National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Friday, 24 April 2015
28th Sitting of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality
At the sitting held on 24 April, the members of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality reviewed the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24.
The representatives of the Ministry of Interior presented the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24 with a special focus on topics within the Committee’s purview – trafficking in human beings, witness protection, migration and asylum.
On the behalf of the Ministry of Interior, Miodrag Lazic said that the Third Draft Action Plan is sufficiently objective, that an adequate number of activities have been conducted and that it has been harmonised, to a high degree, with the institutions and all other state bodies which took part in its drafting. He said that the document relates to the screening report submitted in May last year by the European Commission following the bilateral explanatory screening meetings. In the Action Plan drafting process itself, the plan was divided into 10 negotiating sub-chapters, among them chapters concerning the Committee.
Drazen Maravic said that the European Union has a new approach according to which new member states have to implement regulations for two years prior to EU accession.
The sitting then focused on gender equality and inclusion of women in the negotiations chapters. The most important matter concerning human trafficking is the adoption of the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, the deadline for which is September 2015. The adoption of the Strategy will also establish the institute of National Coordinator for combating trafficking in human beings. The Republic of Serbia has confirmed the Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes, but it still remains to be ratified and it is the key to the establishment of a social fund, said Gordana Janicijevic of the Ministry of Interior.
Jelena Vasiljevic said that the treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers needs to be more efficient, especially as regards security because the influx of immigrants can give rise to safety risks and criminal activities. She informed the Committee members that the deadline for the new Law on Asylum-Seekers is May 2016, adding that an Office for Asylum-Seekers was established in January 2015.
Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic gave a positive assessment of the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24 and commended the Ministry’s cooperation with the non-governmental sector and civil society. He suggested that it would be useful if the bills were to undergo broad public debate before they enter Assembly procedure.
The Committee unanimously proposed that the European Integration Committee should give a positive opinion to the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24.
The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic.
On the behalf of the Ministry of Interior, Miodrag Lazic said that the Third Draft Action Plan is sufficiently objective, that an adequate number of activities have been conducted and that it has been harmonised, to a high degree, with the institutions and all other state bodies which took part in its drafting. He said that the document relates to the screening report submitted in May last year by the European Commission following the bilateral explanatory screening meetings. In the Action Plan drafting process itself, the plan was divided into 10 negotiating sub-chapters, among them chapters concerning the Committee.
Drazen Maravic said that the European Union has a new approach according to which new member states have to implement regulations for two years prior to EU accession.
The sitting then focused on gender equality and inclusion of women in the negotiations chapters. The most important matter concerning human trafficking is the adoption of the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, the deadline for which is September 2015. The adoption of the Strategy will also establish the institute of National Coordinator for combating trafficking in human beings. The Republic of Serbia has confirmed the Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes, but it still remains to be ratified and it is the key to the establishment of a social fund, said Gordana Janicijevic of the Ministry of Interior.
Jelena Vasiljevic said that the treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers needs to be more efficient, especially as regards security because the influx of immigrants can give rise to safety risks and criminal activities. She informed the Committee members that the deadline for the new Law on Asylum-Seekers is May 2016, adding that an Office for Asylum-Seekers was established in January 2015.
Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic gave a positive assessment of the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24 and commended the Ministry’s cooperation with the non-governmental sector and civil society. He suggested that it would be useful if the bills were to undergo broad public debate before they enter Assembly procedure.
The Committee unanimously proposed that the European Integration Committee should give a positive opinion to the Third Draft Action Plan for Chapter 24.
The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic.