Series
Reports
7
Publishing of the book was supported by the
Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade
with a help of the Embassy of Swiss Confederation in Belgrade
HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 2003
LEGAL PROVISIONS, PRACTICE AND CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO COMPARED TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
Belgrade, 2004
Series
Reports
HUMAN RIGHTS IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 2003
LEGAL PROVISIONS, PRACTICE AND CONSCIOUSNESS
IN THE STATE UNION OF SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO COMPARED
TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS
Editors
Vojin Dimitrijević
Tatjana Papić
Publisher
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
Mlatišumina 26, Belgrade, Tel./fax: (011) 432 572, 308 5328
e-mail: ;
For the publisher
Vojin Dimitrijević
Proof-reading
Jasna Alibegović
Cover photograph
Igor Bandović
Cover design
Mirko Milićević
ISBN 86-7202-066-9
Printed by
Dosije, Belgrade
Content
Content...... 5
Abbreviations...... 15
Preface...... 19
Introduction...... 21
Summary...... 25
I LEGAL PROVISION RELATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS...... 29
1. Human Rights in the Legal System of Serbia and Montenegro...... 29
1.1. Introduction...... 29
1.2. Constitutional Provisions on Human Rights...... 30
1.3. International Human Rights and SaM...... 31
1.4. Amnesty and Pardon for Criminal Offences in Connection with the
armed conflicts in Former Yugoslavia...... 33
2. Right to Effective Remedy for Human Rights Violations...... 34
2.1. Ordinary Legal Remedies...... 35
2.2. Court of Serbia and Montenegro...... 36
2.3. Constitutional Appeal...... 37
2.4. Ombudsman...... 37
2.4.1. The Montenegrin Act on the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms...38
2.4.2. Situation in Serbia...... 39
3. Restrictions and Derogation...... 42
3.1. Restrictions of human rights...... 43
3.2. Derogation in a “Time of Public Emergency”...... 45
3.2.1. General...... 45
3.2.2. Derogation During a State of War...... 46
3.2.3. State of Emergency...... 48
4. Individual Rights...... 49
4.1. Prohibition of Discrimination...... 49
4.1.1. General...... 49
4.1.2. Examples of Discrimination in SaM Legislation...... 52
4.1.2.1. Some criminal offences against dignity and morals...... 52
4.1.2.2. Refugees and citizenship...... 53
4.1.2.3. Montenegrin Decree on Non-Resident Employees...... 54
4.1.3. Draft Act against Discrimination...... 55
4.2. Right to Life...... 56
4.2.1. General...... 58
4.2.2. Criminal Law...... 60
4.2.3. Abortion...... 61
4.2.4. Use of Force by Government Agencies...... 62
4.3. Prohibition of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment...... 63
4.3.1. General...... 64
4.3.2. Criminal Law...... 66
4.3.3. Criminal Proceedings and Execution of Criminal Sanctions...... 68
4.3.4. Use of Force by Police...... 69
4.4. Prohibition of Slavery and Forced Labour...... 69
4.4.1. General...... 70
4.4.2. Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of People...... 73
4.4.3. National Legislation...... 73
4.4.4. Deficiencies in National Legislation...... 76
4.4.5. Rights of the Child...... 80
4.4.6. Forced Labour...... 80
4.5. Right to Liberty and Security of Person; Treatment of Persons in
Deprived of Their Liberty...... 83
4.5.1. Introductory Remarks...... 84
4.5.2. Right to Liberty and Security of Person...... 85
4.5.2.1. Prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention...... 85
4.5.2.2. Right to be informed of reasons for arrest and charges...... 89
4.5.2.3. Right to be brought promptly before a judge and to trial within a reasonable
time...... 89
4.5.2.4. Right to appeal to court against deprivation of liberty...... 91
4.5.2.5. Right to compensation for unlawful deprivation of liberty...... 92
4.5.3. Treatment of Persons Deprivedof Their Liberty...... 93
4.5.3.1. Humane treatment and respect for dignity...... 93
4.5.3.2. Segregation of accused and convicted persons, juveniles and adults....95
4.5.3.3. Correctional/penitentiary system...... 96
4.5.4. Special Provisions in Cases of Suppressing Organised Crime...... 96
4.6. Right to a Fair Trial...... 98
4.6.1. Introduction...... 101
4.6.2. Independence and Impartiality of Courts...... 102
4.6.3. Fair and Public Trial...... 107
4.6.3.1. Fairness...... 107
4.6.3.2. Public trial and public sentencing...... 108
4.6.4. Guarantees to Defendants in Criminal Cases...... 110
4.6.4.1. Presumption of innocence...... 110
4.6.4.2. Prompt notification of charges, in language understood by the defendant.111
4.6.4.3. Sufficient time and facilities for preparation of defence and right to
communicate with legal counsel...... 111
4.6.4.4. Right to trial without undue delay...... 112
4.6.4.5. Prohibition of trials in absentia and the right to defence...... 112
4.6.4.6. Right to call and examine witnesses...... 114
4.6.4.7. Right to an interpreter...... 115
4.6.4.8. Prohibition of self-incrimination...... 115
4.6.4.9. Special treatment of juveniles in criminal proceedings...... 116
4.6.4.10. Right to appeal...... 116
4.6.4.11. Right to compensation...... 116
4.6.4.12. Ne bis in idem...... 117
4.6.5. Special Provisions Regarding Criminal Proceedings in Organised Crime
Cases...... 117
4.7. Protection of Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence...... 119
4.7.1. Privacy...... 120
4.7.1.1. Access to personal data...... 121
4.7.1.2. Sexual preference...... 126
4.7.1.3. Protection of privacy by criminal law...... 127
4.7.2. The Home...... 128
4.7.3. Correspondence...... 130
4.7.4. Honour and Reputation...... 133
4.7.5. Family and Domestic Relations...... 134
4.7.6. Change of Sex of Transsexuals...... 136
4.8. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion...... 136
4.9. Freedom of Expression...... 142
4.9.1. General...... 143
4.9.2. Republic of Serbia Ä New Public Information Act...... 144
4.9.3. Establishment and Operation of Electronic Media...... 146
4.9.3.1. Broadcasting Act of the Republic of Serbia...... 147
4.9.3.2. Media legislation in Montenegro...... 150
4.9.4. Other Draft Legislation in Relation to Freedom of Expression...... 152
4.9.5. Criminal Law...... 153
4.9.6. Prohibition of Propaganda for War and Advocacy of National, Racial or
Religious Hatred...... 156
4.10. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly...... 159
4.10.1. General...... 159
4.10.2. Prohibition of Public Assembly...... 164
4.11. Freedom of Association...... 165
4.11.1. General...... 166
4.11.2. Registration and Termination of Associations...... 167
4.11.3. Association of Aliens...... 171
4.11.4. Restrictions...... 172
4.11.4.1. Banning of organisations...... 172
4.11.4.2. Financing of political parties...... 173
4.11.4.3. Other restrictions...... 174
4.11.5. Restrictions on Association of Members of the Armed Forces and the
Police...... 175
4.11.6. The Right to Strike...... 176
4.12. Peaceful Enjoyment of Property...... 178
4.12.1. General...... 179
4.12.1.1. Taxes without Laws...... 180
4.12.2. Expropriation...... 180
4.12.3. Inheritance...... 182
4.12.4. Transformation of Forms of Ownership in Favour of State Ownership...183
4.12.5. Restitution of Unlawfully Taken Property and Indemnification of Former
Owners...... 183
4.12.6. Tax on Extra Profit and Extra Property Act...... 186
4.13. Minority Rights...... 189
4.13.1. The right to preserve the identity of minorities...... 192
4.13.2. Freedom of expression of national belonging...... 192
4.13.3. The right to use national symbols of minorities in public places...... 192
4.13.4. Freedom to use language and script...... 193
4.13.5. Right to education in the language of minorities...... 195
4.13.6. The use of place names and other geographical names in native
language...... 196
4.13.7. Proportional representation...... 197
4.13.8. Right to information and public information in minority languages.....198
4.13.9. Educational and cultural organisation...... 199
4.13.10. Right to establish and foster unhindered contacts with their co-nationals
in other countries...... 199
4.13.11. Protection of minorities against persecution and hatred...... 199
4.13.12. Political mechanisms for protection of minority rights...... 200
4.14. Political Rights...... 201
4.14.1. General...... 201
4.14.2. Participation in the Conduct of Public Affairs...... 202
4.14.2.1. Responsibility for Human Rights Violations Act – Lustration (vetting).204
4.14.3. Political Parties...... 207
4.14.4. The Right to Vote and to Stand for Elections...... 209
4.14.5. Electoral Procedure...... 213
4.14.5.1. Bodies administering the election process...... 213
4.14.5.2. Control of ballot printing and safekeeping of electoral documentation..214
4.14.5.3. Determination of the election results...... 215
4.14.5.4. Grounds for annulment...... 217
4.14.5.5. Legal protection...... 217
4.15. Special Protection of the Family and the Child...... 219
4.15.1. Protection of the Family...... 220
4.15.2. Marriage...... 221
