OSCE Mission head welcomes appointments of Citizens' Protector deputies in Serbia

BELGRADE, 7 October 2008 - The Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, welcomed today the National Assembly's appointment of four Citizen Protectors' deputies.

"Building the capacity of Serbia's human rights institutions is a priority for the OSCE Mission to Serbia. More than a year after his appointment, the Serbian Citizens' Protector, Sasa Jankovic, can now count on the help of expert colleagues to more efficiently protect the rights of children, those deprived of their liberty and those belonging to national minorities," Urstad said.

"The appointments will also enable the institution to become a stronger player in defending the rights of disabled people and in encouraging gender equality."

The Mission will support the four deputies and intensify its co-operation with the Office of the Citizens' Protector, Urstad added.

So far the co-operation has resulted in plans for projects such as an awareness-raising campaign targeting children, the publishing of information leaflets in minority languages and the development of a strategy to monitor places of detention.