Regional conference on seeking solutions for unregistered Roma people kicks off in Skopje

SKOPJE, 1 November 2017 – The inclusion of undocumented Roma people was the focus of a regional conference held in Skopje on 1 November 2017. At the conference, public officials and civil society representatives from the country and the region gathered to discuss and exchange best practices on the topic.

During the event, organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje, participants discussed legislative changes and the approach needed to find a systemic solution to issues related to unregistered Roma, as well as how to strengthen co-operation on this matter at the regional level.

“The Roma community is one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged minority groups in Europe. Many continue to face discrimination, have limited access to basic rights and services, and are not proportionately represented in public and political life. Our Mission supports national authorities in their efforts to promote equal opportunities for the Roma community and protect their human rights,” said the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Jeff Goldstein.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Elmi Aziri, added: “State authorities, civil society organizations and international organizations believe that this issue urgently requires solutions aimed at providing citizenship for people of the Roma community, while also offering protection for those without citizenship. All involved sides should work together in achieving this common goal.”

The Report on Access to Civil Documentation and Registration in South-Eastern Europe: Progress and Remaining Challenges since the 2011 Zagreb Declaration, 2013 supported by the OSCE, UNHCR and European Commission, shows that 905 people in the country have problems accessing civil registration and documentation and have undetermined nationality.