The prEUgovor coalition will present its independent report of Serbia’s progress in implementation of policies in the area of judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23) and justice, freedom and security (Chapter 24) at the conference in Media Center, on Friday, 20th May at 11:30am.
Within the project "Stronger institutional response to gender-based violence in the AP Vojvodina" (UNTF), implemented by the Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography in cooperation with the Center for Women's Rights in Kikinda, Autonomous Women's Centre was invited to coordinate the preparation of a guide for coordinated treatment of local services in the prevention and protection of women from violence.
Autonomous Women’s Centre considers that it is necessary to improve the proposed provisions of the Draft Law on Asylum and Temprorary Protection concerning the protection of female migrants and asylum seekers, in accordance with the Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women, ratified by Serbia in 2013.
Amendments to the Criminal Code developed by the Autonomous Women’s Center have been confirmed by the member of the GREVIO Expert Group, Ms. Vesna Ratković in an analysis on compliance of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Serbia with the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. This is important recognition of the quality of AWC work, after an acknowledgment given in the Report of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Nils Muižnieks.
The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Nils Muižnieks has welcomed the ratification by Serbia of the Istanbul Convention and (re)commended “tools” developed by the Autonomous Women’s Center to monitor implementation of this international treaty.
Autonomous Women’s Center is disappointed by the fact that the Ministry of Justice, with the assistance of the UNICEF, developed a draft Law on Juvenile Criminal Offenders and Criminal Legal Protection of Juveniles, in which the level of achieved rights for the protection of children’s rights is reduced. The proposed draft reduces the list of crimes that will be treated by judges, prosecutors and police officers who have special training in dealing with cases where children are victims. The draft of law also abolishes the current obligation of the state to set up an attorney for the child, the victim of violence, from the circle the lawyers who would represent him/her in the proceedings, leaving the prosecutor's offices and courts that in its own discretion decide whether to give that right to the child.
Draft on the Public Law and Order, in Article 16 Prostitution, completely unfair predicts punishment only for people who are bought into prostitution (mostly women and children), ignoring the fact that people who are using/buying prostitution (mostly man), are also persons that "indulge in prostitution".
Autonomous Women’s Center addressed an appeal to the MPs, members of the Women's Parliamentary Network, to support the amendments for the implementation of emergency barring orders as an independent police authorization.
Autonomous Women Center has delivered to the Ministry of labour, employment, veteran and social affairs, and working group for development of the draft of the Law on financial support to families with children, general and specific comments on the Draft of the Law.
The whole document available in Serbian language: