Press Release on Reporting on Roma Strategy

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Monday, 08 June 2015 11:53

Group of NGOs dealing with integration of Roma and Egyptians met on 15 May with the aim to review the Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy for improving the position of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro in 2014. The meeting was organized by Young Roma as part of its regular activities within the project Decade Focal Point.

The general attitude of civil society representatives who attended the meeting is that the Report for 2014 almost entirely treats I/DPs and Roma and Egyptians who live in Podgorica and Konik camps, which creates the impression is that reporting on the domicile Roma population was neglected. This is particularly worrying if we take into account the Montenegro’s Progress Report for membership in the EU for 2014 and other relevant reports, which concluded that Roma in Montenegro are faced with discrimination, regardless of their legal status or the city of living. However, despite the fact that very little effort was made to improve the position of domicile Roma living in the north, while investments are almost inexistent in the southern parts of Montenegro, the failure of the competent institution to report on the status of the local population can lead to failure in understanding the need to ensure better living conditions for all people at a disadvantage position and also a rise in tensions between the two Roma subgroups.

Although the Report clearly presents visible budget allocations of the Ministry for Human Rights and Minority Rights for the implementation of the Strategy in 2014, the Report misses to present the data from other ministries and institutions that work in this area (e.g. Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, etc). Also worrying is the fact that this document is abundant of information on activities of other organizations (UNDP, REF, NGOs), which we certainly consider important, however, showing very few essential activities that originated from and are directly enforced by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.

There are certain disagreements with regard to the data presented by the Ministry and other research organizations. This is particularly evident in the field of education and inclusion of children in schools[1]. Also, there is tendency to repeat some information from previous or similar statements.

In accordance with the above, with a aim to contribute to more purposeful and more comprehensive reporting for the current year, Roma and pro-Roma organizations suggest the following recommendations:

• When reporting on the situation of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro, in general, and particularly in terms of reporting on the implementation of the Strategy, equally focus on domicile and I/D population;
• In the Report for 2015 include an overview of allocated funds and list of activities by ministries and institutions;
• In the report for 2015 include a review of the approved projects and the results achieved with the support of funds allocated by the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro, Fund for minorities and the Government of Montenegro, through the Commission for allocation of revenue from games of chance;
• When reporting on education and inclusion of children in schools, show the exact number of children in cities and classes in all schools, including the comparison of the number of children at the beginning and end of the school year, in order to obtain precise data on the drop-out rate[2];
• When reporting on the activities related to housing, in particular within the Regional Housing Program, show precise data on how many housing units are allocated to Roma and Egyptian families in Podgorica and Nikšić.
• If the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights prepared the Action Document (AD) for 2015 for the European Commission, specify this information in the report, explaining the basis for defining priorities and actions, as well as whether any consultations with Roma civil society in connection with the preparation of this document were conducted.
• Bearing in mind that the current strategy covers the period up to 2016, in addition to the preparation of the Report on the Implementation of the Strategy in 2015, prepare a special report, which will include a summary of all activities for the previous four-year period with the presentation of the objectives and the results achieved;
• When drafting a new strategy for the period 2016 - 2020, provide for the participation of representatives of Roma civil society in a team for monitoring over the implementation of the Strategy, as per available information, there are no representatives of civil society other than one representative of the Roma Council[3];
• Clearly define the tasks of the Team for monitoring over the implementation of the Strategy, with precise division of roles and adoption of rulebooks and adequate internal procedures;
• When designing a new strategy, in particular to take into account that funds are focused on getting things done for the burning issues (housing, education), and not for activities that do not contribute to the concrete improvement of the situation of Roma.

Respectfully,

Association for Roma Affirmation                                                                     

Centre for Democracy and Human Rights – CEDEM                                   

Civic Alliance                                                                                        

Coalition Roma Circle                                                                            

Democratic Roma Centre                                                                       

Humanitarian    

RAE Camp Council 

Romany Hope

Roma Restart

RAE Women's Network "FIRST"

RYO „Phiren Amenca“

Young Roma - Herceg Novi