The Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pašalić, congratulated all members of the Islamic religion on the beginning of the month of Ramadan today, wishing them to spend it in peace, happiness and understanding with their families and friends.
"I wish all members of the Islamic religion in the Republic of Serbia to spend the upcoming month of fasting in peace, love and understanding with their family members, relatives and friends. Understanding and solidarity are the main values of Ramadan that we should constantly remind ourselves of in these difficult times", Pašalić said in his congratulatory message.
The Deputy Protector of Citizens, Jelena Stojanović, stated today that this independent state institution has intensified its work to protect against human trafficking, primarily children as the most vulnerable category of the population, and that last year, through its control procedures, it contributed to the identification of many victims of human trafficking.
"In 2022, as part of the control investigations, for the first time we sent two applications to the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, based on which several victims were identified, who were provided with protection. We received initial information about the possibility of human trafficking from the media", Stojanović said at a lecture to students of the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade, as part of the Law Clinic for Combating Human Trafficking.
Stojanović introduced the students to the powers, working methods and competences of the Protector of Citizens, especially the new competences assigned to him by the Law on the Protector of Citizens adopted in November 2021, among which is the competence of the national rapporteur in the field of human trafficking.
She pointed out that the Protector of Citizens pays special attention to children and young people from vulnerable groups, such as children with disabilities, children belonging to national minorities, children victims of violence, abuse, exploitation and human trafficking, children on the move, children who live and work on the street, children without parental care.
"I emphasize once again that for the protection against human trafficking, the general information of citizens, especially children and young people, about the sources and types of risks of human trafficking is important. It is also necessary to have adequate and timely cooperation of the competent authorities on the protection of victims of human trafficking, which was absent in certain cases that we worked on, which resulted in the prolongation of the provision of protection to the victims", stated the Deputy Protector of Citizens.
The Protector of Citizens has many years of experience and knowledge in controlling the work of competent authorities when it becomes known that there is a suspicion of human trafficking or sexual abuse and abuse of children. We will continue the efficient work of this institution through the performance of tasks of the national rapporteur in the field of human trafficking, said Stojanović.
The Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pašalić, congratulated all Orthodox Roma in the Republic of Serbia and around the world today on the Roma religious holiday Bibija, with wishes for good health, progress and well-being.
"Auntie Bibija, or as she is also called Bibijaka, is a great Roma religious holiday that unites all Orthodox Roma wherever they are and strengthens their sense of community. I wish all members of the Roma community in Serbia good health, happiness and well-being", said Pašalić during a visit to the Roma Association of Belgrade.
Pašalić reminded that throughout history, Roma and Serbs shared a fate that was very difficult, but that with joint efforts and support they managed to overcome such periods and preserve their authenticity.
The Orthodox Roma celebrate Auntie Bibija as a healer and protector of the family, primarily as a protector of children's health. Every place in Serbia has a different date of her celebration, because according to the legend, Aunt Bibija arrived in many places throughout the country on different days and healed the sick.
The Protector of Citizens submitted today to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia the regular annual report on his work and the state of human rights in the Republic of Serbia in 2022.
In the regular annual report for 2022, the Protector of Citizens presented the activities of the previous year, perceived shortcomings in the work of administrative authorities, recommendations for improving practice and normative regulation of individual areas, proposals for improving the position of citizens in relation to administrative authorities, as well as data on the implementation of recommendations and suggestions from previous reports.
According to the Law on the Protector of Citizens, the Protector of Citizens submits a regular annual report to the National Assembly no later than 15 March of the year for the previous year.