4.15.3. Special Protection of the Child...... 223
4.15.3.1. General...... 223
4.15.3.2. “Measures of protection ... required by the status of minors”...... 225
4.15.3.3. Protection of minors in criminal law and procedure...... 226
4.15.3.4. Birth and name of the child...... 228
4.16. Right to Citizenship...... 228
4.16.1. General...... 229
4.16.2. Acquisition of Yugoslav Citizenship...... 230
4.16.3. Dealing With Citizenship Problems Following the Break-up of Former
Yugoslavia...... 231
4.17. Freedom of Movement...... 234
4.17.1. General...... 235
4.17.2. Right to Asylum...... 236
4.17.3. Restrictions...... 237
4.18. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights...... 238
4.18.1. Right to Work...... 238
4.18.2. Right to Fair and Favourable Conditions of Work...... 240
4.18.3. Right to Social Security...... 241
4.18.4. Protection of the Family...... 244
4.18.5. Right to Health Care...... 247
4.18.6. Housing...... 250
4.18.7. Physically and Mentally Disabled Persons...... 252
4.18.8. Nutrition...... 252
4.18.9. Poverty...... 252
4.18.10. Education...... 253
4.18.10.1. The University Act...... 257
II HUMAN RIGHTS IN PRACTICE...... 261
1. Introduction...... 261
1.1. Research materials...... 261
1.2. National media as sources of data...... 261
1.3. Reports of local non-governmental organisations...... 263
1.4. Reports by international organisations...... 263
2. Individual Rights...... 264
2.1. Prohibition of Discrimination...... 264
2.1.1. Discrimination based on ethnic origin...... 264
2.1.1.1. The Roma...... 264
2.1.1.2. Other...... 266
2.1.2. Other forms of discrimination...... 266
2.2. Right to Life...... 267
2.2.1. The epilogue of politically-motivated murders committed in the past years.268
2.2.2. Prosecutions of violations of humanitarian law...... 269
2.2.2.1. Prosecutions of police and army personnel for violations of humanitarian law 269
2.2.2.2. Trials for kidnappings of Bosniaks in Sandžak in 1992 and 1993...... 270
2.2.3. Mass graves...... 272
2.2.4. Endangerment of general security...... 273
2.2.5. Endangerment of the right to life on other grounds...... 274
2.3. Prohibition of Torture, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment...... 274
2.3.1. Cases of Torture in Serbia in 2003...... 276
2.3.1.1. Criminal and disciplinary proceedings...... 277
2.3.1.2. The Situation in Serbian prisons...... 278
2.3.2. Torture in Montenegro...... 278
2.3.2.1. Legal proceedings in connection with police brutality in Montenegro...279
2.4. Prohibition of Slavery and Forced Labour...... 279
2.4.1. Trafficking in human beings in Serbia...... 280
2.4.2. Trafficking in human beings in Montenegro...... 281
2.4.3. Cross-border smuggling of human beings...... 283
2.5. Right to Liberty and Security of Person; Treatment of Persons in
Deprived of their Liberty...... 284
2.5.1. Illegal arrest damage awards...... 284
2.6. Right to a Fair Trial...... 285
2.6.1. The Judiciary...... 286
2.6.1.1. Reform of the judiciary...... 287
2.6.2. Apprehension and prosecution of members of the former regime...... 288
2.6.3. Judicial accountability...... 289
2.6.4. Other trials...... 289
2.6.5. Other violations of the right to a fair trial...... 289
2.7. Protection of Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence...... 290
2.8. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion...... 291
2.8.1. Relations between religious communities...... 291
2.8.2. Civilian service in the military...... 292
2.8.3. Abortion...... 293
2.9. Freedom of Expression...... 293
2.9.1. The Broadcasting Council...... 293
2.9.2. Litigation...... 294
2.9.2.1. Libel actions...... 294
2.9.2.2. Newspaper bans...... 296
2.9.3. Unprofessional Conduct by Journalists...... 296
2.9.4. Pressures on Journalists...... 297
2.9.4.1. Police assaults on journalists...... 297
2.9.4.2. Physical assaults on journalists by political figures...... 297
2.9.4.3. Other pressures on journalists...... 298
2.9.5. Pressures on the Media in Montenegro...... 298
2.9.6. Language of Hatred...... 299
2.10. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly...... 300
2.11. Freedom of Association...... 301
2.12. Peaceful Enjoyment of Property...... 301
2.13. Minority Rights...... 302
2.13.1. Ethnic Albanians...... 302
2.13.2. Bosniaks...... 304
2.13.3. Roma...... 305
2.13.4. Minorities in Vojvodina...... 306
2.14. Political Rights...... 307
2.14.1. The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro...... 307
2.14.2. Political Rights in Serbia...... 308
2.14.2.1. Presidential votes...... 308
