OSCE and Serbia’s Interior Ministry discuss inclusive policing in diverse societies at Belgrade conference

In recognition of the important role representative law enforcement plays in successful policing in diverse societies, Serbia’s Ministry of Interior hosted a conference on “Inclusive Policing in Diverse Societies: Representation, Trust and Emerging Security Challenges” at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on 8 October 2026. 

Marking the 20th anniversary of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies (Policing Recommendations), the event was jointly organized with the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the OSCE HCNM and the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit (TNTD/SPMU). 

Assistant Police Director Željko Brkić opened the conference together with HCNM Christophe Kamp, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Marcel Peško and Head of the TNTD/SPMU Umberto Severini. Participants included some 60 representatives from the Ministry of Interior, National Councils of National Minorities in Serbia, and several OSCE executive structures, as well as police representatives from Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. 

"The composition of the police service should reflect the citizens’s demographics because this directly builds inclusivity and removes language barriers," said Brkić.

“A police service that reflects the diversity of the society it serves is better placed to earn the trust of every community," said Kamp. "Twenty years on, the Policing Recommendations remain a practical reference for OSCE participating States, and we continue to look at how they should evolve to address new realities, including the impact of new technologies,” said Kamp.

“The Mission’s long-standing partnership with Serbia has helped advance a more inclusive and community-oriented approach to policing, including by supporting greater participation of national minorities in the police service. A police service that reflects the diversity of the society it serves can strengthen public trust, improve communication with communities and contribute to more effective policing. Serbia’s experience also offers valuable lessons for other OSCE participating States working to build inclusive, representative and trusted police services,” said Peško.

“Law enforcement is most effective when it recognizes and responds to the needs of all members of the community. New technologies offer important opportunities for the police to enhance engagement with – and respond to the security concerns of – all parts of our diverse societies, but they also present clear risks that need to be carefully considered and addressed. With its comprehensive approach to security, the OSCE is particularly well placed to support States to harness the potential of new technologies in policing responsibly," said Severini.

The first session took stock of the Interior Ministry’s initiatives to advance the representation of national minorities in the police service, including engaging with diverse communities. A representative of the National Council of the Bulgarian National Minority in Serbia, highlighted tangible results and good practices developed. 

The second session turned to comparative experiences in building representative and trusted police services. A Garda Síochána presented Ireland’s dedicated diversity and community engagement units, and the Police University College of Finland discussed how officers are trained to serve the country’s Swedish-speaking population. The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek shared how Mobile Police Receptions, supported by the OSCE since 2011, bring the police closer to residents of remote areas in Kyrgyzstan.

A dedicated session on new technologies highlighted the conclusions and recommendations of TNTD/SPMU’s recent policy paper on Making Law Enforcement Fit for the Future: Strategic Priorities for Policing in the Digital Age and the Netherlands National Police’s virtual reality training to address ethnic profiling. 

The office of the HCNM and the TNTD/SPMU continue to work with OSCE field operations to support participating States in developing inclusive and effective policing that safeguards the rights of all communities.