On 1 January 2013, the new provision on aggravating circumstances of the Criminal Code of Serbia entered into force. Section 54a provides for an enhanced penalty when a crime has been committed based on hatred towards race, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, in co-operation with the British Embassy, launched a project establishing an information service for victims and witnesses within the prosecutor’s office. In addition, a pilot service was established within the High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade.
The Regional Centre for Minorities reported a physical assault by a group against a group of Hungarians; one incident of damage to a building that was housing asylum seekers, causing them to leave; and an arson attack against a barracks that were being prepared to house asylum seekers.
The Federation of Jewish Communities reported one incident of threats against a Jewish man and his family and one case of the desecration of a cemetery. The Regional Centre for Minorities reported the desecration of one further Jewish cemetery, in which 39 tombstones were destroyed. World Without Nazism reported one incident of the desecration of a cemetery.
The Regional Centre for Minorities reported two incidents of the desecration of mosques and one incident of assault resulting in serious injury carried out by a group against two employees at a halal restaurant, also causing serious damage to the restaurant. World Without Nazism reported one incident of physical assault carried out by a group, resulting in serious injury and also in significant damage to the restaurant where the victim worked.
Labris reported one physical assault carried out by a group against two gay men.
The Regional Centre for Minorities and Chachipe reported an incident of damage to a monument to a Roma musician. Chachipe reported the murder of a Roma teenager, whose body was found in a pond; two physical assaults; two attacks against settlements by groups of from 20 to 50 attackers, resulting in several victims being hospitalized; threats of arson and damage to property; and one additional incident of damage to property. The Regional Centre for Minorities reported four physical assaults, including one carried out by a group against a young Roma man, two carried out by groups on Roma settlements in Niš and Resnik, and one against a Roma man and woman in a shopping centre. The Centre also reported one incident of threats.
World Without Nazism reported one incident of the desecration of a place of worship.
ODIHR observes that Serbia has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech.