Montenegro

International Roma Day

“According to the researches conducted by Roma NGOs, in Montenegro there is around 15 000 domicile Roma and some 5 000 displaced  from Kosovo. You meet us mainly as road sweepers, beggars and junk dealers. Our every day life is truly like that. Roma are the people with significant history and culture, which they’ve lost over the years. But, our history and culture still remains important, and it is in our genes,”said Mr. Veselj Beganaj, Coordinator of the NGO Coalition Romski krug at the press conference held in Podgorica on the occasion of International Roma Day.

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On the occasion of International Roma Day, the NGO Coalition “Romski krug” held a press conference together with the Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and the representatives from the Foundation Open Society Institute Montenegro (FOSI ROM) and the United Nations Agencies in Montenegro.

Mr. Veselj Beganaj, Coordinator of the NGO Coalition Romski krug reminded that the basic problems of this population in Montenegro are in domains of education, employment, life conditions and accommodation, social and health status. “The situation is difficult, but not hopeless. In favor of positive changes, a National Roma Council was founded a month ago, with an aim to establish standards and improve the status of Roma,” said Mr. Beganaj. Wishing a happy holiday to Roma people, he sent a message to all the citizens of Montenegro that Roma want to live peacefully and in respect for local tradition and customs, while domicile citizens should respect Roma tradition and customs, too.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Ms. Gordana Đurović said: “Roma population is significantly excluded from main social streams in Montenegro, which is also the case in most of the countries of the region and wider. Quite high illiteracy rate, small number of people employed, inadequate housing conditions, social exclusion are just some of the causes for their unfavourable position in society.” Deputy Prime Minister, however, underlined that, by adopting the Action Plan for implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015, Montenegro obliged itself to develop, promote and implement the policies of Roma integration in favour of general improvement of their position and a higher degree of integration and socialisation.

“Strategy for improving the status of Roma population for a period between 2008 -2012 was adopted in November last year. It was developed according to the recommendations of the European Union, and defined in the fields related to the rule of human and minority rights. The Government provided 400.000 euros for the first year of this document implementation,” explained Deputy Prime Minister.

Ms. Sanja Elezović, Director of Foundation Open Society Institute Montenegro, said that Roma population is part of society that we should all think about. The EU accession represents a way for better protection of their human rights. Ms. Elezović also emphasized that now Montenegrin Roma and their non-governmental organizations got an office space, which seems to be a step forward.

Mr. Garret Tankosić Kelly, UNDP Resident Representative a.i./UN Interagency Focal Point in Montenegro pointed out that Roma, Ashkelia and Egyptians (RAE) are the most vulnerable part of population, with the highest poverty rate (52,3 %), illiteracy rate (50%) and unemployment rate (43,3%). “The situation is even worse for women in Roma community,” said Mr. Tankosić Kelly. “Their illiteracy and unemployment rate is over 80%. About 25% of this population do not possess personal documents, which means they have no access to social security services and to other basic rights.”

“Beyond any doubt, the most vulnerable are children. The infant mortality rate is three times higher than the national average. In average only five out of one hundred children go to kindergarten, some one thousand go to primary school and only few of them complete it.  Currently, only 33 Roma, Ashkelia and Egyptian children attend secondary school, and the number of those at faculties is negligible. Furthermore, there are so many ‘invisible’ children, being not registered at birth, and thus left out of the system,” stressed Mr. Tankosić Kelly. “For UN System in Montenegro, no Roma can be excluded. Their full integration is above all an opportunity for a more stable and a more dynamic society well prepared for EU accession and in line with the Copenhagen Criteria”, he concluded.

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In the presence of representatives of Roma community, a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between UNDP, UNHCR and UNICEF. The MoU will be the frame for searching opportunities for durable solutions through the facilitation of birth certificates and personal documents as a basis for access to social security services and for further social inclusion.

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8 April was established as International Roma Day at the First World Roma Congress, held in April 1971 in London, when the official flag, hymn, language and name of this nation were determined as well.  

This day is marked throughout the world, in order to draw attention to the difficult position of Roma population and to help in breaking deep-rooted stereotypes that are a significant obstacle on the way to their integration in the domicile society.