{"id":382,"date":"2022-06-01T14:19:53","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T14:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartbalkansproject.org\/?p=382"},"modified":"2022-10-27T11:13:32","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T11:13:32","slug":"serbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartbalkansproject.org\/key-topics\/serbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Serbia"},"content":{"rendered":"
The estimated number of population in the Republic of Serbia in 2020 was 6 899 126 (the estimations are based on the results of natural changes statistics and population internal migration). Observed by sex,\u00a051.3%\u00a0<\/b>were women \u00a0(3 538 820) and\u00a048.7%\u00a0<\/b>were men (3 360 306).<\/p>\n
A newly formed government created a Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and social dialogue. Even though this is a step forward, further efforts are still needed to ensure systematic cooperation between the government and civil society. There needs to be an environment that enables development and financing of civil society organisations (CSOs), due to many attacks against CSOs that are continued (including verbal attacks and Parliament).<\/p>\n
Civil society should be empowered, and is a crucial component of any democratic system. Human rights defenders and CSOs raise awareness about civil and political rights, and should be recognized and treated by state institutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In December 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) expressed concerns regarding the allegations that Serbia had misused in July 2020 its law on the prevention of money laundering and the financing of terrorism with the aim to restrict or coerce civil society actors for their work and criticism of the government. In its plenary session of April 2021, the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism of the Council of Europe (MONEYVAL) called on all members to ensure that the FATF Recommendations are not intentionally or unintentionally used to suppress the legitimate activities of civil society.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Several CSOs suffered attacks including verbal, smear campaigns and their financing ending up in tabloid newspapers, as well as in Parliament even though a code of conduct was adopted in December 2020. Individuals and organisations are under particular pressure if they criticise the authorities in developments related to the rule of law. A legal framework for cooperation between the government and CSOs is broadly in place, but its implementation needs improvement and systematisation. Some CSOs have reported that the time given for public consultations was too short or that their comments on draft laws were not sufficiently considered and looked into.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n