Following the Praxis announcement Vecernje novosti Discriminated against Roma, Beta News Agency published the text stating that the Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic said that Vecernje novosti Daily had violated the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination by publishing the text “Disaster in Smederevo: Roma in Sexual Relation with a Girl”.
Praxis filed a complaint to the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, and during the procedure the Commissioner asked for the opinion of the editor-in-chief of Vecernje novoosti Daily, but no opinion about the complaint has been delivered.
"The level of responsibility of Vecernje novosti Daily is even higher given that it is the newspaper with the national circulation, which is distributed in the territory of the whole state and which affects the public opinion, and therefore it is bound to take care when publishing texts that promote prejudices and incite hostile and insulting environment for some social groups", is stated is the conclusion of the Commissioner.
The Commisioner for Protection of Equality recommended to the editor-in-chief of Vecernje novosti Daily not to publish the texts that are disturbing and humiliating towards the Roma national minority and to take care, within its regular activities, not to violate legal regulations on prohibition of discrimination.
Read the statement at Beta News Agency website: Vecernje novosti Daily Incited Discrimiantion with the Text