Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia


What is the goal?


► To strengthen the capacity of national and local stakeholders to better address issues related to anti-discrimination, combating hate-speech and protecting rights of national minorities and LGBTI persons in line with the standards and recommendations set by the Council of Europe – especially those of the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).
► The action also aims at supporting Serbia’s accession negotiations with the European Union in the field of fundamental rights.


Who benefits from the Action?


► The citizens of Serbia
► National and local authorities, including law enforcement agencies
► Education professionals
► National minorities, LGBTI population, and other vulnerable social groups
► Civil society organisations engaged in promoting and protecting human rights
How will the Action work?
► Through a combination of legal and strategic support to institutions; capacity building activities; peer-to-peer exchanges with regional and European partners; raise-awareness campaigns and public discussions on selected anti-discrimination topics; support to CSOs and local authorities by small grant schemes, to enhance their capacities to tackle discrimination and reach out to the citizens.
► It builds on the results of earlier co-operation programs in the field of anti-discrimination in the country, also co-funded by the Council of Europe and the European Union.


What do we expect to achieve?


► To improve the record of implementation of anti-discrimination policies and legislation, at the central and local level (especially on protection of the rights of LGBTI persons, and on combating hate speech/hate crime).
► To enhance the dialogue and co-operation between institutions and civil society organisations in promoting and protecting human rights.
► To strengthen the awareness of citizens on their rights and mechanisms to defend them.
► Ultimately, to achieve better protection of human rights of the citizens of Serbia and build a more diverse, equal and tolerant society.


How much will it cost?


► The total budget of the Action is 650.000 EUR.
► The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 Million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).


How to get more information?


► Council of Europe, website of the Anti-discrimination Department: www.coe.int/antidiscrimination
► Social media: www.facebook.com/coeantidiscrimination
► Horizontal Facility website: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/horizontal-facility/home
► Marija Simić, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, [email protected], +381 63 601 337
Besnik Baka, Horizontal Facility Communication Officer, [email protected], +355 69 217 8430

HORIZONTAL FACILITY II