Belgrade, February 2, 2011 - Praxis, Regional Centre for Minorities, CEKOR - Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development and CHRIS - Network of the Committees for Human Rights in Serbia have submitted information to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the occasion of the Initial Periodic Report of Serbia.

Serbia, as a signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is required to submit regular reports to the Committee, outlining the measures they have taken to give effect to the Convention. Serbia has submitted its Initial report with more than 19 months od delay in August 2009.  It is the practice that non-governmental organisations are submitting alternative, so-called shadow reports, as additional information to aid the Committee in evaluation of the State report.  

The data presented in the alternative report are a result of years of field work, information and cooperation with grass-roots organizations, analysis of our previous experience in the topics relevant for the report and following on and analysing the work of the State bodies.

This report will be considered during the 78th session of CERD on Thursday, February 24 and Friday, February 25, 2011 together with the State Report and reports from international NGOs: Amnesty International and European Roma Rights Centre.