Taken from Norway's official website in Serbia

30.04.2014 // With a three-year-long project aimed to improve the position of marginalised groups in Serbia, especially the Roma population, the NGO Praxis serves as an example of what the Embassy considers a successful project partner.

The Belgrade-based non-governmental and non-profit organization Praxis has finalised a three-year-long project entitled Contribution to Social Inclusion and Combat against Discrimination of Marginalized Population in Serbia in partnership with the Roma Educational Centre from Subotica and the Osvit organisation from Nis.

As part of the project, which was financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Praxis monitored implementation of relevant legislation and strategic documents aimed at improving the status of marginalized groups, analyzed the effects of their implementation, and recorded cases of discrimination and violation of rights.

The collected information and findings constituted the basis for the activities of advocacy for changing laws, policies and practices of relevant state authorities.

Simultaneously, the purpose of educational workshops for residents of informal settlements and roundtables for representatives of relevant authorities and service providers was to empower the members of marginalized groups to use the existing legal mechanisms to exercising and protect their rights, as well as to sensitize the representatives of authorities to the problems that these people face in accessing their guaranteed rights.

A final report was developed, based on a combination of legal framework analysis, case studies, surveys and focus groups with individuals of the Roma community, as well as interviews with representatives of relevant authorities and institutions.

The report presented the results achieved and progress made, in addition to remaining problems regarding the exercise of the right to be recognized as a person before the law, right to social welfare and health care, education, work and employment and adequate housing.

Praxis’ work dates back to 2004 when this non-governmental and non-profit organization was established following their project cooperation with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which was funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

NRC had a long-standing commitment to legal aid in the region, and eventually left it to their local offices to found their own organizations and continue with the work.

“This strategy obviously worked out, and we have not only remained a functional organization, but are regarded with respect,” says Ivanka Kostic, Praxis Executive Director.

During its ten years of existence, the organization provided free legal assistance for a total of 70,106 people; initiated and conducted a total of 14,123 administrative or judicial proceedings; organized over 900 site visits attended by over 18,000 people who got information and advice related to access to socioeconomic and status rights; and represented 170 female victims of domestic violence in a total of 305 court proceedings.

From NRC, Praxis also inherited the practice of working with migrant groups, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Given the fact that many IDPs were Roma, and that the local Roma population was facing a number of the abovementioned problems, Praxis’ work quickly became focused around the Roma population.

They spent much time in the field and in local communities, which helped them gather information and reaching out to people that normally had difficulties with accessing information and assistance services.

“The problems we were dealing with spread further onto socio-economic rights, health care, education, employment, social protection - and when we reached the issue of housing as one of the key problem areas, we found our niche,” says Kostic.

Engagement on the policy level

In order to bring forth the changes that only the state can make, they entered cooperation with state bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

“We relied on this cooperation even when we were being critical and were proposing certain unpopular changes, but the changes we have contributed to over the years have shown that this was successful after all,” Kostic says.

Regarding the issue of legally invisible persons, Praxis teamed up with the Center for Advanced Legal Studies, and their experts drafted a model law: the Law on Amendments to the Law on Non-Contentious Procedure – for establishing the time and place of birth, which can be reverted to if a person cannot be registered under the Law on General Administrative Procedure.

“This new law was needed because, as we have repeatedly been saying, a large number of people find themselves in a specific situation where they cannot register for citizenship,” Kostic says.

At first they encountered strong resistance from the then Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Administration and Local Self-Government. Through an EU-supported project, however, they looked at experiences from Bulgaria and Romania as well as other EU-countries with a high flow of migrants, and organized the stakeholders.

“The ombudsman was on board with us and, finally, referred the draft law proposal to the parliament,” Kostic explained.

The Law was adopted with minor changes in 2012. But, it has yet to be fully implemented in practice.

“Following its implementation, analyzing its effects and advocating for practical solutions also require vast efforts,” Kostic added.

Pescanik's team recorded a Praxis' visit to the Roma settlement "Ledine" in Novi Beograd.

See the video clip here.

Ivanka Kostic, Praxis Executive Director, said for magazine Grazia that Praxis has managed so far to identify more than 2,000 persons in need for assistance in obtaining documents, but it is estimated that there are much more of them. She stated reasons for which persons are often without documents, such as cases when a mother, in the lack of her own, gives birth to a child with someone’s health booklets and then someone else is registered as a biological mother of her child, then persons whom their parents did not report to the registrar within the deadline, etc.

