Overview:

• Recognition and registration are differentiated in Serbia however existential recognition is not available to all belief systems, denominations and communities, only a select group.

• Use of the concept of "traditional religion” is widespread in the legislation and is misused as a way of discriminating against groups favourable to the government and those not favourable.

• A system of partial recognition exists whereby even if a group successfully registers, it hasn't the opportunity to gain the same level of recognition as those seven declared “traditional” groups delineated in the legislation.

• Informational requirements for registration are intrusive, particularly the requests for identification numbers and identity documents of members; also, requests for doctrinal information is vulnerable to misuse.

Positive elements:

• Freedom of religion or belief is generally, but not broadly, upheld in practice.

• The newly established Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue shows dynamic character for Serbia.

Recommendations:

• Dismantle the present system that adopts partial recognition.

• Establish a revitalised recognition system that bestows existential recognition and legal registration to all belief systems and their derivatives.

• Establish a recognition agency that manages this recognition system in a way that is independent of the government’s control.

• Reduce the intrusiveness of informational requirements.