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The analysis focused on establishing the extent to which the local legislation is in conformity with the standards in the most important universal international treaties adopted by the United Nations and ratified by Serbia and Montenegro. Having in mind that our country joined the Council of Europe in 2003, accepted the obligation to conform its legislation to the European Convention on Human Rights and ratify the Convention one year upon accession Report also assessed the degree in which national legislation has been conformed to European standards.
Section I analyses and explains in detail the legal provisions related to human rights. It analyses the constitutional provisions of the state union, the most relevant valid laws and specific bylaws which may impact on the full enjoyment of human rights.
Section II of the Report is devoted to the actual enjoyment, restrictions or violations of human rights guaranteed by international treaties and the Constitutions and laws of Serbia and Montenegro. BCHR associates have systematically monitored media and reports of international and local NGOs, but have presented only data indicating greater abuse of specific rights. The Report does not offer final assessments; rather, it presents data published by the media and in human rights reports. In contrast to the methodology used in the previous Reports, Report 2004 does not elaborate on violations of all rights analysed in detail in the first section of the Report. It focuses on specific rights which appear to be under greater threat or toward which the authorities have a negative attitude.
Section III presents the results of a regular annual BCHR public opinion poll on the citizens’ perceptions of their rights. The poll is of relevance to those focussing on human rights promotion and development and to future legislative reforms.
Section IV elaborates topics warranting special attention. Like in the earlier Reports, the authors chose the topics on the basis of their strong political implications and effects on the state of human rights in the country.
If You would like to read the Human Rights in Serbia and Montenegro – A Comprehensive Report for 2003 (in Serbian and English), 2004
