OSCE Mission to Skopje launches project to improve communication between police and Roma community

SKOPJE, 17 Sep 2009 - An OSCE Mission-supported project to improve mutual trust and confidence between the police and the Roma community was launched in Skopje's Shuto Orizari Municipality today.

The project, initiated by non-governmental organization Sumnal and supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, includes two-day training workshops for Roma families on matters related to the role of the police, domestic violence, and drug abuse.

"The police are obliged to serve all communities equally. Through this project, the police will support the Roma community in solving some of the challenges affecting them. Such activities also contribute to building positive inter-ethnic relations and trust in the police service," said Paulo Costa, the OSCE Mission's Head of Police Development Department.

In addition to Shuto Orizari, the project will also be extended to the Bitola and Kochani municipalities, both of which have large Roma populations.

Local police, in co-operation with Roma non-governmental organizations in the three municipalities, will select Roma families which have at least one family member who has been subject to criminal proceedings to take part. Nine workshops will be held in total, and each aims to reach six Roma families with three to four family members each taking part.

"Building mutual confidence between the community and police is an important step towards overcoming certain stereotypes existing in our society. I am aware that this process will be long and slow, but as a representative of the local self-government, it is a pleasure to be part of the beginning of the changes," said Shuto Orizari Mayor Elvis Bajram at the opening ceremony.