SUMMER SCHOOL 2004: RIGHT TO EQUALITY AND PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION

Abstract

This reports presents the program activities of the Kopaonik Summer School 2024: Right to Equality and Prevention of Discrimination, organized by the Faculty of Law, University of Niš, and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, in the period 18-21 August 2024. The Summer School 2024 was aimed at promoting the participants knowledge about the right to equality, causes of discrimination and its manifestations, relevant legal framework, domestic and international regulation standards, and mechanisms for combating discrimination. The Summer School participants were students of the Law Faculty, University of Niš. The lecturers who participated in the implementation of the Summer School were prominent experts in their fields: an advisers in the OSCE Mission to Serbia, independent experts involved in protection against discrimination, a prosecutor the Special Anti-Corruption Department at the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš, and professors of the Law Faculty in Niš. During the four-day education, students had a chance to attend eight lectures/workshops, covering a range of topics: Human rights, equality in dignity and rights; Prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination, similarities and differences; Concept, elements and types of discrimination; Legal framework for combating discrimination; Right to freedom of speech and hate speech; Hate crimes; Discrimination of convicted persons, Position of members of the Roma national minority in Serbia; and Role of the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination. The lectures were very interactive, providing students with the opportunity to express their opinion on the given topics, ask questions, and actively participate in related workshops. Upon the successful completion of the Summer School 2024, the participants were awarded certificates of completion, which were officially presented in the closing ceremony by the Dean of the Faculty of Law in Niš, prof. dr. Nebojša Raičević, and Head of the Department for Democratization in the OSCE Mission in Serbia, Mr. Vladimir Valdes García.