Today, the members of the Committee on Interethnic Relations hosted a group of 30 young activists from nine Serbian towns, participants of the project “Leave a Trace, Change the Place! – Advocacy Initiatives for the Minorities”. The project was realised by non-government organizations, Group 484 and Centre for Modern Skills, with the goal of introducing the youth to different cultures and their values. Youth activities promoting ethnic minorities’ rights and intercultural dialogue were put in particular focus.

The guests were greeted by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gordana Comic who talked about the Parliament’s work and importance of respecting the rights of all minorities in Serbian society. She said that by passing laws the National Assembly promotes the models the society advocates and thus influences societal change i.e. change of social relations.

The Chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations, Miletic Mihajlovic informed the young activists on the Committee’s duties and work, stressing that a Sub-Committee had been formed within it dealing with issues concerning the improvement of the position of Roma and implementation of the Decade of Roma. Committee member Zeljko Tomic stated that ethnic minorities make up 17% of Serbia’s population and that they are guaranteed rights under the Constitution and law, in line with the highest European standards. The minorities are also adequately represented in the National Assembly, as well as in other state bodies, Tomic said.

The young activists form Kikinda, Vrsac, Zajecar, Vranje, Sjenica, Bosilgrad, Kovacica, Coka and Bela Crkva talked about their activities in their local communities aimed at improving the position of minorities and posed various questions to the deputies.