2.14.2.2. Parliamentary elections in Serbia...... 308
2.14.2.3. Attacks on political opponents...... 309
2.14.3. Political Rights in Montenegro (Presidential Elections)...... 309
2.15. Special Protection of the Family and the Child...... 309
2.15.1. Violence in the family...... 310
2.15.2. Child abuse...... 310
2.16. Right to Citizenship...... 311
2.17. Freedom of Movement...... 311
2.18. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights...... 311
2.18.1. Unemployment...... 312
2.18.2. Poverty...... 312
2.18.3. The right to housing...... 313
2.18.4. People with special needs...... 313
III CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
AND PRACTICE IN SaM...... 315
1. Introduction...... 315
1.1. Methodology...... 315
1.1.1. Sample...... 315
1.1.2. Questionnaire...... 317
1.1.3. Time period of survey...... 317
1.2. Political Environment...... 317
2. Understanding of Human Rights...... 320
2.1. Understanding of Human Rights...... 320
2.2. Protection of Human Rights in Serbia and Montenegro...... 320
2.3. Importance of Particular Human Rights and Their Respect in SaM...... 321
3. Special Rights...... 325
3.1. Prohibition of Discrimination...... 325
3.2. Right to Life...... 328
3.3. Prohibition of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment...... 330
3.4. Liberty and Security of the Person; Treatment of Prisoners...... 332
3.5. Prohibition of Slavery and Forced Labor...... 333
3.6. Right to a Fair Trial...... 334
3.7. Protection of Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence...... 335
3.8. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion...... 336
3.9. Freedom of Expression...... 338
3.10. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly...... 340
3.11. Freedom of Association...... 341
3.12. Peaceful Enjoyment of Property...... 342
3.13. Minority Rights...... 344
3.14. Political Rights...... 346
3.15. Special Protection of the Family and the Child...... 347
3.16. Right to Citizenship...... 349
3.17. Freedom of Movement...... 350
3.18. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights...... 351
4. Enjoyment of Human Rights...... 353
5. Conclusion...... 356
IV MAIN ISSUES – 2003...... 359
1. State of Emergency in Serbia, 12 March – 22 April 2003...... 359
1.1. General...... 359
1.2. Legal Grounds, Compliance with International Standards...... 361
1.2.1. The Legal Foundation...... 361
1.2.2. Compliance with International Standards...... 362
1.2.3. Derogation from Individual Rights...... 363
1.2.3.1. Liberty and security of person; treatment of prisoners...... 363
1.2.3.2. Freedom of movement...... 366
1.2.3.3. The right to privacy...... 367
1.2.3.4. Freedom of association...... 368
1.2.3.5. Freedom of peaceful assembly...... 368
1.2.3.6. Freedom of expression...... 368
1.2.3.7. The right to an efficient remedy for violations of rights...... 371
1.2.4. Observance of Other Rights During the State of Emergency...... 372
1.2.4.1. Right to life...... 372
1.2.4.2. Prohibition of torture...... 372
1.2.4.3. Autonomy of courts...... 374
1.3. Conclusion...... 375
2. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY)...... 376
2.1. Introduction...... 376
2.2. Indictments in 2003...... 377
Limaj and others (IT 03–66)...... 377
Vojislav Šešelj ( IT 03–67)...... 378
Naser Orić (IT 03–68)...... 378
Dragan Obrenović (IT 02–60/2)...... 379
Momir Nikolić (IT–02–60/1)...... 379
Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović (IT 03–69)...... 379
Nebojša Pavković and others (IT–03–70)...... 380
Milan Babić (IT–03–72)...... 381
2.3. Sentences Passed in 2003...... 381
Biljana Plavšić...... 381
Kupreškić and others...... 382
Čelebići...... 382
Milomir Stakić – “Prijedor”...... 382
Mladen “Tuta” Naletilić and Vinko “Štela” Martinović...... 382
Momir Nikolić...... 383
Stanislav Galić...... 383
Dragan Obrenović...... 383
2.4. The Trial of Slobodan Milošević...... 384
2.5. The Co-operation of Serbia and Montenegro with the ICTY...... 384
2.6. Legal Problems in the Work of the ICTY...... 388
2.6.1. Detention...... 388
2.6.2. Appointments of Defenders...... 390
2.6.3. Plea Bargain Deals...... 391
3. The Human Rights Situation in Kosovo and Metohija in 2003...... 394
3.1. Introduction...... 394
3.2. Legislative Framework...... 394
3.3. Human Rights in Practice in 2003...... 395
3.3.1. Investigations and prosecutions in connection with violations of
international humanitarian law...... 396
3.3.2. The question of missing persons in 2003...... 397
3.3.3. Ethnically-motivated violence in 2003...... 398
