Astra, Judges' Association of Serbia and the Autonomous Women's Centre, with the support of 38 civil society organisations issued an open letter regarding the amendments to a number of judicial laws, which entered the parliamentary procedure on 8 May 2014 as a matter of urgency, without a public debate or consultation with experts.

Taking into consideration the importance and effects that the proposed measures will have for the citizens of Serbia, these organisations request the withdrawal of the judicial laws from the urgent procedure and their return to the competent ministry for the purpose of conducting a public debate.

These laws are the foundation of the justice system in Serbia and therefore these organisations are expressing concern that some of the proposed measures may lead to legal uncertainty and inequality before the law, thus undermining the fundamental right of citizens to access legal protection and deepening the already great distrust of the legal system and the rule of law in Serbia.

Download: Open Letter