The Draft Code of Conduct for MPs does not Provide a Solution for the Lynching Atmosphere in the National Assembly

Belgrade, 23 December, 2020-

Press release by Human Rights House Belgrade

The Draft Code of Conduct for MPs does not Provide a Solution for the Lynching Atmosphere in the National Assembly

Regarding the initiative for the adoption of the Draft Code of Conduct for MPs, we would like to call attention to the fact that, given the absence of adequate public debate, as well as that of representatives of oppositionary political parties in the current National Assembly, the current Draft Code does not solve essential problems in the highest representative body. The time that MPs are given to discuss certain draft laws is often used to insult and belittle certain representatives of the judiciary, media, civil sector and cultural sphere, who are not themselves MPs, which is an abuse of rights and the Rules of Procedure.

The absence of pluralism in the National Assembly and the lack of possibility for the persons affected to address any state body and/or institution for the protection of human rights due to parliamentary immunity requires that the Code of Conduct provide an opportunity for them to address the National Assembly, which would deal with such attacks from an ethical standpoint. Therefore, it is necessary to withdraw the existing Draft Code from the procedure and draft a new text, which must provide a mechanism for citizens who were the subjects of a parliamentary debate to address the Assembly, in order to discuss whether the MP violated ethical principles in relation to her or him.

Changing the ethical behavior of MPs is necessary in order to develop critical thinking and respect for freedom of expression outside the Assembly, which are a basic element of social dialogue in any democratic society, as well as to finally stop the lynching atmosphere created towards critical individuals or those who have different views from those we hear from the National Assembly and representatives of the government.

Respectfully,

Human Rights House, which is comprised of:

-Civic Initiatives

-Belgrade Centre for Human Rights – BCHR

-Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM

-Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

-Policy Center