Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković met today with the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, Nevena Petrušić, PhD, discussing the improvement of cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the institution of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality.

Minister Selaković and Commissioner Petrušić, PhD, agreed that there are numerous fields in which cooperation could be intensified, in order to raise the awareness of citizens on their rights, and what could be considered to be discrimination in society. She informed the Minister that this independent authority initiated 13 strategic actions, and that in the forthcoming period knowledge of the representatives of judicial authority in the domain of the role and responsibilities of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality should be improved.

Petrušić emphasized that the Commissioner monitors the status in social relations, but also in judiciary, and that it could considerably contribute to the harmonization of the current regulations on the prohibition of discrimination with the EU law.

Selaković said that the Ministry of Justice has recognized the importance and role of the institution of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and expressed readiness concerning her active participation in drafting certain legislative solutions.

Speaking about normative activity of the Ministry, Selaković mentioned that there are laws in drafting stage, such as the Law on Free Legal Aid or the Law on Protection of the Right to a Trial within Reasonable Time, where the cooperation between the Ministry and the Commissioner will be of utmost importance. The Minister and the Commissioner agreed that these laws will most certainly contribute to respect of human rights and bring justice closer to citizens, particularly to the vulnerable population groups.