Series Reports 3 Series Reports HUMAN RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAVIA 1999. LEGAL PROVISIONS AND PRACTICE IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA COMPARED TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS Editor Vojin Dimitrijevi} Publisher The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights Mlati{umina 26, Belgrade, FRY (http://www.bgcentar.org.yu) For the publisher Vladan Joksimovi} Proof-reading Tea Gorjanc Photograph Milan Aleksi} Layout Mirko Mili}evi} ISBN 86--7202--030--8 Print run 500 Printed by Dosije, Belgrade HUMAN RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAVIA 1999 LEGAL PROVISIONS AND PRACTICE IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA COMPARED TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS Belgrade Centre for Human Rights Belgrade, 2000 Contents Abbreviations . 13 Preface . 17 Introduction . 19 I LEGAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS . 29 1. Human Rights in the Legal System of the FR Yugoslavia . 29 1.1. Introduction . 29 1.2. Constitutional Provisions on Human Rights . 30 1.3. International Human Rights and the FR Yugoslavia . 32 2. Right to Effective Remedy for Human Rights Violations . 34 2.1. Ordinary Legal Remedies . 34 2.2. Constitutional Appeal . 36 3. Restrictions and Derogations . 39 3.1. Restrictions . 39 3.1.1. General Restrictions . 39 3.1.2. Optional Restrictions . 41 3.2. Derogation in ‘‘Time of Public Emergency’’ . 41 3.2.1. General . 41 3.2.2. Derogation during State of War . 42 3.2.3. State of Emergency . 45 3.2.4. Derogation of Human Rights during the State of War in FRY in 1999 . 46 4. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS . 50 5 Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1999 4.1. Prohibition of Discrimination . 50 4.1.1. General . 50 4.1.2. Examples of Discrimination in FRY Legislation . 53 4.1.2.1. Real estate transactions . 53 4.1.2.2. Some criminal offences against the dignity of person and morals 54 4.1.2.3. Refugees and citizenship . 54 4.2. Right to Life . 56 4.2.1. General . 57 4.2.2. Criminal Legislation . 58 4.2.3. Abortion . 59 4.2.4. Capital Punishment . 60 4.2.5. Use of Force by State Authorities . 61 4.3. Prohibition of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment . 63 4.3.1. General . 63 4.3.2. Criminal Legislation . 65 4.3.3. Criminal Proceedings and the Enforcement of Sanctions . 67 4.3.4. Use of Force by the Police . 69 4.4. Right to Liberty and Security of Person and Treatment of Persons in Custody . 70 4.4.1. Right to Liberty and Security of Person . 70 4.4.1.1. Prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention . 70 4.4.1.2. The right to be informed of the reasons for arrest and of charges 73 4.4.1.3. Prompt appearance before a judge and right to trial or release within reasonable time . 74 4.4.1.4. Right to complain to the court against arrest or detention . 76 4.4.1.5. Right to compensation for unlawful arrest or detention . 77 4.4.2. Treatment of Persons Deprived of Their Liberty . 78 4.4.2.1. Humane treatment and respect of dignity . 79 4.4.2.2. The segregation of accused and convicted persons, juvenile and adult . 82 4.4.2.3. The penitentiary system . 83 4.5. Right to Fair Trial . 83 4.5.1. Independence and Impartiality of Courts . 85 4.5.2. Fairness and Transparency of Trials . 87 4.5.2.1. Fair trial . 87 4.5.2.2. Transparency of the hearing and judgement . 90 6 Contents 4.5.3. Guarantees to Defendants in Criminal Cases . 91 4.5.3.1. Presumption of innocence . 91 4.5.3.2. Prompt notice of charge, in language understood by the defendant . 92 4.5.3.3. Adequate time and facilities for the preparation of the defence and the right to communicate with counsel . 92 4.5.3.4. Right to be tried without undue delay . 94 4.5.3.5. Prohibition of trial in absentia and right to defence . 94 4.5.3.6. Right to examine witnesses . 