On 1 June, the International Children's Day in Serbia, the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia”, together with the Protector of Citizens and experts of partner organisations, organised a three-day capacity building workshop for members of the Panel of Young Advisers of the Protector of Citizens.

The workshop, which took place from 1 to 3 June 2022 in Belgrade, was focused on the rights and special characteristics of vulnerable and marginalised social groups, including with reference to Roma, LGBTI, elderly and disabled persons. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness and educate youth advocates on how to prevent stereotypes, prejudices, hate speech, and various types of violence that these groups are often facing in their everyday life.

"Children with disabilities, children belonging to the LGBTI community, Roma children, migrant children and those who came to our country unaccompanied, as well as children living and working on the streets are still at risk of various abuses that violate their rights", said Zoran Pašalić, Protector of Citizens.

Pašalić pointed out that the family, relatives, teachers and especially the competent state authorities must make additional efforts, so that children from vulnerable and marginalised social groups can enjoy all the rights that belong to them, as well as react efficiently and in a co-ordinated manner when/if their rights are being violated.

To this end, the action will also support the Protector of Citizens to conduct research on peer violence against vulnerable and marginalised social groups in the schools. The findings and recommendations of the research to be conducted will serve as a base for preparing the special report of the Protector of Citizens.

This activity is implemented within the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in Serbia”, that is a part of joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022". This action supports key local actors and beneficiary institutions in Serbia in the fight against discrimination, hate speech and hate crimes directed against minorities, LGBTI people and other vulnerable groups of the Serbian society.