The exhibition is organised within the annual conference on International Human Rights Day, 10 December and on the occasion Speaker Dacic and Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic handed awards to the winning literary and art works and photographs.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN ITS ENTIRETY:

Dear guests,

Dear children,

Welcome to the National Assembly and congratulations on International Human Rights Day. Our National Assembly is a place where laws are passed as rules that apply to all of us no matter what we do. And every law that we pass, and there are many of them, must make sure that the human rights of each of us are respected, especially children, when they are concerned.

We are obliged to do that by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted exactly 73 years ago at the United Nations, and that is why, in its honour, the whole world marks the International Human Rights Day. This Declaration is the first and most important international document that obliges all countries in the world to protect human rights and to constantly improve their protection.

All the rights and freedoms contained in this Declaration belong to all people, be they children or adults, whatever their race, colour, sex, sex, language, religion or political or other views. These rights cannot be taken away from anyone, and they depend on each other and are interconnected. On this Human Rights Day, we would like to emphasise this interdependence of human rights and call us all, once again, to solidarity, because that is how we help those in need, to be equal and to enjoy all human rights. I am thinking primarily of people with special needs, people with disabilities and especially our elderly, who need the help of you children and young people so that they can enjoy all the rights that belong to them.

That is why I am especially glad that today in the National Assembly we have you young people and your vision of human rights, as you presented them in your works. This competition has existed since 2016 and its title "Bridge of Understanding - Intergenerational Solidarity" neatly describes the intention of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, as the organiser of the competition, and us in the National Assembly as hosts, to encourage everyone - young and old, to show even more solidarity to each other and to use all the rights that belong to us.

I would like to welcome you once again on behalf of the National Assembly, I want you to feel at home here and I want to congratulate everyone who participated in this year's competition, especially those whose works have been awarded.

Thank you!"