Series Human Rights
The National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Serbia, prepared by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was presented on Monday, December 23, at a conference in Belgrade. This analysis serves as a foundation for further evaluation of Serbia’s alignment in protecting against corporate human rights violations with the requirements of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other relevant international instruments in this area.
The conference was opened by Jelena Ružičić, Head of the Good Governance and Inclusive Growth Team at UNDP Serbia, and Sonja Tošković, Executive Director of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. They emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation in implementing principles of responsible business and the National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Serbia.
Participants highlighted the necessity of adopting a National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights as the next step in regulating the normative framework in this area. This would fulfill Serbia’s international obligations, further contribute to the European integration process, and consolidate existing efforts to protect human rights in the business sector.
Nevena Dičić Kostić, the author of the National Baseline Assessment, underscored the importance of multisector collaboration, involving ministries responsible for finance, economy, tourism, labor and employment, and primarily, human and minority rights. She stressed that the data collected during the research provides a basis for further dialogue among stakeholders on the need to adopt Serbia’s first National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and to consolidate ongoing efforts across various fields to achieve human rights objectives in the business sector. The analysis also identifies key areas and vulnerable groups requiring additional protection from corporate human rights violations in the national context.
Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Janković highlighted the importance of respecting equality in business practices, noting that the Commissioner’s Office has received the highest number of discrimination complaints in the field of labor for years. Reflecting on the particular importance of regulating workplace safety and health, she pointed out that the Commissioner’s experience shows significant interest from the business community, with two-thirds of companies in Serbia recognizing business and human rights as extremely important.
Tanja Lindell, Deputy Director of the Association Sector and Project Manager of the Responsible Business Hub at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, noted that Serbia’s business community is increasingly attentive to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, given that Serbia’s largest foreign trade exchange is with Germany and many suppliers operate with German companies. She emphasized the need for greater efforts to align domestic companies’ operations with international standards, highlighting the importance of having national regulations in this area.
Siniša Milatović, Advisor on Business and Human Rights at UNDP, remarked that since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2011, over 30 countries have adopted National Action Plans. He noted that the presented National Baseline Assessment marks Serbia’s first step in this direction. He also referenced the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, adopted in 2024, and other regulations in this area that will apply across the value chains of international companies, significantly impacting Serbia and its economy.
The conference provided participants with the opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives on business and human rights. The event gathered representatives of key state institutions, ministries, trade unions, the business sector, and civil society organizations, all of whom agreed on the need for further adoption of appropriate public policies and regulations to better align business practices with human rights standards. The event significantly contributed to shaping the next steps towards aligning business practices in Serbia with international human rights standards and drafting the first National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights.
The National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Serbia is available at this link.
This event was organized as part of the “Business and Human Rights” project implemented by UNDP in Serbia, within a global program supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
© photo: Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
