OSCE Presence in Albania to mark International Roma Day
Roma children in the Zinxhiraj neighbourhood of the city of Gjirokastra, 14 June 2004 file photo. (OSCE/Joana Karapataqi) Photo details
TIRANA, 7 April 2006 - On the occasion of the International Roma Day, marked 8 April, the Head of the OSCE Presence extended congratulations and good wishes to the Roma community in Albania, and said it would continue assisting Albanian authorities in order to improve the situation of Roma in the country.
"The Presence advocates better inclusion of the Roma community in Albanian society and stands ready to support the Government in focusing its efforts on providing housing, education and the civil registration for Roma, as well as on ensuring their right to vote," said Ambassador Pavel Vacek, Head of the OSCE Presence.
Today, the OSCE Presence's Field Station and the UNDP Local Governance Programme Office in Gjirokastra will organize a drawing competition for Roma pupils in local schools, as well as an exhibition of children's work and a concert.
The Presence played an advisory role in drafting a National Strategy on improving Roma living conditions, and is now helping the Government to implement it, as well as the OSCE Action Plan on improving the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE region. The Presence also currently co-ordinates the efforts of international organizations and donors in the country aimed at improving the status of the Roma people in the Albanian society.
International Roma Day was established in 1990. It represents the aspirations of Roma to bring the problems that their community faces in many countries across Europe to an international level.
"The Presence advocates better inclusion of the Roma community in Albanian society and stands ready to support the Government in focusing its efforts on providing housing, education and the civil registration for Roma, as well as on ensuring their right to vote," said Ambassador Pavel Vacek, Head of the OSCE Presence.
Today, the OSCE Presence's Field Station and the UNDP Local Governance Programme Office in Gjirokastra will organize a drawing competition for Roma pupils in local schools, as well as an exhibition of children's work and a concert.
The Presence played an advisory role in drafting a National Strategy on improving Roma living conditions, and is now helping the Government to implement it, as well as the OSCE Action Plan on improving the situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE region. The Presence also currently co-ordinates the efforts of international organizations and donors in the country aimed at improving the status of the Roma people in the Albanian society.
International Roma Day was established in 1990. It represents the aspirations of Roma to bring the problems that their community faces in many countries across Europe to an international level.