Belgrade, 16 October 2025 – The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (WG BHR) yesterday concluded its ten-day visit to Serbia, issuing a preliminary statement that raises serious concerns about the impact of business activities on communities, the environment, and human rights.
The visit, which included meetings in Belgrade, Bor, Loznica, Novi Sad and Zrenjanin was conducted in order to assess how the Serbian government and companies operating in Serbia are implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
As an outcome, the Working Group will submit its final report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026.
Weak enforcement and oversight
The UN experts highlighted the limited number of investigations into corporate human rights abuses, weak enforcement of environmental and labor laws, and frequent exemptions granted to high-profile projects such as EXPO 2027 and major mining projects.
They stated that they have “observed a general lack of awareness of business and human rights obligations within Serbia’s institutional framework”, as well as a worrying pattern of ”weak enforcement of legislation”, adding that “the ability of companies to continue activities without all necessary permits, such as we found in a number of instances such as with Zijin, is a worrying trend in lack of State action to ensure accountability of corporate activity.“
Bor and Krivelj: Communities Under Pressure
Particular concern was expressed for Bor and the nearby village of Krivelj, where mining company Zijin operates. Communities report polluted air, contaminated water, damaged crops and livestock, and rising health problems, including higher cancer rates.
According to the UN experts “the village of Krivelj bears a disproportionate share of negative impacts, including heavy metal pollution, harming water, livestock, and agriculture” concluding that “resulting risks to people and the environment cannot be ignored.”
The statement highlights the lack of transparency regarding emissions and new substances used in Zijin’s operations, their potential health impacts, and the limited access to toxicology data, noting that penalties for environmental breaches remain minimal.
Lack of meaningful consultation and access to remedy
The experts noted consistent reports of inadequate engagement with affected communities, non-transparent land reclassification, and expropriation often without fair compensation. They voiced particular concern over legal provisions allowing expropriation for private purposes.
The UN experts pointed out that even when human rights risks are recognized “relocation and compensation processes remain lengthy with no meaningful dialogue with the communities”, referencing the minority Vlach communities in Krivelj and other areas as an example.
They also expressed concern over the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to cooperate during the visit, calling this “a worrying indication of the limited priority given to ensuring access to remedy for victims of corporate abuse.”
Jadar project: lack of meaningful participation of communities in decision-making and SLAPPs
The findings of the UN Working Group highlight a deeply concerning pattern of intimidation, legal harassment and exclusion of civil society and local communities from decision-making processes related to major extractive projects.
They noted that the Rio Tinto’s Jadar lithium and boron project illustrates ongoing legal uncertainty and no clear application of the law, marked by minimal involvement of the local public at all stages of planning, including during the preparation and adoption of the Spatial Plan for the Jadar area. The experts underlined that engagement with local communities appeared largely aimed at fulfilling formal requirements, i.e. „a ticking the box exercise”, rather than enabling genuine participation.
The experts also highlighted a particularly concerning trend – the reported use of Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) by government officials and companies. In particular, they raised concern over reports of intimidation, smear campaigns, surveillance, and physical attacks targeting civil society activists and human rights defenders who have spoken out against harmful business practices, underlying reported cases of detention and criminal charges against protestors opposing the Jadar lithium project who cited serious environmental and public health concerns.
Human rights protection as the precondition for development
UN experts particularly highlighted a concern that the Ministry for Human Rights’s claim of having received no complaints about an abuse of human rights by a public or private business reveals a troubling lack of awareness and even complacency regarding these issues. They emphasized that respect and protection of human rights are preconditions for sustainable development, and not a barrier. Therefore it is a duty of Serbian authorities to ensure transparency, accountability, and enable independent environmental oversight, during realisation of all projects.
The End of Mission Statement of the WG BHR is available HERE.