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.
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 2014 Data
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Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred, other speech crimes and crimes violating freedom of religion.
Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See
INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
Racist and xenophobic hate crime
The OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Government Office for Human and Minority Rights (OHMR) continued to support regular meetings of the informal inter-governmental group on hate crimes. This group provides a forum for dialogue on hate crimes among civil society and government representatives. The Mission and OHMR also hosted a regional conference focusing on the prosecution of hate crimes, attended by some 40 government and civil society representatives. Further, the Mission worked with the Judicial Academy to pilot a training seminar on hate crimes for members of the judiciary.
Anti-LGBTI hate crime
The OSCE Mission to Serbia reported that the Ministry of Interior launched a project with Labris to train some 120 police officers on addressing hate crimes against LGBT communities.
Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-Roma hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime
In his report following the country visit to Serbia, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe praised the country’s efforts in the field of hate crime training for judicial officials and the adoption of the "Action Plan for the Improvement of Work and Co-operation of the Police with Representatives and Associations of Persons of Different Sexual Orientation." He expressed concern over the large number of hate crimes targeting Roma and Sinti, and noted the persistent violence against LGBT people.
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR observes that Serbia has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech.