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Country visit
Serbia: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights observes deteriorating human rights situation
Following his visit to Serbia from 18-21 May 2026, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following end-of-visit statement, which should be considered in conjunction with his previous interventions: The Commissioner’s visit to Serbia focused on issues...
Statement
Serbia: the authorities should refrain from excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests
“I am concerned about the current human rights situation in Serbia, where, despite the assurances I received from the authorities during my visit in April, excessive use of force is being applied to curb demonstrations,” says the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael...
Statement
Serbia: authorities should ensure safety of demonstrators and improve working environment for civil society and human rights defenders
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a mission to Serbia from 25 to 27 April 2025, focusing on policing of demonstrations and on the working environment for civil society and human rights defenders. The mission was carried out in the context of the...
Letters
Commissioner highlights key steps to better respect the rights of victims and deal with the past in the region of the former Yugoslavia
In her letters to the Prime Ministers of the Council of Europe member states in the region of the former Yugoslavia, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, recommends specific steps to be taken to deal with the violent past and move more resolutely toward social...
Country visit report
Serbia: step up efforts to face the past, safeguard freedom of expression and assembly and protect women from violence
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, published today the report following her visit to Serbia in March 2023, with recommendations focusing on transitional justice and dealing with the past, freedom of expression and assembly and women’s rights and gender equality. ...
Country visit
Serbia: more efforts needed to face the past, increase safety of journalists and human rights defenders, and protect women from violence
“It is high time for Serbia to face the legacy of the past, to protect media freedom and freedom of assembly, and to fulfil its commitments on women’s rights and gender equality” said today Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of a visit to the country...
Statement
Serbian authorities should withdraw the ban on Europride march and protect participants
“It is highly regrettable that the Serbian authorities have decided to ban the Europride march scheduled for 17 September. Weeks of uncertainty concerning the holding of this march have sent a wrong message to the public and made space for hateful rhetoric and more threats against LGBTI people,...
Statement
Witnesses in proceedings relating to crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia must be effectively protected and supported
The provision of effective protection and support for witnesses in the context of wartime-related criminal proceedings is instrumental to the fight against impunity for the crimes committed during the wars of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia. However, over recent days, the name of a protected...
Statement
Commissioner calls for effective investigations into cases of police violence in Belgrade
“The violent dispersal of demonstrators by the Serbian police in Belgrade yesterday raises serious human rights concerns”, said today the Commissioner. “Police violence or disproportionate use of force must never be tolerated, even when operations aimed at maintaining public order during...
Statement
25th anniversary of Tuzla massacre: Ensuring justice for past crimes must be one of the top political priorities in the region
Today we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the massacre of Tuzla, where a grenade fired by the Army of the Republika Srpska killed 71 people and injured more than 130. It is important to commemorate the victims and survivors of that atrocious crime and remember the suffering of their families....
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* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
1 On 16 March 2022, the Committee of Ministers adopted a decision by which the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe, after 26 years of membership.