A Roma settlement in Belgrade referred to as “Suma” – where a community of internally displaced people from Kosovo have settled, although there is no access to water or sanitation.

Serbia – Social Card Law could disproportionately impact Roma communities, Amnesty International warns Council of Europe anti-discrimination body

Ahead of a visit of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) to Serbia from 3 to 7 April 2023, Amnesty International made a submission to the Council of Europe’s monitoring body.

Amnesty International raised concerns on the implementation of the new Law on Social Cards and an accompanying social card information system which impact on human rights, including the right to social security and the right to equality and non-discrimination. Amnesty International considers that the law weakens an already inadequate social security system and, due to its disproportionate impact on the members of the Roma community, further exacerbates social and economic exclusion.

The submission to ECRI relies in part on a joint legal opinion that Amnesty International and the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) submitted to the Constitutional Court to challenge the legality of Serbia’s Social Card Law.

ECRI’s visit to Serbia will serve as a first step in the preparation of a monitoring report, due to be adopted by the end of 2023.