Read the whole text in the magazine Grazia.

Download the report: Report on the Implementation of the Strategy for Improvement of the Status of Roma in the Republic of Serbia with Recommendations

On 8th April, on the occasion of International Romani Day, Ombudsperson presented the conclusions from the “Report on Implementation of the Strategy for Improvement of the Status of Roma with Recommendations” at a media conference.

Ombudsperson Sasa Jankovic said that education and health protection were the greatest problems that Roma population faced. As he stated, since the adoption of the Strategy in 2009, no by-laws had been adopted in relation to education apart from the positive enrolment in primary and secondary schools, which again led to abuses. In relation to health protection, he stated changes were visible but insufficient.

Goran Basic, Deputy Ombudsperson in the period from 2008 to 2013, stated that no one was in charge of managing the Strategy, that there were no precise data in the system about education, health care, housing needs, which had been stated as priorities in the document.

Ivana Stankovic, Praxis Programme Coordinator, pointed to the problems in the exercise of status and socio-economic rights by the Roma. She spoke about complicated procedures for the exercise of the right to cash social assistance, particularly emphasizing the obligation to file a lawsuit against relatives for support. She also added that the practice showed that the service providers were often not sensitized, that no one could guarantee that the Roma would not be discriminated against in school or that they would not be discriminated against every time they tried to find employment.

“If you go and visit an informal settlement and try to assess what has been done from the aspect of everyday life of people in the settlements, you will see that we all have to work harder,” she concluded.

See the news at the website of Media Center
See the news at the website of the Ombudsperson
Download: Report on Implementation of the Strategy for Improvement of the Status of Roma with Recommendations (Serbian only)

On the occasion of marking the International Roma Day, at the press conference in Media Centre the conclusions of the “Report on Implementation of the Strategy for Improvement of Position of Roma with Recommendations” prepared by the Ombudsperson were presented.

On that occasion, Ivana Stankovic, Praxis Programme Coordinator, talked about the problems related to exercise of status and socioeconomic rights of Roma population. She also talked about complicated procedures for exercise of the right to cash social assistance with special reference to the obligation to file a lawsuit against relatives who are obliged to provide financial support. Ivana also added that practice showed that officials are often unsensitized and that no one can guarantee that Roma will not be discriminated in schools or that they will not be discriminated each time they try to find a job.

In the end, Ivana added: “If you go and visit an informal Roma settlement and try to assess what has been done from the aspect of a daily life of an individual, you will see that we all still have to work together a lot”.

Read the whole news here.
Download: Report on Implementation of the Strategy for Improvement of Position of Roma with Recommendations

On the occasion of International Roma Day, we would like to send our best wishes to all fellow Roma citizens.

At the same time, we would like to draw public attention to the fact that Roma population is still one of the most vulnerable and most marginalized population groups in Serbia. By adopting laws or amending the existing ones, by developing the strategic framework and by undertaking various affirmative actions and activities, an important step has been taken towards improving the status of the Roma. Nevertheless, the adopted legal provisions are often not implemented or they are implemented in an uneven manner, while many of the measures can be described as short-term and ill-adapted to specific needs of vulnerable groups.

The level of poverty of Roma population, living conditions, recorded problems with access to rights, especially the rights to birth registration and citizenship, health care, social protection, work and employment, education and adequate housing, as well as widespread discrimination, prejudices and negative stereotypes about this population group clearly indicate that the measures taken are insufficient and that it is still necessary to invest additional efforts and to overcome numerous obstacles on the way towards meaningful inclusion of Roma into society.

