A/HRC/13/40/Add.3 registration, i.e. recognition of all churches and religious organizations, was difficult to accept as such practice did not exist in European states (A/HRC/10/78/Add.1, para. 34). The Special Rapporteur would like to reiterate her wish that the Government reflect on the 2006 Law on Churches and Religious Communities. At a minimum, the Ministry of Religious Affairs should be more transparent and streamline the registration process in order to ensure equal access and non-discriminatory treatment in the application procedure for all religious communities that wish to register. 2. Discrimination against minority religious or belief communities 22. The distinction made between “traditional” and “non-traditional” religious communities also contributes to a number of questionable practices. One relates to the existence of a privileged role for “traditional” churches and religious communities, for example in respect to their access to, and representation in, public bodies. Members of religious minorities highlighted in this regard that the council of the Republican Broadcasting Agency, which regulates the mass media in Serbia,11 is currently chaired by a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. This fact was quoted as an indication for the problems faced by minority religious or belief communities. 23. Furthermore, the recently adopted anti-discrimination law provides for specific exemptions of the prohibition of discrimination with regard to actions of priests or other religious officials which are in accordance with the doctrine, beliefs or goals of registered churches and religious communities. Members of civil society organizations emphasized that this exemption was introduced shortly before the adoption of the 2009 Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination in its article 18 due to lobbying efforts by “traditional” churches and religious communities, inter alia, in order to protect priests against charges of discriminating against others on grounds of sexual orientation. 24. The Special Rapporteur was informed that religious instruction classes in the first years of primary and secondary schools were in practice only available for members of “traditional” churches and religious communities. In addition, some children belonging to “non-traditional” religious minorities have reportedly been forced to attend Serbian Orthodox liturgies in the context of school events despite their parents’ clear objection against such activities. In addition, Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that some of their members have lost custody of their children when they were involved in divorce cases with a spouse who was not a Jehovah’s Witness and they alleged that the judgements were biased on the basis of the parents’ religious affiliation. 25. Members of religious minorities also reported that their engagement in humanitarian aid activities during the 1990s was publicly criticized as a concealed approach for “buying souls” and indoctrinating children. In recent years, “non-traditional” religious minorities have been described by police officers, teachers and in the media as “dangerous cults”, “satanic organizations” or “totalitarian sects” without being given any possibility to reply. States should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination and to ensure the child such protection and care as is necessary for his or her well-being, taking into account the rights and duties of the parents or legal guardians. At the same, the Special Rapporteur calls upon public officials, teachers and the media to play a more constructive role in promoting religious tolerance. She would like to refer to General Assembly resolution 63/181, in which the Assembly urges States to step up their efforts to ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law 11 According to the Broadcasting Law, religious issues are part of the public interest content of the public broadcasting service, which has to respect the spiritual, historical, cultural, humanitarian and educational tradition and importance of churches and religious communities in public life. 9