Giving Roma a voice in Serbia and Montenegro
Background
National Councils are an important part of Serbia and Montenegro's Law on the Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities. The goal is to provide a means for ethnic communities and national minorities to participate in political decision-making, exercising their right to self-governance, language, education, media and cultural expression.
The OSCE Mission's support for the Roma Council began in 2002 with the project "Roma in the New Law". Activities were jointly supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and "Roma under the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe", a two-year programme funded largely by the European Commission with additional support from the United States.
Laying the groundwork
The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights in Serbia and Montenegro worked closely with the OSCE Mission and the Council of Europe to bring Roma together in preparation for the elections. Numerous roundtables and training programmes were held in Novi Sad, Nis, Bujanovac and Belgrade with much effort given to reconciling divided groups within the Roma community.
"Roma, some of the poorest and most underprivileged in the country, face many problems," said Minister Rasim Ljajic. He stressed, however, that things were changing and that the Government was striving to unify and strengthen minority groups. Readmission from Western European countries and illegal settlements were two issues Roma in Serbia and Montenegro faced daily.
Future strategy
"The preparations for this Assembly were long and tedious," said Vesna Mitric, a Belgrade lawyer currently working for the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights. "The maturity and seriousness of those involved, however, showed a clear understanding of the rights guaranteed by the Law on Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities. This co-operative model should become a trend in the process of empowering the Roma national minority."
One of the SCE Mission's most important goals in working with the Roma community is the implementation of the Strategy for the Integration of Roma. This document was drafted in late 2002, supported by the Mission, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The strategy outlines an important role for the Roma National Council. The draft is now ready to go through a thorough consultation process with the representatives of Roma non-governmental organizations, political parties and local self-government. It will then be forwarded to the Government for adoption only after approval by the Roma Council, to ensure that the voices of Roma are heard.
National Councils are an important part of Serbia and Montenegro's Law on the Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities. The goal is to provide a means for ethnic communities and national minorities to participate in political decision-making, exercising their right to self-governance, language, education, media and cultural expression.
The OSCE Mission's support for the Roma Council began in 2002 with the project "Roma in the New Law". Activities were jointly supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and "Roma under the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe", a two-year programme funded largely by the European Commission with additional support from the United States.
Laying the groundwork
The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights in Serbia and Montenegro worked closely with the OSCE Mission and the Council of Europe to bring Roma together in preparation for the elections. Numerous roundtables and training programmes were held in Novi Sad, Nis, Bujanovac and Belgrade with much effort given to reconciling divided groups within the Roma community.
"Roma, some of the poorest and most underprivileged in the country, face many problems," said Minister Rasim Ljajic. He stressed, however, that things were changing and that the Government was striving to unify and strengthen minority groups. Readmission from Western European countries and illegal settlements were two issues Roma in Serbia and Montenegro faced daily.
Future strategy
"The preparations for this Assembly were long and tedious," said Vesna Mitric, a Belgrade lawyer currently working for the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights. "The maturity and seriousness of those involved, however, showed a clear understanding of the rights guaranteed by the Law on Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities. This co-operative model should become a trend in the process of empowering the Roma national minority."
One of the SCE Mission's most important goals in working with the Roma community is the implementation of the Strategy for the Integration of Roma. This document was drafted in late 2002, supported by the Mission, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The strategy outlines an important role for the Roma National Council. The draft is now ready to go through a thorough consultation process with the representatives of Roma non-governmental organizations, political parties and local self-government. It will then be forwarded to the Government for adoption only after approval by the Roma Council, to ensure that the voices of Roma are heard.