World Report 2011 - Human Rights Watch

WORLD REPORT 2011other suspects, reversing an April ruling by the lower court dismissing chargesagainst all six.In June the Serbian Parliament adopted a new Electronic Communication Law,which permits the creation of a national database of personal email and internetcommunication and allows police to view its contents. Serbian and internationalmedia organizations argued that the law is unconstitutional and could jeopardizethe confidentiality of journalists’ sources.Human Rights DefendersA June event organized by the Queeria lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenderorganization to collect 10,000 signatures in support of a Belgrade Pride Parade in2010 was dispersed after a bomb threat, which proved to be false. The 2009pride event was cancelled over security concerns.The interior minister and the human rights minister publicly stated their supportfor the Pride Parade, which took place in October. A few hundred LGBT demonstratorsand their supporters marched through the streets of Belgrade, heavilyguarded by police and security forces. Violent counterdemonstrators shoutinghomophobic language attacked police and wounded many officers, but failed todisrupt the parade. The counterdemonstrators also attacked the Democratic Partyheadquarters and destroyed many shops and vehicles.In March the Serbian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy denied the NGO MentalDisability Rights International–Serbia access to monitor social care institutionsfor persons with disabilities, on the grounds that the institutions were too busyimplementing reforms. The group had previously had informal access. The ministrypromised access at a later unspecified time once reforms were implemented,but at this writing, despite further requests, at this writing the group has yet togain access.Key International ActorsIn December 2009 the Council of the EU decided to unfreeze implementation ofthe Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia and to lift visa requirements for all466