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The Helsinki Committee has issued its 14th annual
report on the situation of human rights in Serbia against the
backdrop of political, economic and social developments. The report
notes that 2013 saw no progress in the domain of human rights; on
the contrary, the great majority of citizens are in dire straits
and, therefore, even more helpless than in 2012. The situation of
fundamental human rights is still alarming, especially when it comes
to Roma and minority communities, LGBT population and other
vulnerable groups such as women, persons with mental disabilities,
the elderly or children. The government’s commitment to the respect
of human rights turned to be nothing but empty words. In the
meantime, institutions underwent further entropy.
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With new cadres
assigned to high offices institutional structures only went from bad
to worse, considering these cadres’ incompetence and
unprofessionalism. Partisanship in the public service is even more
evident than in the past period.
“Human rights are still overshadowed by xenophobia
– after years of criminalized institutions and criminalized
policies, one can hardly expect speedier transformation of a closed
society into a civilized one; the more so since the new regime –
begotten in the Milošević era and the warring policy – is presently
at the “taming” stage and learns new manners… Even democratic
breakthroughs made over last 13 years entrophied. Throughout 2013
and, especially after the early elections in 2014, the tendency of
arbitrary rule and the Premier’s leadership grew stronger: in almost
no time the Premier managed to monopolize all the power. Such
concentration of power heavily weights democratization and
liberalization.
These are some of the conclusions of the
introductory section of the 2013 report published under the title
“Primordial Resistance to Liberal Values.”
Apart from recommendations to the Serbian
government, civil society, the media and the international
community, and the opening chapter titled “Right-Wing Triumphs: Only
a Logical Outcome”, the Committee’s 600-odd-page annual report
examines the areas that are grouped in the chapters: “Judiciary”,
“Security System: Stalled Reforms”, “The Assembly of Serbia: A
Disciplined ‘Army’”, “Independent Regulatory Agencies”, “Economy:
Under the Shadow of Bankruptcy”, “The Media: Professional
Degradation”, “Culture: Defeat of the Policy and Strategy”,
“Education: Myriad Challenges, No Answers”, “Resistance to
Decentralization Blocks Development”, “Religious Communities”,
“Minorities”, “Discrimination”, “Serbia and the Region”, “Serbia and
the World: Gradual Integration into the International Community” and
“Russia: Serbia under the Supervision”.
The 2013 annual report resulted solely from the
endeavor of the Helsinki Committee and its close associates, and is
available solely online in PDF at
www.helsinki.org.rs.
The abridged version in English will be publicized
online and available at the organization’s website in foreseeable
future.
Belgrade, July 2, 2014
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