NRC

On 25th of February 2008 in the Informative Office of the Council of Europe, representatives of NRC with other NGOs were invited to participate on meeting with Mr. Hammarberg.

During the meeting Mr. Hammarberg has shown great interest on the present discrimination which appears against Roma people in Republic of Macedonia with special accent on Romani women and the status of Roma refugees from Kosovo. Based on our work and experience he asks for opinions and monitoring remarks, which he shall address specific questions during his official meeting with the representatives of the institutions and Government. Most of the present NGOs suggested to Mr. Hammarberg to address to the highest Macedonian authorities as well as to the Ministry for Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry for Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry for health. As delegates from ERTF and representatives of National Roma Centrum we highlighted the fact that Roma are still marginalized group in Republic of Macedonia and that discrimination as a problem still exist. As a weakness bangle in the legal system we highlighted the importance to adopt comprehend anti-discrimination law, which does not exist making obstructions to indicate discrimination as such. The non equal implementation of Ohrid Framework Agreement also results as tool to confirm discrimination against Roma minority in Macedonia.

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On Wednesday, 20th of February, at 19:00 o’clock, at the Best-Western Hotel (restaurant Royal), in Skopje, the National Roma Centrum, organized a meeting with journalists - main and responsible editors of the media and informative centers in Republic of Macedonia.

An exchange of information and ideas was made, which would provide an opportunity for creating of relations for successful cooperation in the mutual treatment of the problem with inclusion of Roma in social and educational processes in Republic of Macedonia.

A result from this meeting was the conclusion that there is a great necessity of engaging of media in actualization and treatment of the problematic for inclusion of Roma in social and educational processes.

The media expressed their readiness together in cooperation with the National Roma Centrum for constructive approach and informing about the treatment of the Roma problematic.

In the forthcoming period NRC according to its predicted plan and program will have public appearances with concrete analyses and elaborations of data from the many months of field work in 11 cities in Republic of Macedonia.

The meeting was organized within the frames of the campaign for education of Roma in Macedonia "The key is in our hands", and was implemented by the National Roma Centrum "NRC" from Kumanovo with support of the Roma Education Fund from Budapest.

The activities will continue with great intensity in cooperation and support from the state’s institutions.

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On the plenary session of the European Roma and Travelers Forum in Strasbourg in November 2007, Dony White performed a Roma song for unity of Roma.

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To:
Mr. Joseph DAUL, Chairman of the EPP ED group
Mr. Martin SCHULZ, Martin, Chairman of the PES group
Mr. Graham WATSON, Chairman of ALDE group
Mr. Brian CROWLEY, Chairman of the UEN group
Mr. Daniel COHN-BENDIT, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group
Mr. Francis WURTZ, Chairman of the GUE group

Dear Presidents of Political groups in the European Parliament,

Regarding the debate on European Roma Strategy that appears on your agenda of the forthcoming January plenary session in Strasbourg, we would kindly appreciate your highest attention on the following points:

• The European Roma Strategy is a necessity as well as priority for the European Union especially after the events that took place in Italy last year. Such strategy should serve the EU as an instrument for prevention of similar developments in other EU member states;
• The European Roma Strategy should primarily focus on improving the living conditions of the Roma in Europe, create jobs for jobless Roma, deepen the system of non-discrimination and combat Anti-Gypsyism in the EU, support education of the Roma, bring health in the Roma settlements and promote Roma political inclusion.
  In a same time the European Roma Strategy should take into account the official recommendations of the CoE, the OSCE action Plan on Roma as well as the Decade of Roma Inclusion programs.
• Creation of a Roma Unit within the European Commission should be a number-one priority for the EU, especially after the European Council recognises the urgency of the matter and undertakes concrete steps as soon as possible. Such Unit on Roma issues can help the policy, implementation and monitoring part of the European Strategy on Roma in Europe;
• The European Roma Strategy should serve Roma as equal citizens in the EU and should be tabled for consultation as well as to be developed together with Romani partners;
• The Roma in the EU are 12 million people. With the future enlargement of the EU meaning of the accession of the Western Balkans states the number will increase to 14-15 million and with Turkey will come to 16-17 million Roma;

We count on your generous support to the Roma and we thank you for sharing this letter with your MEP colleagues so that our voice as your voters is heard too.

Devlesa
Asmet Elezovski
President of National Roma Centrum
Spokeperson of Roma National Congress
Delegate European Roma and Travellers Forum

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Download Empowering romany woman, empowering Roma community in 640×480 .mpg format.

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