From classrooms to newsrooms, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Council of Europe in Serbia are working side by side to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion. The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in Serbia, Brankica Janković, reflects on years of dedicated co-operation highlighting the key outcomes of joint efforts to fight discrimination and promote diversity.

1. How would you assess the co-operation with the Council of Europe in combating discrimination and promoting diversity in Serbia? In your view, what are the most important achievements of our joint efforts?

Our co-operation with the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade is one of the longest-standing and most constructive partnerships we have with any international organisation. Over the years, we have built mutual trust and worked closely together. This co-operation has primarily taken place through the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye programme, now in its seventh consecutive year, first through the action "Promotion of Diversity and Equality in Serbia" and currently through "Combating Discrimination and Promoting Diversity in Serbia."

Numerous research studies, field trainings, conferences and manuals are just some of the tangible results of this long-standing collaboration. But what has truly made these efforts successful is the dedication and synergy among all project stakeholders, which has significantly helped raise public awareness about the importance of equality. The strong co-operation with media has been particularly important in this regard. Personally, I would highlight the education programmes for young people, which have shown that youth are well aware of the dangers and consequences of discrimination.

In addition to our partnership with the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality also co-operates with other Council of Europe bodies on various projects and activities focused on strengthening equality and building institutional capacity for more effective discrimination prevention.

2. In recent years, trainings have been organised for teaching and non-teaching staff in schools across Serbia. How do such activities contribute to reducing discrimination in the education system, and what feedback have you received from the field?

We have long emphasised that education is the key to many things—including understanding and addressing discrimination. In 2024, we organised educational workshops for a total of 264 teachers, school staff, and student parliament representatives in 16 primary and secondary schools throughout Serbia. These activities are part of the action "Combating Discrimination and Promoting Diversity in Serbia," which is being implemented under Phase III of the EU–Council of Europe Horizontal Facility.

Alongside discussions on the concept of discrimination and the Commissioner’s mandate, participants were introduced to the COMPASS manual for human rights education for youth. The manual includes a variety of interactive games that help develop critical thinking, shape attitudes, and promote understanding of human rights.

3. Special attention was also given to training journalists on the topic of hate speech. In your opinion, how important is it for the media to recognise and report responsibly on human rights and equality?

Having the media as allies in the fight for human rights is absolutely essential. Through the Horizontal Facility programme, the Commissioner has for years organised two-day training sessions for media professionals on the concept and forms of discrimination and hate speech, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by LGBTI people. Over 150 journalists and editors from print, broadcast and minority-language media have completed these trainings.

In addition, we carried out two analyses on the presence of hate speech in the media (in 2021 and 2024), and last year we hosted a highly successful conference on combating hate speech, where, alongside our findings, we also heard perspectives from prominent journalists.

Years of media engagement have produced results, but we are now seeing a troubling rise in inappropriate and offensive language in both media and public discourse—including hate speech. Parts of the media landscape are saturated with content that promotes hostility toward dissenters, targets individuals, and spreads unfounded interpretations and accusations. That’s why we recently issued recommendations to media outlets, urging them not only to avoid publishing such content but also to remove previously published discriminatory material and comments that incite hatred or violence.

Despite these challenges, we are not discouraged. Changing the narrative and educating media professionals is a long and difficult process, but it’s one we must remain committed to—because sustained effort ultimately yields the best results.

4. Public awareness of equality and discrimination often takes a back seat to other issues. How do public campaigns and advocacy, such as those we conduct together, contribute to greater understanding and acceptance of diversity?

You can be doing your job perfectly, but if it’s happening in silence, it’s difficult to shift negative patterns or influence anti-discrimination efforts. After all, we are here for the citizens, and it is essential that they hear us. That’s why campaigns—in both traditional and digital media—are so important.

Together with the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, we launched a campaign that will be aired on national broadcasters RTS and RTV, as well as on social media. It includes four short videos featuring well-known actors and influencers, aiming to raise awareness among citizens about different forms of discrimination, their harmful effects, and the importance of building a society based on tolerance, equality, and non-discrimination.

It is crucial that people understand that these issues affect all of us. None of us know when we might be denied a right simply because of our personal characteristics. These kinds of campaigns help educate the broader public on how to recognise and respond to discrimination, and they highlight the existence of the Commissioner’s office as a place where people can seek help and protection.

5. The Commissioner’s office is part of Equinet, the European network of equality bodies. How important is regional and European co-operation in this area, and what concrete benefits does it bring to the people of Serbia?

This kind of co-operation is extremely important because we share not only the same values, but also many of the same challenges. No society is an island, and working together enables the exchange of experiences, good practices, networking, deeper knowledge, and a better understanding of the situation on the ground.

Through many years of co-operation, we’ve been able to share not just our successes, but also the obstacles we face, strengthening one another in the process. We have an excellent relationship with Equinet, which includes regular participation by our representatives in working groups, clusters, seminars, conferences and training sessions. We also collaborate with other equality bodies from across the region.

Since launching our own regional initiative in 2016—when the Southeast European Network of Equality Bodies was founded in Belgrade—we have held numerous meetings with the aim of strengthening regional co-operation and exchanging experiences to promote equality, tolerance, and non-discrimination. Countries in the region face similar challenges, and these exchanges are incredibly valuable.

The Network meets in a different country each year, and in November 2023, to mark International Tolerance Day, we hosted a Regional Conference in Belgrade, attended by representatives from all member institutions: Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Albania.

We are also co-founders of the UNESCO Network of Focal Points against Racism and Discrimination, a platform that facilitates knowledge-sharing among national institutions and regional intergovernmental bodies, as part of UNESCO’s Global Alliance against Racism and Discrimination.