Vision, mission and strategy
The citizens’ association “National Roma Centrum” (NRC) is a professional, civil society and non-profit organization for promotion and protection of human rights of citizens in Republic of Macedonia.
NRC’s vision is an integrative and tolerant society, educated Roma, prosperity and benefits, equal approach to rights for all and improving of the quality of life of the target group. NRC’s vision is based on universal standards and practices of the civil society.
NRC’s mission is to act as a recognizable actor in creating of public policies, as a representative for enabling of equal approach to everyone’s rights and a promoter for applying of European values, through direct field work, research, public debates and initiatives for change of legislation.
The National Roma Centrum has drawn up the following strategic goals and expectations for the period till 2015:
| Strategic goals | Expected results |
| HUMAN RIGHTS | |
| Promotion of human rights, urging for consistency in the principle of rule of law in all social domains. | Increased informing about the ways of realization of basic human rights of the Roma population in 15 cities in Macedonia for 30%. |
| Urges for equitable representation of members of the Roma community in the system’s structures. | Realized meetings with deputies regarding the urges for righteous representation of Roma in the structures of the Government of R.M. |
| Urges for effective anti-discrimination legislative, implementation of international standards and protection instruments. | Monitoring and preparing of reports for implementation of the law on anti-discrimination; informing of the citizens through campaigns and direct meetings. |
| Monitoring and informing about the level of respect of human rights in Republic of Macedonia, organizing, campaigning against discrimination, racism, xenophobia and segregation. | Raised responsibility of the state about implementation of the already taken obligations towards citizens in relation to full enjoyment of their rights. |
| Free legal assistance for the socially endangered citizens, regardless of ethnic background in Kumanovo, Kriva Palanka and Kratovo. | 20% of the socially endangered citizens in Kumanovo, Kriva Palanka and Kratovo have received legal advice about the ways and possibilities for resolving of certain legal issues. |
| Motivation of objective informing of the media about the condition of human rights and freedoms, emphasizing service delivery with a special emphasis on the Roma community. | Delivered real information to the media, organized press conferences, placed positive information about Roma with which stereotypes towards the Roma population decrease. |
| EDUCATION | |
| Increased enrolment of Roma in the Macedonian education system, decreasing of illiteracy rates of Roma in cooperation with state institutions and the Roma population, improvement of success of Roma pupils in primary education in cooperation with schools in 15 cities in Macedonia. | 20-30% larger coverage of Roma children in the education system in the following 5 years on 15 cities in Macedonia; 80% of the illiterate Roma population is informed about the possibilities for their education; 30% increased regularity of Roma pupils in primary education as basis for better success. |
| HEALTH | |
| Representation for (1) progressive realization of the right for health; (2) on time and quality services for Roma women. Raising of awareness for health and informing about the usefulness from health services for Roma women. | NRC to be identified as a partner to the Ministry of health; created indicators for preventive programs for effective monitoring according to the jurisdictions of the Ministry of health; 50% of Roma women at the ages from 14-45 in Macedonia use the services of health facilities in primary and secondary health protection as their basic human right. |
| Rising of awareness about the meaning of health in Roma families. | 20-30% increased awareness about the meaning of health in Roma families. |
| HOUSING | |
| Providing of legal assistance for legalization of constructions in Roma settlements in Kumanovo. Representation for mapping of Roma settlements in 15 cities in Macedonia. | Legal assistance has been provided for 20% of the total number of owners of illegal constructions in Roma settlements in Kumanovo. Prepared Strategy for mapping of Roma settlements by Government institutions. |
*NRC’s strategic goals fulfill part of the expectations from the National Strategy and the Decade for Inclusion of Roma 2005-2015
NRC’s activities are steered towards the Roma community in Macedonia as a direct target group, not excluding the other ethnic communities.
Through direct approach to the community and the citizens and by following up on the strategic international and state determinations, NRC registers, researches and determine the needs for creating of appropriate programs and activities.
NRC’s working methods:
| - Field work – Research | |
| - Representation | |
| - Consultant services | |
| - Training – Informing | |