- the right to use a minority language in the criminal proceedings is constitutionally guaranteed and exercise of this right represents one of the key features of equal treatment of persons belonging to minorities. - the Criminal Code provides for "a particularly aggravating circumstance" in cases that a criminal offence is committed from hatred based on race or religion, national or ethnic origin. - the Commissioner for protection of equality is a part of the system of criminal-law protection from discrimination of persons belonging to minorities and may press criminal charges on the grounds of discrimination and violation of the principle of equal treatment. Additionally, the Republic of Serbia has enacted the Strategy for prevention and protection against discrimination (2013) and an Action Plan thereof. The strategy recognizes national minorities and persons belonging to various confessions, among others, as especially vulnerable social groups. The Action Plan provides for a number of activities aimed at prevention and protection against discrimination of these social groups in all aspects of life and within the unified fields of: policing, security and the judicial system. With the adoption of the Law on National Councils of National Minorities, the state transferred a significant part of its competences in the field of official use of language and script, education, information and culture to these minority self-government institutions. Cooperation of authorities at all levels of government with the Councils in all matters affecting the rights and the status of a national minority is one of the key mechanism for safeguarding the equality of minorities. The Republic of Serbia highly values general and thematic recommendations on minorities in the criminal justice system and that these will be forwarded and taken into consideration by the National Mechanism for Reporting and Implementing of the United Nations Recommendations.