20.05.2010.
Round-table on human rights in the Serbian military
A round table on the subject “Human rights and basic human rights of the SAF members” was held today in the National Assembly’s Building.
In his opening address, Secretary of State with MoD Igor Jovicic expressed pleasure at seeing this round table open.He stressed that SAF was in an advanced stage of reforms and professionalization and reminded the present that the Parliament had adopted the National Security and National Defense Strategy, as two basic strategic documents in the field of security and defense as well as the SAF Doctrine approved by the President.
Besides these strategic documents, as Jovicic pointed out, the Parliament had made a number of systematic laws enabling the development of the system of defense in our country, and the solutions envisioned by these laws are in harmony with the top world standards in the field of human rights and liberties.
The rights and regulations of SAF are regulated by laws and are enacted in a transparent way in two-level proceedings. “A SAF member in the service has the right to refuse to carry out an order, the realization of which is a violation of the international war and humanitarian law”, as Jovicic said.
The Director of the Defense Inspectirate Major General Petar Radojicic, within his panel presentation, underlined that concurrently with democratic changes in Serbia, SAF had undergone serious changes too.As he remarked, he took this opportunity to point out the introduction of the code of honor among SAF members, which enables them to adopt a new way valuing their profession, standards and to harmonize their own conduct with those values and standards not prescribed by other laws and bylaws.
General Radojicic added that adopting the code was a regular part of the training in all levels of schooling and advancements in SAF.
The occasion to organize and hold this round table is presenting the “Handbook on Human Rights and Basic Liberties of the SAF members and employees” in Serbia, published by OSCE office for democratic institutions and human rights and of the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces.The conference was attended by OSCE members, MoD members, of the Governmental and NGO sector, as well as DAs accredited to Serbia.