3.3.4. The Problem of protecting witnesses in criminal trials...... 400
3.3.5. Repatriation of refugees and displaced persons...... 401
3.4. The Position of Minorities Seen on the Example of the Peć Region...... 402
3.4.1. Freedom of movement...... 402
3.4.2. Access to the legal system...... 403
3.4.3. Employment opportunities...... 404
3.4.4. Access to health care and social security...... 404
3.4.5. Access to education...... 404
3.4.6. Access to property and resolution of ownership questions...... 405
3.5. Standards for Kosovo...... 405
3.6. Conclusion...... 406
4. Refugees and Displaced Persons...... 407
4.1. Introduction...... 407
4.2. Legal Framework...... 408
4.3. The Situation of Refugees and IDPs in Practice...... 410
4.3.1. Legal protection against violence and discrimination...... 410
4.3.2. Endangering of lives and security of refugees, IDPs and returnees...... 411
4.3.3. Access to labour market and social services...... 412
4.3.4. Housing and accommodation...... 415
4.3.5. Choice of the place of residence and freedom of movement...... 417
4.3.6. Lack of personal documents...... 417
4.3.7. Property rights...... 419
4.4. Roma and the readmission treaties...... 422
4.5. Asylum Seekers – “Refugees from third countries”...... 424
Appendix 1...... 425
The Most Important Human Rights Treaties Binding the Serbia and Montenegro.425
Appendix 2...... 429
Legislation Concerning Human Rights in the Serbia and Montenegro...... 429
Constitutional Acts...... 429
SaM Legislation...... 429
Serbia...... 431
Montenegro...... 434
Abbreviations
AEPS – Act of Enforcement of Penal Sanctions
AI – Amnesty International
ANEM – Association of the Independent Electronic Media
Basic CC – Basic Criminal Code
BCHR – Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
BIA – Security and Information Agency
B&H – Bosnia and Hercegovina
CAA – Center for Antiwar Action
CAT – Committee against Torture
CESCR – International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 16 December 1966
CeSID – Center for Free Elections and Democracy
CC – Criminal Code
CoE – Council of Europe
Constitutional Charter – Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
CPC – Criminal Procedure Code
CPT – Committe for the Prevention of Torture
CSCE – Conference for Securuty and Cooperation in Europe
CUPS – Centre for Advanced Legal Studies
DOS – Democratic Oposition of Serbia
DPS – Democratic Party of Socialists
DS – Democratic Party
DSS – Democratic Party of Serbia
ECHR – European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
ECtHR – European Court for Human Rights
EU – European Union
FPRY – Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia
FRY – Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Federal Constitution – Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of 27 April 1992
GSS – Civic Alliance of Serbia
HC – Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
HLC – Humanitarian Law Center
Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1998 – Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1998, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Belgrade, 1999
Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1999 – Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1999, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Belgrade, 2000
Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2000 – Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2000, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Belgrade, 2001
Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2001 – Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2001, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Belgrade, 2002
Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2002 – Human Rights in Yugoslavia 2001, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, Belgrade, 2003
HR Charter – Charter on Human and Minority Rights and Civil Liberties
HRW – Human Rights Watch
ICCPR – International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966
ICESCR – International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 16 December 1966
ICG – International Crisis Group
ICRC – International Committee of Red Cross
ICTY – International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
ILO – International Labour Organisation
IWPR – Institute for War and Peace Reporting
“KLA” – “Kosovo Liberation Army”
KFOR – Kosovo Forces
LCEMP – Elections of Members of Parliament Act
LMFR – Marriage and Family Relations Act
