The normative framework for the work of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality is the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, relevant international documents and general and specific anti-discrimination laws of the Republic of Serbia. The duties of this state body are to prevent all forms, varieties and cases of discrimination, to protect the equality of natural and legal persons in all areas of social relations, to supervise the application of anti-discrimination regulations and to promote the realization and protection of equality.

The Commissioner for Protection of Equality is empowered to conduct complaints procedures in cases of discrimination against persons or groups of persons who are associated with the same personal attribute. The Commissioner is competent to receive and consider complaints about discrimination, to give opinions and recommendations in specific cases of discrimination, and to pronounce measures prescribed by law.

The Commissioner is also competent to file misdemeanor charges for acts of discrimination incriminated by anti-discrimination regulations. The Commissioner is empowered to alert the public to the most common, typical and severe cases of discrimination, to monitor the implementation of laws and other regulations, to initiate the adoption or amendment of regulations to enforce and improve the protection against discrimination, and to give opinions on the provisions of the draft laws and other regulations concerning non-discrimination, as well as to recommend measures to the public authorities and other persons to achieve equality. One part of the Commissioner’s competence relates to monitoring the situation in the field of equality protection, of which the Commissioner submits an annual report to the National Assembly. In his activities, the Commissioner is obliged to establish and maintain cooperation with the bodies competent for the realization of equality and protection of human rights in the territory of the autonomous province and local self-government.