Ahead of 8 April, International Roma Day, the B&H Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Delegation of the European Union to B&H/EU Special Representative in B&H, UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision called for greater efforts from all sides to end exclusion of Roma in B&H. Access to adequate housing, employment, education, health, social services and equal political participation remain far out of reach for the vast majority of Roma population in B&H.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is determined to continue with the implementation of Roma action plans, and we will work to see greater cooperation with local communities to improve the status of Roma population,” Damir Ljubić, B&H Minister for Human Rights and Refugees said. “The B&H Council of Ministers is working with authorities at all levels to create inclusive environments for Roma. B&H will preside over the Roma Inclusion Decade as of 1 July 2014, and the Ministry will actively cooperate with the Roma civil society within this framework in order to advance the rights of Roma in B&H”.
“There is still much to be done to combat long standing discrimination against Roma and to address urgent human rights issues, such as provision of adequate housing,” said Fletcher M. Burton, Head of the OSCE Mission to B&H. “Our network of 11 field offices across the country allows us to have regular and sustained communication with Roma communities, and assess the needs of almost all individual Roma communities. We learnt that the most vulnerable remain on the margins – Roma families without any property and those living in illegally constructed housing are often excluded.”
Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen said: “Roma still face unacceptable levels of discrimination in society. There are still many challenges that lie ahead – challenges we all have a responsibility to help resolve. The EU is doing its part. We currently have a project ongoing worth 2.5 million EUR. It will, among other things, enable housing for 150 families and 80 economic grants. More than 1 300 people will directly benefit from it.”
“The social inclusion of Roma should start from birth: all Roma children have to be registered, which may require ensuring free baby birth in all health institutions,” said Florence Bauer, UNICEF Representative in B&H. “This would reduce the number of children who are not registered timely, which would ensure their right to identity, nationality, passport and other identity documents as preconditions for the realization of all other rights such as the right to health or education. Exclusion starts at birth, so does inclusion.”
International Roma Day (8 April) was established in 1971, to recognize the values of a unique yet diverse community dispersed throughout Europe, which, while culturally and historically rich, today faces enormous economic, social and political challenges.
“Provision of quality education to Roma children is one of the most important corner-stones in reducing discrimination, promoting equality of Roma population and creating better life opportunities for Roma girls and boys,” said Andrea Žeravčić, director of Save the Children. “By providing inclusive and resourceful education to all children in BiH we give them equal opportunities and set grounds for a society that lays on the principles of diversity, solidarity and tolerance. Save the Children works with education authorities to achieve this, but also with young Roma leaders to change the perception of Roma in our society.”
“With one year left until the ending of Roma Decade Initiative, there is still number of goals which are to be achieved,” said Sarah Bearup, the National Director of World Vision in B&H. “We need to intensify our efforts and work all together on breaking down the barriers and closing unacceptable gaps between Roma and broader society.”
On April 8, the B&H Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, alongside the Delegation of the EU in B&H, the OSCE Mission to B&H, UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision, will take part in the Conference “Inclusion of Roma in B&H – Challenges and obstacles” in Sarajevo.
