Serbia: Kareja Institute urges withdrawal of draft Internal Affairs Law
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The Kareja Institute and other organizations have identified several shortcomings in the proposed Internal Affairs Law, particularly concerning police operational independence and internal control mechanisms.
- Experts argue that the draft law, in its current form, fails to adequately protect against political abuse and ensure an effective, independent police oversight system.
- They are calling for substantive amendments and more time for public and expert consultation, deeming the current minimal timeframe unacceptable for such a critical piece of legislation.
The proposed law on internal affairs has sparked significant concern among civil society organizations and security experts in Serbia. The Kareja Institute, alongside members of the National Convention on European Integration, has voiced strong objections, highlighting critical deficiencies that could undermine the integrity and independence of the police force. Their primary worry centers on the draft's provisions regarding the operational autonomy of the police from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the effectiveness of internal control mechanisms, and the potential for political influence.
Tokom diskusije istaknuto je da nacrt u sadaลกnjem obliku ne obezbeฤuje dovoljan nivo zaลกtite od zloupotrebe politiฤke moฤi, niti garantuje efikasan i nezavisan sistem kontrole rada policije
During a roundtable discussion, retired police inspectors and legal experts echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the current draft does not sufficiently safeguard against the misuse of political power. They stressed the urgent need for a robust and independent system to oversee police work, a feature they believe is lacking in the proposed legislation. The consensus is that without these safeguards, public trust in law enforcement will inevitably erode.
Neprihvatljivo je da se ovako vaลพan zakon razmatra u minimalnom roku. Uฤestvovaฤemo u raspravi, ali su za kljuฤna pitanja potrebne suลกtinske izmene i viลกe vremena
Furthermore, the speed at which this crucial legislation is being processed has drawn sharp criticism. Representatives from the Anti-Corruption Council and other organizations have lamented the minimal timeframe allocated for public debate and analysis. They argue that such an important law requires genuine dialogue with professionals and the public, and that rushing the process risks overlooking critical issues and implementing flawed solutions. The call is for substantial revisions and adequate time to ensure the law truly serves the public interest and upholds the principles of good governance.
Policija mora biti profesionalna i nezavisna, uz jasna pravila za rad i napredovanje, jer bez toga nema poverenja graฤana
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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