Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Michael Davenport, said that Europe would neither be guided by fear nor give up on it fundamental values following brutal attacks on civilians in Paris.
“We stand united as Europeans,” said Ambassador Davenport in Belgrade during a conference on the occasion of International Day for Tolerance, which was also participated in by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
Davenport said that people responsible for terrorist attacks in Paris were the same people who made millions of refugees flee their homes.
He said that discrimination was a global phenomenon and that in recent years Serbia had made progress in fighting it.
He mentioned Roma, members of LGBT community, persons with disabilities and HIV-infected persons as the most vulnerable groups.
Ambassador of European Union said when it came to fighting discrimination, having strong democratic institutions and clear legal framework was important.
He said the State should not be the sole protector of tolerance and equality, and that civil society and media also played a significant role in the process.
Davenport said that through impartial reporting, media could contribute to development of critical thinking in the society.
“EU Delegation will continue to support Serbia’s efforts in strengthening tolerance and fighting against discrimination,” Davenport said and added that the Delegation had made excellent cooperation with civil society and independent agencies in Serbia.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia had made progress in fighting discrimination, developed a realistic plan and secured resources to stay on the right track.
He said that Serbia adopted the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination and that EUR35 million were secured for the implementation of this plan.
Speaking about terrorist attacks in Paris, Prime Minister also said that evil powers showed their face in this tolerant city and that the future of the world depended on its readiness to defeat those evil powers.
The world needs to find a way and offer a new chance to peace dialogue and culture, said Vucic and added that Serbia was truly dedicated to achieving these goals.
Commissioner for Equality Brankica Jankovic said that fighting against discrimination should be translated into action, adding that future generations should be aware that domestic violence was a criminal offence.
Future generations should be taught that persons with physical and mental disability should enjoy the same rights as everyone else; they need to know that our senior citizens are not burden and nuisance, but a source of knowledge and experience, said Jankovic and added that strengthening of tolerance showed the maturity of a society.
Director of Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights Under Law Milan Antonijevic said that social dialogue was essential to strengthen tolerance.
He, however, said that messages coming from certain religious communities, in particular Serbian Orthodox Church, should be condemned by citizens and politicians.
Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia Peter Burkhardt said that OSCE and Office of the Commissioner for Equality had established an award aimed at journalists reporting on the issue of discrimination.
