Equality Commissioner calls for recognition of same-sex couples' rights in Serbia

Milan Antonijević, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, stated that society cannot ignore the existence of same-sex couples or the real-life challenges they face. During a Pride event, he highlighted issues regarding inheritance, pensions, health insurance, and parental leave.

Antonijević noted that Serbia is obligated to treat these citizens equally by European standards and membership in the Council of Europe. He emphasized that a democratic society is measured by its ability to respect the rights of all, including those with whom one disagrees.

He further observed that despite existing anti-discrimination legal frameworks, high social distance toward the LGBT+ community remains. He suggested that the number of official complaints may not reflect the true scale of discrimination, as many individuals fear judgment, social condemnation, or family reactions.