflation and the average consumer basket.
Over 80% of the respondents think that the state is not extending adequate healthcare and that Serbia lacks a quality and fair education system. As many as 73% of the respondents think that women are not equal to men; their views are corroborated by available data on employment and the labour market in 2021. These data show the gender gap in the unemployment rate (37.1% men v. 53% women) and that childcare leave is usually taken by women (82%).
As many as 91% of the respondents qualify the state’s fight against domestic violence as inefficient. The media have been publishing reports on violence against women practically every day. As many as 25 women were killed by their (ex-)partners in 2022 alone. While 69% of the respondents think that LGBTI persons should have the same rights as all other Serbian citizens, only 47% of them think that Serbia should adopt a law on same-sex partnerships that would legally regulate a series of rights of LGBTI persons in Serbia.
As many as 84% of the respondents share the opinion of civil society organisations – that their freedom of assembly is violated and that the state does not protect their right to express their views on specific issues on an equal footing with others. Over 70% of the respondents believe that their personal data are inadequately protected on the Internet. The most devastating finding is that 91% of the respondents think that national media coverage of topics of social and political importance is neither impartial nor professional. Over 80% of the respondents believe that hate speech is present in the public arena; the fact that government representatives resort to it to clamp down on their political opponents, women, civil society and independent journalists is particularly concerning.
The BCHR has been continuously monitoring the realisation of human rights and the principles of rule of law in Serbia. It will continue fighting for a democratic and open society based on European values, the rule of law, justice and solidarity and, in tandem with other civil society organisations, alerting to the importance and necessity of respecting the human rights of Serbia’s citizens and their adequate protection.
*Rate Your Rights was an online questionnaire comprising 21 questions, which was available on TV N1’s website from 16 September to 16 October 2022. The questionnaire was filled by 11,726 respondents, 7,076 of whom elaborated their answers to the questions.
