Serbia | HCRW

Serbia regularly reports data on hate crimes to ODIHR. In 2018, the Office of the Prosecutor General, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and ODIHR, developed Guidelines for the prosecution of hate crimes in the Republic of Serbia. A network of contact persons working on hate crime within the prosecution services was established and, with the OSCE Mission's assistance, the Judicial Academy has developed, integrated and implements a hate crime training plan and programme.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2011 hate crime report for Serbia

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2023	53	4	2
2022	94	11	6
2021	109	11	11
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 2011 Data

Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred.

Download official data

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The Regional Centre for Minorities reported several attacks on a youth centre over a period of three months, involving rocks being thrown, windows being broken, and Molotov cocktails being thrown, and one case of physical assault.

Anti-Roma hate crime

The Regional Centre for Minorities reported two physical assaults, including one involving serious injury and one against a Roma woman in a container settlement after a forced eviction by authorities; three cases of graffiti; and one arson attack against a community centre.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Labris and the Gay Straight Alliance reported one case of physical assualt against a lesbian woman involving serious injuries; six additional physical assaults, including one resulting in serious injury and one involving a group; and one case of threats. Apart from the physical assault on the lesbian woman, the victims were gay men, including one youth.

The Regional Centre for Minorities reported one case of damage to property of an LGBT centre.

The Gay Straight Alliance reported a further nine cases of physical assault, including two outside gay nightclubs and two on public transport, and a repeated assault against a man near his home; two cases of threats; two cases of criminal damage involving one case of graffiti on a cultural centre, and one case involving rocks being thrown and explosive devices being deployed. The victims were all gay men, with the exceptions of one boy and one lesbian woman.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended that Serbia enact specific legislation on hate crimes and intensify enforcement against racially motivated crimes.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that Serbia ensure more vigorous implementation of criminal law in cases of racist crime, strengthen judicial training on issues relating to racist crime and encourage witnesses and victims to report hate crimes. ECRI also expressed concern about violent attacks against religious minorities, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses and Adventists in Serbia.