LGAP – General Administrative Procedure Act
Montenegrin Constitution – Constitution of the Republic of Montenegro of 13 October 1992
Montenegro – Republic of Montenegro
MOC – Montenegro Ortodox Church
MUP – Ministry of Interior
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
ODIHR – Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
OSCE – Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
PSEA – Penal Sanctions Enforcement Act
REC – Republic Electoral Commission
RTS – Radio Television of Serbia
SaM – Serbia and Montenegro
SDB – State Security Service
SDP – Social Democratic Party
Serbia – Republic of Serbia
Serbian Constitution – Constitution of the Republic of Serbia of 28 September 1990
SFRY – Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Sl. glasnik RS – Službeni glasnik Republike Srbije (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia)
Sl. list RCG – Službeni list Republike Crne Gore (Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro)
Sl. list SRJ – Službeni list Savezne Republike Jugoslavije (Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia)
Sl. glasnik SRS – Službeni glasnik Socijalističke Republike Srbije (Official Gazette of the Socialist Republic of Serbia)
SNP – Socialist People's Party
SPC – Serbian Orthodox Church
SPS – Socialist Party of Serbia
SRCG – Socialist Republic of Montenegro
SRS – Serbian Radical Party
UN – United Nations
UN doc. – United Nations document
UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNHCHR – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF – United Nations Children's Fund
UNOHCRH – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Universal Declaration – Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948
UNMIK – United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
VJ – Army of Yugoslavia
YUCOM – Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
Preface
The Human Rights in Serbia and Montenegro 2003 is published by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights in an attempt to offer to the national and international public and abroad a survey of the actual exercise and enjoyment of internationally guaranteed human rights in Serbia and Montenegro. The Centre's aim has been to examine as thoroughly as possible the legal regulation, exercise, enjoyment, limitations and violations of human rights and the most important factors influencing the human rights situation in the country.
This is the sixth in a series of reports on human rights published by the Centre since 1998.[1] It can be perused with reference to the other five, especially if the reader wishes to investigate the origins of the latest events and compare the present situation with that before the changes in 2000.
The report is divided into four sections.
The first section describes and examines constitutional provisions, laws and regulations dealing with human rights, and compares them with international standards and the obligations of Serbia and Montenegro under international treaties. This section is based on comprehensive data collected by the Centre.
Section two deals with the practical enjoyment of human rights in the country. The need to provide a full picture made it necessary not to rely only on the Centre's own research, but also to systematically survey the national media and collect all available reports produced by relevant human rights organisations. The sheer mass of data, often conflicting, did not always allow the authors to reach final conclusions, but all sources have been conveyed in full, giving to the reader material to arrive at his/her own conclusions.
As in its reports for 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002, the Centre conducted in late 2003 its survey of the perceptions of citizens' of human rights and their related attitudes on a large sample of respondents; the findings are given in section three.
A comprehensive annual report on the human rights situation in a country and society cannot be produced without covering the broader issues affecting the enjoyment of human rights. Section four therefore includes concise presentations of the topics deemed to be most important: the state of emergency proclaimed in spring, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the situation in Kosovo, and the status of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Work on the report began on 1 January 2003 and ended on 20 January 2004. As a rule, factual research covers the period until 15 December 2003.