INTEGRATION OF ROMA MINORITY IN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
8.04.2010
On the occasion of April 8 - International Day of Roma, Palilula Municipality president sent a congratulatory message to all the members of this ethnic minority. `Our municipality, one of five organizations of local self-government of the City of Nis, is responsible for full integration of Roma in society` - said Prof. dr Igor Novakovic. `We are doing everything within our powers to help erasing prejudices in employment, education of Roma children, health care and solving housing problems, to have, in one word - no discrimination on any grounds. Still, most families of Roma population live in unhygienic conditions, on the outskirts of towns` - Novakovic said.

Despite the fact that with the problems of Roma for several decades are dealing number of international governmental and international organizations, as well as institutions and politicians, their economic, political and social status have not been significantly improved in the beginning of 21st century. These "oldest refugee people," who are constantly and in most cases, forced to movement and migrate, which is symbolized also by the wheel of their flag, live mainly on the margins of society.

International Day of Roma April 8, was established at the First World Congress of Roma in London, held from April 4-8 1971, when the name of `Roma` people was adopted, which in the native language means `man`. This is one of the few days in a year when we remind general public to the problems of a group, highlight the hard position of this population in the countries where they live.

Some years later, International Roma Union was founded, when it was decided that the Roma flag would be blue-green with the picture of a wheel in the middle, the hymn to be "Đelem-djelem", and that all the dialects of their language were equal. Called ``last free people``, Roma history and life line were marked by mass suffering, persecution and discrimination.

Despite the fact that the problems of Roma for several decades have been dealt with a number of international governmental and international organizations, as well as institutions and politicians, their economic, political and social status did not significantly improve at the beginning of 21st century. This "oldest refugee people," who are constantly and in most cases, forced to move and migrate, symbolized by the wheel of their flag, live mainly on the margins of society.

The problem of their lack of economic development and inadequate social status has become one of the major problems of Europe, which, in almost in all of its countries with 12 million of Roma. In Serbia, according to 2002 census, there are about 110,000 Roma, but experts say that estimate is between 400,000 and 700,000. According to this census, according to national or ethnic origin, in Palilula were recorded 3435 members of Roma population, although this number is higher because the immigration of families from Kosovo and return of larger groups from the European Union. Roma population was the same year, by the law in Serbia, recognized the status of national minorities, and now their institutional position is much better, but in reality, because of ethnic distance and lack of assistance, which is due to past wars and sanctions have not been improved significantly.