96 4.5.3.7. Right to assistance of interpreter . 96 4.5.3.8. The prohibition of self-incrimination . 97 4.5.3.9. Special treatment of minors . 97 4.5.3.10. Right to appeal . 98 4.5.3.11. Right to compensation . 98 4.5.3.12. Ne bis in idem . 99 4.6. Right to the Protection of Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence . 99 4.6.1. Privacy . 100 4.6.1.1. Access to personal data . 100 4.6.1.2. Sexual autonomy . 101 4.6.1.3. Protection of privacy by criminal law . 101 4.6.2. Home . 101 4.6.3. Correspondence . 103 4.6.4. Honour and Reputation . 105 4.7. Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion . 105 4.8. Freedom of Opinion and Expression . 109 4.8.1. General . 110 4.8.2. Limitations of the Freedom of Expression in Serbia ---- the 1998 Legislation on the Media . 112 4.8.3. The Establishment and Operation of Electronic Media . 114 4.8.3.1. Obtaining frequency . 116 4.8.3.2. Establishing a broadcasting enterprise . 116 4.8.3.3. Permission to acquire and operate a radio or television station 116 4.8.3.4. Establishing a public media (radio and television) . 117 4.8.3.5. Registration of a public media . 118 4.8.4. Relevant Criminal Legislation . 119 4.8.5. The Prohibition of Propaganda for War and of Advocacy of National, Racial or Religious Hatred . 122 7 Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1999 4.9. Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly . 125 4.9.1. General . 126 4.9.2. Prohibition of Public Meetings . 128 4.10. Freedom of Association . 130 4.10.1. General . 130 4.10.2. The Registration and the Termination of Activities of an Association . 132 4.10.3. Associations of Aliens . 135 4.10.4. Restrictions . 136 4.10.4.1. Prohibition of an organisation . 136 4.10.4.2. Other restrictions . 137 4.10.5. Restrictions of Freedom of Association of Members of Armed Forces and the Police . 138 4.10.6. Right to Strike . 142 4.11. Right to Peaceful Enjoyment of Property . 144 4.11.1. General . 145 4.11.2. Expropriation . 145 4.11.3. Sales of Immovable Property . 147 4.11.4. Inheritance . 149 4.12. Minority Rights . 149 4.13. Political Rights . 154 4.13.1. General . 154 4.13.2. Right to Vote and to be Elected . 156 4.13.3. Electoral Procedure . 157 4.13.3.1. Electoral commissions . 157 4.13.3.2. Control of ballot papers and safekeeping of electoral documentation . 158 4.13.3.3. Grounds for annulment . 159 4.13.3.4. Legal remedies . 159 4.14. Special Protection of the Family and of the Child . 161 4.14.1. The Protection of the Family . 162 4.14.2. Marriage . 163 4.14.3. Special Protection of the Child . 164 4.14.3.1. ‘‘The measures of protection ... required by the position of minors’’ . 164 8 Contents 4.14.3.2. The Protection of Minors in the Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure . 165 4.14.3.3. Name . 167 4.14.3.4. Nationality . 167 4.15. Nationality . 167 4.15.1. General . 167 4.15.2. Responses to Problems Arising after the Dissolution of the Former SFR Yugoslavia . 169 4.15.3. Acquisition of Yugoslav Nationality . 170 4.16. Freedom of Movement . 171 4.16.1. General . 172 4.16.2. Restrictions . 172 4.16.2.1. Special tax for exiting the country . 172 4.17. Economic and Social Rights . 174 4.17.1. Right to Work . 174 4.17.2. Right to Just and Favourable Conditions of Work . 176 4.17.3. Right to Social Welfare . 179 4.17.4. Right to the Protection of the Family . 184 4.17.5. Right to Health . 188 5. Conclusion . 191 II HUMAN RIGHTS IN PRACTICE . 197 1. Introductory Note . 197 1.1. Sources . 198 1.2. Domestic press . 198 1.3. Reports by Domestic Non-Governmental Organisations 201 1.4. Reports by International Organisations . 202 2. Individual Rights . 203 2.1. Prohibition of discrimination . 203 2.1.1. Mass expulsion and other forms of discrimination based on ethnicity . 203 2.1.2. Discrimination on other grounds . 208 2.2. Right to Life . 212 2.2.1..