Serbia

Serbia regularly reports data on hate crimes to ODIHR. Serbia's Criminal Code contains a general penalty enhancement provision and a substantive offence provision. The data reported to ODIHR also include cases of incitement to hatred, individual defamation, other hate speech offences, discrimination and the violation of equality. Serbia's Prosecutor's Office collects data on hate crime.

How hate crime data is collected in Serbia

How hate crime data is collected in Serbia

There is no specific system in place for the police recording of hate crimes.

The recording of hate crimes is conducted in all 83 public prosecutor offices in accordance with official guidelines. There is an instruction that defines record keeping on hate crimes within the meaning of the aggravating circumstance under Article 54a of the Criminal Code, including on providing a specific indication of the motive of the criminal offence. Under General Compulsory Instruction O.br. 4/2018 of 28 September 2018, each Prosecutor's Office includes a prosecutor appointed as a contact point, who is tasked with collecting information and issuing quarterly reports on activities regarding hate crimes to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

In addition to hate crimes, the Prosecutor's Office records the criminal offences of incitement to ethnic, racial and religious hatred and intolerance (Article 317 of the Criminal Code), racial and other discrimination (Article 387 of the Criminal Code), as well as other criminal offences covered in the Criminal Code.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and competent public prosecutor's offices co-operate with relevant civil society organizations on the basis of signed protocols. Regular co-ordination meetings are held, involving representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office, representatives of other competent state bodies and civil society organisations to prevent hate crimes in the Republic of Serbia. These meetings are held twice a year and are organized by the Office for Human Rights and Minority Rights of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the OSCE Mission to Serbia. Opinions are exchanged at the co-ordination meetings with the representatives of the civil sector, who point out cases that, in their opinion, represent hate crimes. In addition to the aforementioned normative regulations, the Guidelines for the Prosecution of Hate Crimes in the Republic of Serbia are also important for the actions of public prosecutors.

Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2020 66 5 4
2019 86 14 10
2018 61 12 7
2017 5 0 0
2016 9 1 2
2015 79 7 19
2014 87 21 14
2013 64 24 16
2012 36 39 37
2011 39 36 24
2010 37 35 13
2009 82 16 44

About 2020 Data

    Most of the records reported by the police and prosecution services,and the sentencing figures include the offences of incitement to hatred, defamation, discrimination or violation of equality, which fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crime.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-02 Attacks against property
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-10 Threats
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
OSCE Mission to Serbia
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-01 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-02 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-05 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Serbia
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info

Anti-Roma hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-01 Threats
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-09 Violent attacks against people
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-05 Attacks against property
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
 Show info
2020-05 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-10 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-08 Violent attacks against people
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC)
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-10 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-02 Attacks against property
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-11 Threats
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-12 Threats
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-05 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Serbia
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-10 Attacks against property
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info

Disability hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-10 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-01 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-08 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-12 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-01 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-03 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-02 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-02 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-12 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-06 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-09 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-07 Violent attacks against people
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-02 Attacks against property
Association Da se zna!
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-12 Attacks against property
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-03 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-05 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-03 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-01 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-10 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-09 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-08 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-04 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-10 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-08 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-01 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info
2020-03 Threats
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
 Show info
2020-03 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Serbia
 Show info
2020-02 Threats
Association Da se zna!
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Council of the European Union published relevant recommendations in its "Conclusions on Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process".

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Serbia's efforts in prosecuting hate crimes effectively as well as regularly reporting to ODIHR. However, based on the available information, it observes that Serbia does not collect data and statistics on hate crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes Serbia would benefit from raising the awareness and building the capacity of police about hate crimes.

ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have committed to collecting reliable data and statistics on hate crimes. In the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have also committed to introducing or further developing professional training and capacity-building activities for law-enforcement, prosecution, and judicial officials dealing with hate crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Serbia in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime reporting, as well as through providing further resources and tailored capacity building assistance for police, prosecution, and judiciary.

Our methodology