Mechanisms of improving institutional capacities of the state to prevent hate speech and hate crimes
The Republic of Serbia has introduced special circumstances for the determination of sentence for hate crime in the Criminal Code amended in December 2012. If a criminal offence is committed through hate based on race or religion, national or ethnic affiliation, sex, sexual orientation or...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Victimology Society of Serbia and University of Belgrade, Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation
2014-01-01
|
| Series: | Temida |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-6637/2014/1450-66371402003D.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The Republic of Serbia has introduced special circumstances for the
determination of sentence for hate crime in the Criminal Code amended in
December 2012. If a criminal offence is committed through hate based on race
or religion, national or ethnic affiliation, sex, sexual orientation or
gender identity of another, the court shall consider any aggravating factors
except when it is not stipulated as a feature of the criminal offence.
However, the State still neglects to consider mitigating factors. Moreover,
it does not pay sufficient attention to eliminating verbal expressions of
hatred and discrimination that often precede crimes motivated by hate. The
paper discusses the possibility of improving education and coordinated
activities of the State, particularly of courts, prosecutors, police and
local self-governments, to combat hate speech and hate crimes. The aim of the
paper is to present mechanisms of improving institutional capacities to
prevent these phenomena that have been implemented within the project
“Implementation of Anti-Discrimination Policies in Serbia” financed by the
European Union. The paper concludes that central to the success of this
process are the education of state actors, and the development of a value
system based on equality and acceptance of diversity. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1450-6637 |