March 9, 2006
Embassy of the United States of America
Belgrade

State Department Releases 2005 Human Rights Country Reports

On March 8, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced the publication of The Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005, annual reports mandated by the U.S. Congress that provide analyses of the human rights situations in 196 countries. The reports not only bring to light human rights achievements and violations but also illuminate future tasks and the potential for greater international cooperation in advancing the aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"Fulfilling the promise of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights and building vibrant democracies worldwide is the work of generations, but it is urgent work and cannot be delayed," Secretary Rice said, and noted that the reports demonstrate the United States' continuing commitment to the advancement of what President Bush calls "the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity."

The growing worldwide demand for human rights and democracy reflected in these reports is not the result of the impersonal workings of some dialectic or of the orchestrations of foreign governments. Rather, this call derives from the powerful human desire to live in dignity and liberty and from the personal bravery and tenacity of men and women in every age and in every society who serve and sacrifice for the cause of freedom. As Secretary Rice said, "we hope that the reports will be a source of information and inspiration to the noble men and women across the globe who are working for peaceful democratic change.”

The full Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005 can be found at:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/index.htm

Serbia and Montenegro

The introduction to the reports notes that "in the Balkans, a marked overall improvement in human rights, democracy, and the rule of law over the past several years has led to greater stability and security in the region. Increasingly democratic governments are in place, more war criminals are facing justice, significant numbers of displaced persons have returned home, elections are progressively more compliant with international standards, and neighbors are deepening their cooperation to resolve post-conflict and regional problems. Many countries of the former Yugoslavia have made progress in bringing persons accused of war crimes to trial in domestic courts, which is important to national reconciliation and regional stability. At the end of 2005, however, two of the most wanted war crimes suspects, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, remained at large."

The country report for Serbia and Montenegro notes that the "government generally respected the human rights of its citizens and continued efforts to address human rights violations; however, numerous problems from previous years persisted," including:

• widespread government corruption
• corruption in the judiciary
• government impediments to freedom of speech and the press
• harassment of journalists
• societal violence and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities
• inadequate housing of internally displaced persons
• harassment of non-governmental organizations, particularly those involved in human rights
• violence against women and children
• trafficking in persons
• International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) indictees Karadzic and Mladic remained at large

The government's "increased efforts in addressing human rights violations brought notable improvements," the report continues. "The government cooperated to a significant degree with the ICTY to turn over persons indicted for war crimes, potential witnesses, and documents; demonstrated that it could effectively prosecute high-profile crime cases in its domestic special courts; increased attention to human rights abuses of minorities; and implemented a witness protection program to help combat trafficking in persons."
The full country report for Serbia and Montenegro can be found at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61673.htm

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