Download the report: Preventing Childhood Statelessness in Europe - Issues Gaps and Good Practices

Praxis' legal mobile team visited the following:

December

• 23 December – Roma settlement “Tosin Bunar”, Novi Beograd
• 11 December – Roma settlements, Beocin
• 10 December – Roma settlements “Osaonica”, “Kozara” and “Velika Drenova”, Trstenik
•   9 December – Roma settlement “Lisiste”, Pozega
•   3 December – Roma settlement “Vozegrnci”, Novi Pazar
•   3 December – Roma settlements, Kostolac
•   2 December – Roma settlement “Midzor”, Bela Palanka

November

• 25 November - Roma settlement “Mali krivak”, Smederevo
• 24 November – Roma settlements, Surcin
• 19 November – Roma settlement “Banjska ulica”, Bujanovac
• 18 November – Roma settlements “Milan Milosevic” and “Ljubic polje”, Cacak
• 18 November – Roma settlements, Zabalj
• 13 November – Roma settlements “Tolic” and “Nanomir”, Mionica
• 13 November – Roma settlements, Sremska Mitrovica
• 12 November – Roma settlement “Zeleznicka stanica”, Novi Sad
• 10 November – Roma settlements “Podvarce” and “Hisar”, Leskovac
•   7 November – Roma settlements, Novi Becej
•   5 November – Roma settlement “Licika”, Kragujevac

October

• 24 October – Roma settlements, Zemun
• 21 October – Roma settlements, Mladenovac
• 21 October – Roma settlement “Kalenic”, Ub
• 15 October – Roma settlement “Omladinska ulica”, Medvedja
• 14 October – Roma settlements “Tekijsko brdo” and “Karadjordjevo brdo”, Paracin
• 14 October – Roma settlement “Stari Kostolac”, Kostolac
•   9 October – Roma settlements, Kanjiza
•   9 October – Roma settlement “Beli breg”, Zajecar
•   6 October – Roma settlement “Koteks”, Kragujevac

September

• 30 September – Roma settlements, Srbobran
• 25 September – Roma settlement “Ledine 2”, Novi Beograd
• 24 September – Roma settlement “Adice”, Novi Sad
• 23 September – Roma settlements “Jabucje” and “Ulica Justina Popovica”, Lajkovac
• 19 September – Roma settlements “Makis I” and “Makis II”, Cukarica/Belgrade
• 18 September – Roma settlement “Dalas”, Tutin
• 18 September – Roma settlements “Tosin Bunar” and “Vladimir Nazor”, Novi Beograd
• 17 September – Roma settlement “Dojevic”, Novi Pazar
• 16 September – Roma settlement “Paljuvi”, Ub
• 11 September – Roma settlement “Zitni potok”, Prokuplje
• 11 September – Roma settlement “Surducka”, Zrenjanin
•   9 September – Roma settlement “Batasevo”, Mladenovac

August

• 28 August – Roma settlement “Karadjordjeva ulica” and “Kiseljak”, Smederevska Palanka
• 27 August – Roma settlement “Drenovacki put”, Kragujevac
• 26 August – Roma settlement “Fekovica brdo”, Sjenica
• 20/21 August – Roma settlements “Zorka” and “Veliki Bajmok”, Subotica
• 19 August – Roma settlement “Vozegrnci”, Novi Pazar
• 14 August – Roma settlement “Mali Leskovac”, Palilula/Beograd
• 14 August – Roma settlement “Pustorecka ulica”, Bojnik
• 11 August – Roma settlement “Cukaricka suma” and “OMV”, Cukarica/Belgrade
•   8 August - Roma settlement "Kijevo", Rakovica/Belgrade
•   7 August – Roma settlement “Fekovica brdo”, Sjenica
•   6 August – Collective Centre “Rasadnici”, Krusevac
•   6 August – Collective Centre “Trmbas”, Kragujevac
•   6 August – Roma settlements, Batocina
•   5 August – Roma settlement “Jezdovica kosa”, Prijepolje
•   5 August – Roma settlements “Adice”, “Veliki rit” and “Sangaj”, Novi Sad
•   4 August – Roma settlements “Reva Politika” and “Vuka Vrcevica”, Palilula/Belgrade
•   1 August – Roma settlements “Belvil na trasi” and “Blok 72”, Novi Beograd
   

July

• 31 July – Roma settlements “Bavaniste” & “Dubovac”, Kovin
• 30 July – Roma settlements “Cukaricka suma” & “Vuka Vrcevica”, Belgrade
• 29 July – Roma settlement “Cukaricka suma”, Belgrade
• 25 July – Roma settlements, Surcin
• 24 July – Roma settlements “Prcilovica” & “Aleksinacki rudnici”, Aleksinac
• 22 July – Roma settlement “Kanal”, Kostolac
• 17 July – Roma settlement “Ulica Nikole Kopernika”, Bor
• 10 July – Roma settlement “Zemun Polje”, Zemun
• 10 July – Roma settlement “Grosnica”, Kragujevac

