Serbia
As of February 2026, Serbia is experiencing a period of intense societal polarization. While the government officially maintains a strategic goal of joining the European Union by the end of the year, international watchdogs have highlighted a significant backsliding in civil liberties, particularly in response to widespread anti-corruption and environmental protests.
1. Crackdown on Dissent and Protests
The human rights landscape in late 2025 and early 2026 has been defined by the state's response to mass demonstrations following the November 2024 Novi Sad train station canopy collapse, which killed 16 people.
Police Brutality: Human Rights Watch and UN experts reported "excessive force" by police during protests. Journalists and activists were frequently targeted, with documented cases of officers using batons and tear gas against clearly marked press members.
Arbitrary Detentions: Since mid-2025, over 400 people have been detained in connection with protests. There are credible allegations of ill-treatment in custody and "preventative" home searches of activists.
Surveillance: A late 2024 Amnesty International report revealed that authorities used Pegasus and NoviSpy spyware to target the devices of independent journalists and human rights defenders.
2. Media Freedom and the "SLAPP" Epidemic
Independent media in Serbia is currently described as being under "siege" by both legal and extralegal means.
Strategic Lawsuits (SLAPPs): Investigative outlets like KRIK and BIRN face dozens of defamation lawsuits filed by high-ranking officials. As of early 2026, these are seen as a systematic effort to bankrupt independent newsrooms.
Smear Campaigns: Pro-government tabloids and officials frequently label independent journalists as "foreign mercenaries" or "terrorists." In early 2025, President Vučić publicly suggested that major independent outlets like N1 might be forced to shut down or change leadership.
Deepfake Attacks: In 2025, investigative journalists were targeted with viral deepfake videos intended to discredit them, a new and alarming trend in the region’s information war.
3. LGBTQ+ Rights: Institutional Inaction
Despite having an openly gay woman as the Speaker of Parliament (former PM Ana Brnabić), the legal situation for the queer community has stagnated.
Lack of Legal Recognition: The Law on Same-Sex Partnerships remains unadopted as of February 2026, despite years of promises. Same-sex marriage remains constitutionally banned.
Hate Crimes: While hate crime laws exist, they are rarely enforced. Transgender individuals, in particular, face high levels of violence and significant hurdles in changing legal documents in smaller municipalities.
Discrimination: A 2025 European Commission report noted "no progress" in the rights of LGBTQ+ people, highlighting that they remain socially and legally marginalized.
4. Women’s Rights and Domestic Violence
Legislative Progress: In late 2025, the government adopted amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, aiming to improve coordination between police and prosecutors.
The Implementation Gap: Despite a reported 40% decrease in domestic violence deaths since 2012, femicide rates remain a serious concern. Activists argue that "emergency measures" are often issued without long-term social support for victims.
Digital Violence: A new "epidemic" of online harassment targeting women activists and journalists has been identified as a priority for international human rights monitors in 2026.
5. Rule of Law and Transnational Issues
Judicial Independence: The European Commission’s 2025 Progress Report cited "undue pressure" on the judiciary from the executive branch, noting that high-level corruption cases rarely lead to convictions.
Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Tensions in Northern Kosovo continue to impact human rights, with reports of intimidation against ethnic minorities and a lack of transparency in the EU-facilitated normalization process.