The Conference was opened by the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, while Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General Anders B. Johnson, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Thomas Moore, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Serbia William S. Infante and Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Serbia Nadia Cuk gave key addresses. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Nikola Novakovic, MPs Jelena Trivan and Milica Vojic Markovic, member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians and MP at the Slovenian Assembly Bogdan Barovic, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Sabic, Equality Protection Commissioner Nevena Petrusic, Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, representatives of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government and Ministry of Justice, as well as representatives of the civil sector and international missions in Serbia took part in the Conference as panelists.

Greeting the participants, National Assembly Speaker Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic said that the Conference was the National Assembly’s way of commemorating the International Day of Democracy, as well as the 120^th anniversary of its membership at the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The National Assembly Speaker stressed that Serbia recognizes the importance of human rights which is evident in its legislative activity.

Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General Anders B. Johnson said that Serbian parliamentarians strongly endorse the promotion human rights, peace and cooperation within the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Thomas Moore stressed that Serbia is a credible and active member of international organisations dealing with human rights protection. He pointed out that the parliament represents the citizens and reflects social diversity, at the same time commending the National Assembly’s commitment to found a Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality as envisaged by the provisions of the Rules of Procedure which will come into force starting from the next assembly convocation.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Serbia William S. Infante stated that democracy is both the basis of and a way to protect human rights and applauded the ratification of most of the United Nations documents and conventions on human rights by the National Assembly.

Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Serbia Nadia Cuk said that modern global threats impinge on human rights and should be approached differently, by mobilizing all segments of society – the state and its institutions, media, civil sector and, first and foremost, act preventively.

The Conference addressed human rights and the role of parliamentarians, universal human rights protection system, Council of Europe human rights protection and monitoring system, system of parliamentary control, oversight and role of state human rights institutions. The participants agreed that the National Assembly’s control function should be strengthened considering that it passes excellent laws, yet their implementation remains problematic.

The handbook titled Human Rights: A Handbook for Parliamentarians, published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and United Nations High Commissariat for Human Rights and whose translation into Serbian and printing was helped by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, was presented on the occasion. Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General Anders B. Johnson said that the handbook provides parliamentarians with useful information on the mechanisms of law enforcement and human rights protection.