June

• 30 June – Roma settlement “Stocni trg”, Nis
• 26 June – Roma settlements, Sabac
• 13 June – Roma settlements, Vrsac
• 12 June – Roma settlement “Belvil na trasi”, Novi Beograd
• 11 June – Roma settlement “Satorsko naselje Stari aerodrome”, Kraljevo
• 10 June – Collective Centre Trmbas, Kragujevac
•   5 June – Roma settlements “Sangaj”, “Banglades” & “Veliki rit”, Novi Sad
•   5 June – Roma settlement “Banjska ulica”, Bujanovac
•   4 June – Collective Centre Tehnicka skola, Bujanovac
•   3 June – Roma settlement “Crvena Zvezda”, Nis
•   3 June – Roma settlements “Marko Orlovic” & “Panjevac”, Krusevac

May

• 30 May – Roma settlement “Grmec”, Zemun
• 29 May – Collective Centre “Hotel ES”, Bela Palanka
• 28 May – Roma settlement “Burdinci”, Vranje
• 23 May – Roma settlements “Mali Leskovac” and “Vuka Vrcevica”, Palilula/Belgrade
• 13 May – Roma settlement “Dojevic”, Novi Pazar

April

• 29 April – Roma settlement “Ulica Baje Sekulica”, Pozarevac
• 29 April – Roma settlement “Mali rit”, Pancevo
• 24 April – Roma settlements, Kikinda
• 24 April – Roma settlement “Miliva”, Despotovac
• 17 April – Roma settlements, Surdulica
•   8 April – Roma settlement “Svracice”, Tutin
•   4 April – Roma settlements “Stamparija” and “Kopovi”, Bor
•   3 April – Roma settlements “CC Salvatore” and “Banjska ulica”, Bujanovac
•   2 April – Roma settlements, Zvezdara/Belgrade

March

• 31 March – Roma settlements, Novi Sad
• 26 March – Roma settlements, Palilula
• 25 March – Roma settlements, Bela Palanka
• 19 March – Roma settlement “Recica”, Zitoradja
• 18 March – Roma settlement “Binovce”, Surdulica
• 13 March – Roma settlement “Gramadje”, Vranjska Banja
• 13 March – Roma settlements, Smederevo
• 11 March – Roma settlements, Zitoradja
•   6 March – Roma settlement “Kula Orljak”, Vladicin Han
•   5 March – Roma settlements, Bela Palanka
•   4 March – Roma settlement “Novo naselje”, Surdulica

Ferbruary

• 26 February – Roma settlements, Zabalj
• 25 February – Roma settlements, Zvezdara
• 25 February – Roma settlements “Sat Mahala” and “Pecenjevce” Leskovac
• 20 February – Roma settlement “Orlovsko naselje 2 – Lazari”, Zvezdara
• 19 February – Roma settlement “Slavko Zlatanovic”, Leskovac
• 19 February – Roma settlement “Mali Leskovac”, Palilula/Belgrade
• 18 February – Roma settlement “Zaguzanje”, Surdulica
• 13 February – Roma settlement “Mali krivak”, Smederevo
• 13 February – Roma settlement “Banjska ulica”, Bujanovac
• 12 February – Roma settlement “Adice”, Novi Sad
• 12 February – Roma settlements, Vranje
• 11 February – Roma settlement “Jelasnica”, Surdulica
•  7 February – Roma settlements “Deronje”, “Cerga” and “Bogojevo”, Odzaci
•  4 February – Roma settlements, Vranje

January

• 27 January – Roma settlements, Vladicin Han
• 23 January – Roma settlement “Lepenica”, Vladicin Han
• 21 January – Roma settlement “Novo Naselje”, Pozarevac
• 21 January – Roma settlements, Vladicin Han
• 17 January – Roma settlements “Dubovac”, “Sumarak” and “Deliblato”, Kovin
• 16 January – Roma settlement “Ulica Petra Lekovica”, Vranje
• 16 January – Roma settlement “Ciganski rit”, Vranje
• 13 January – Roma settlements “Burdinci”, “Saglamci” and “Ogos”, Vranjska Banja
•   9 January – Roma settlement “Ogos”, Vranjska Banja

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia has published the regular annual report for 2013. The report can be downloaded here (Serbian only).