Language crucial for emancipation of Roma [RTCG]

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Wednesday, 04 November 2015 13:16

Language and culture are crucial in the process of national and social emancipation of Roma. It is essential that we fully experience the life, customs, language and culture of Roma if we want to successfully remove existing prejudices about them and affirm their worth and help their faster integration into our society, it was announced from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights on the occasion of the 5th November - World Day of the Roma language.

Roma people around the world speak the language consisted of 60 dialects, often completely different. Most of the Roma in the world speak in romani cib. According to the last census,  there are 6,251 Roma in Montenegro, which makes 1.01% of the total population. The most commonly used dialect is gurbet. Romani language is mother tongue of 5,169 people.

"The integration of the Roma community into the society of Montenegro, progresses gradually, through high quality normative framework of guaranteed human and minority rights in Montenegro. For the full affirmation of the Roma community in the social, economic, cultural and political life is necessary to have a systemic solution that will enable a more efficient approach in the areas in which members of this communite are the most vulnerable", the statement said.

The Romani language, according to the Ministry, constitutes an inseparable part of the identity of the Roma community.

"Roma identity and culture are recognized as an integral part of the history of countries in the region. In relation to the education of Roma, the reasons for the low level of integration in the educational system are reflected in the existence of language barriers, poor awareness, low material position and the low level of awareness of parents about the importance and benefits of education. All action plans within the "Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015.", drafted in the countries in the region included the activities that recognize the importance of the Roma language in the education sector. Montenegro  handed over chairmanship of the Decade to the neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina last year", the statement said.

There are 12 million Roma in the world; their integration is actively followed by]a number of countries which have put this issue high their government policy agendas.

"There is favorable ground for social inclusion of Roma in Montenegro. In terms of population and area, Montenegro is a small country, but the problems of social integration approach are very serious and request full committment. Cultural diversity in Montenegro is considered as one of the basic elements of the overall sustainable development. Preserving the cultural heritage of the peoples living in the same area is one of the main segments of the overall national identity. Due to the fact that the Romani language isn't standardized and the fact that it is dialectically broken up, significantly slow down the socio-linguistic integration of the Roma community, therefore it is fair to talk about the vulnerability of the Romani language today", the statement said.

World Day of the Romani language, is celebrated in memory of the First Congress of Roma held in 1971 in London.

Source: http://rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/108704/jezik-presudan-za-emancipaciju-roma.html