Roma in Serbia Introduction Roma Population in Serbia: Official statistics (census 2002), Roma population - 108,193 Estimates of Roma population (different sources, NGO) – at least 250,000 Compared to total population, Roma are a “younger” population

Strategies for Roma integration A draft National Strategy for the Integration and Empowerment of the Roma Poverty Reduction Strategy includes Roma as a vulnerable group Elaboration of Strategies will be easier after receiving more precise data from: Roma booster, follow-up of the Survey on the Living Standards of the Population Sample size: 3000 households, nationally representative sample and 500 Roma households Results expected: October 2003

Vulnerable Roma According to different sources and analysis the following categories are the most vulnerable: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Roma living in Roma settlements Roma repatriated from EU countries

Main problems: Education (illiterate Roma, 4 times more than number of illiterate in the total population, census 1991) Housing (NGO estimates – 2/3 of Roma live in very poor housing conditions) Health - Official statistics/NGO reports and main problems: Under-five mortality rate (approx 40 per 1000) double than in total population Children are delivered at home Large proportion of Roma children are not vaccinated Economic activity – only 28% of Roma population is active (working or looking for job), compared to national average of 46%

Main problems (cont.) Specific problems with regard to the Roma population: Lack of information (according to some studies, this is even a greater problem than documentation) Programmes for informing the Roma (in cooperation with the NGO sector), and other vulnerable categories, on their rights and assisting them in solving these issues Social Innovation Fund Lack of documentation (excluding the Roma from access to the social system: welfare, health, schools…)

Reforms in Social Welfare Roma form a large part of social/cash assistance beneficiaries Survey data show that 30% of Roma receive some social/cash assistance, meaning that high share of social assistance beneficiaries are Roma (over 50%) Social/Cash Assistance system since 2001: Social/cash assistance arrears of 26 months paid (both cash assistance for social cases and child allowances*) Assistance is now paid regularly Humanitarian assistance Roma as majority beneficiaries have benefited from these improvements

Reforms in Social Welfare (cont.) Legislative changes: Amendments to the Law on Social Protection Changes in eligibility criteria Better coverage of poor families in poorer municipalities More than 60% Roma live in poorer municipalities Mechanisms for better targeting of poor families Amendments to the Law will be presented to the Parliament in July 2003.

Social Reforms (non-cash assistance) Social Welfare Institutions No precise data on the number of Roma children in social welfare institutions, but the numbers are large During the past three years, improvement of the situation in the social welfare institutions, largely thanks to donations Other programmes Fostering and adoption is being promoted, with specialized programmes for Roma families Programmes to stop trafficking of human beings, where Roma women and children are often at risk New Family Code will be enacted in the Fall (including section on Family Violence)

On-going programmes for Roma in the Social Sector The following programmes for the Roma are already part of the Social Sector reforms and will be continued: Day Care Centres Education and information campaigns Assistance to Roma IDPs in obtaining the necessary documentation Changes in the work of Assessment Committees for Enrolment of Children into Primary Schools The issue of the enrolment of Roma children into school must be foremost dealt with within the reform of the education sector

Social Innovation Fund (SIF) Potential areas for addressing Roma problems: To provide continuous access to information in exercising rights To advocate for Roma rights, participation and inclusion To create opportunities for accessing health, education and employment

Roma in the PRSP Roma as a cross-cutting issue has been incorporated in all relevant sectors of the PRSP, and priority programmes have been quantified The PRSP Cost Matrix shows the amounts needed to implemented programmes in the period : Euro 237 million Amounts have been allocated for Roma programmes in: Social protection Education Health Employment Housing

Conclusion Roma integration can be achieved by simultaneous measures in different areas: Employment – active measures Social Housing A separate Strategy is being developed on the national level Local level initiatives to address this problem Education – programmes tailored to Roma needs for better inclusion into the education system Health – programmes tailored to Roma needs, improving access to health services and preventive health care programmes

Conclusion (cont.) In the efforts that the Government of Serbia together with the NGO sector and other stakeholders is putting into Roma integration and empowerment we will need a strong commitment and assistance from the international community.