Human Rights Council elections 2008 - Serbia

Following the declaration of independence by Kosovo in February 2008, demonstrations in Belgrade erupted in violence during which more than 30 police and 30 protesters were injured. 

Impunity for serious human rights violations, including war crimes, continues due to a range of factors, including a lack of prompt and effective investigations, the absence of an effective witness protection programme and a backlog in dealing with appeal cases. More than 30 cases of war crimes are under investigation by the War Crimes Chamber of the Belgrade District Court, although only a few prosecutions have been completed.

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia expressed concern at Serbia’s lack of cooperation including the failure to surrender key suspects. In February 2007, the International Court of Justice ruled that Serbia has not committed genocide at Srebrenica, but had nevertheless breached the Genocide Convention by failing to prevent genocide and to punish those responsible.

Over 3,000 cases of enforced disappearances and abductions remain unaddressed.

Reports of ethnically and religiously motivated attacks continue, including against Albanians, Croats, Bosniaks, Hungarians, Roma, Ruthenians and Vlachs, and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice.

In June 2007, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged Serbia to provide adequate healthcare services and equal access to education for marginalized groups of women and girls, in particular Roma.

Inter-ethnic violence continued in the Sandžak region. Arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force, and ill-treatment by law enforcement personnel were reported.

Trafficking of women into forced prostitution continues, including from Albania, and the authorities failed to provide assistance to trafficked persons.  

Recent Amnesty International statements and reports:

General

Amnesty International Annual Report extracts for Serbia, 2005-2007

Kosovo

Kosovo (Serbia): The constitution needs full consultation with civil society (Press Release, 13 February 2008)
Serbia (Kosovo): The challenge to fix a failed UN justice mission (Report, 29 January 2008)
Kosovo (Serbia): The Ombudsperson should guarantee the human rights of all persons in Kosovo (Public Statement, 12 October 2007)

Rights of minorities

Calls for calm as Serbs rally (News, 21 February 2008)
Serbia: Stop attacks on human rights activists and minorities (Press Release, 20 February 2008)

Impunity

Kosovo (Serbia): Romanian police and UNMIK must be brought to account for the deaths of demonstrators in Kosovo (Press Release, 9 July 2007)

Human rights defenders

Serbia: Maja Stojanovic saved from imprisonment (Good News, 2 August 2007)

Ratification of International Treaties

Treaty Status Recognition of specific competences of Treaty Bodies Reservations/ Declarations 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Succeeded None  
Optional Protocol to the ICCPR Ratified    
Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the death penalty      
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Succeeded    
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Succeeded    
Optional Protocol to CEDAW Succeeded Arts. 8 and 9 (inquiry procedure)  
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Succeeded Art. 14 (individual complaints)  
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) Succeeded Art. 21 (inter-state complaints) Art. 22 (individual complaints)  
Optional Protocol to CAT Ratified    
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Succeeded    
Optional Protocol to the CRC on children in armed conflict Ratified   Entered
Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Ratified    
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families Signed    
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Signed    
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Ratified   Entered
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Succeeded    
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees Succeeded    
The Four Geneva Conventions Succeeded    
Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts Succeeded    
Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts Succeeded    
Protocol III to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem Signed    

Compliance with Reporting Obligations

Total Overdue Reports Up to 5 years overdue 5-10 years overdue 10 years or more overdue
11 CAT: 4th periodic report
CERD: 18th and 19th periodic reports
CRC OP AC: initial report
CRC OP SC: initial report 		CAT: 3rd periodic report
CEDAW: 5th periodic report
CERD: 16th and 17th periodic reports
 CEDAW: 4th periodic report
CERD: 15th periodic report

Cooperation with the Special Procedures

Extension of a standing invitation   Outstanding visit requests (year requested) Forthcoming visits (dates if available) Missions carried out between May 2007 and April 2008
All Special Procedures None Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion (agreed in principle)   Special Representative on human rights defenders (Sept. 2007)  
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