Researching and analysing the current situation comprises the introductory phase of the project and is tied to the implementation of the other activities of the project. Its objectives are to evaluate the current state in Serbia of discrimination in the educaton system and to compare it to examples of good practice in the EU, the current legal framework and the available mechanisms for rights protection as well as their implementation.
Besides comprehensive analyses of international, European and national legal frameworks on discrimination and the procedure for rights protection, the activities encompassed consultative meetings with representatives of beneficiaries – from the Ministries of Education and Science, representatives of other state bodies, representatives of the non-governmental sector and academic community. Within the framework of researching and consulting with beneficiaries and the expert public, the suitability of existing instruments for rights protection, awareness of discrimination issues in the education system, the quality of the implementation of the existing instruments on rights protection were examined in detail, and alternative views of resolving discrimination issues were considered (including comparative examples of best practice). The results of the research, collected materials and consultations with interested actors, in accordance with the project’s aims, serve to implemement the rest of the project’s activities, in particular the educational activities and will aid the preparation of a bylaw on the subject of discrimination in the education system.
A working group meeting was held on 18th October 2011 in the office of the Equality Protection Commissioner. Besides the meeting with interested institutions and organizations, team members conducted a series of discussions and meetings with other relevant representatives of different institutions.
