Paunovic at UN: Serbia respects its obligations

BELGRADE - Director of the Serbian government’s Human and Minority Rights Office Suzana Paunovic presented before the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights a periodical report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on Friday.

The delegation spoke before the Committee about measures that Serbia has undertaken in the implementation of strategic documents and legislation in the areas to the Covenant deals with, the Office of Human and Minority Rights of Serbia said in a release on Thursday.

Paunovic said that legislative activity in Serbia was very intense in the period under consideration, assuring the Committee that Serbia respects the obligations it assumed when it ratified the Covenant in July 1971.

“A large number of laws were adopted and a large number of conventions that contribute to improving the human rights situation were ratified and we are quite focused on their full implementation. In this process, we are practically harmonizing our legal system with EU standards,” said Paunovic.

She said Serbia is aware of the challenges and remains consistent in its efforts to fulfill international obligations and standards, especially in the sphere of economic, social and cultural rights, something that involves active cooperation with international bodies dealing with these issues.

Most of the questions raised by the Committee concerned the economic position of the most vulnerable social groups in Serbia, judicial reform, fight against corruption, status and position of independent regulatory bodies, minority rights, social housing, legally invisible persons and facilities for people with disabilities.

The delegation of the...