The Report on the position of Roma in Croatia? is part of the project Improvement of the position of Roma population in Croatia? which started in November 2004 with the financial support from the European Commission Programme for Democratic Initiatives and Human Rights. The Report is based on similar international and domestic reports as well as on the findings of the above mentioned project. Project itself consisted of free legal aid and education of Roma minority for taking an active role in fulfilling their rights. By doing so, the partners invested efforts to improve the overall position of Roma population in the City of Zagreb and Medjimurska, Sisackomoslavacka and Primorskogoranska Counties. In addition to structural overview of the problems Roma face every day, the Report served as a foundation for discussion and recommendations. Roma and state representatives, to some extent responsible for their current status, were also present at the round table.
Roma don’t feel any improvement
-At the first glance, the general situation of the Roma people seems to be improved over time. In comparison to previous periods, Roma themselves are better organised, both through NGO network and political representatives. Furthermore, the problems of Roma communities in Croatia, and the discrimination they suffer, have been brought under greater public scrutiny than before, thus the violation of their rights receives a wider coverage by the media. However, the average inhabitant of Roma settlement Plinarsko, doesn’t feel any improvement whatsoever – says the author of the report and the expert manager of the project Lovorka Kusan, attorney at law.
Every day is a struggle
And the average inhabitant of Roma settlement, as mentioned at the round table, is deprived of basic communal infrastructure (water supply, electricity, heating), usually without citizenship papers and other related documents, uneducated, unemployed and with minimum or no social care benefits and without health insurance. His every day is a struggle, and this is how the great majority of Roma lives in Croatia.
Discrimination from authorities
In spite of the already difficult fulfilment of their rights, the Report points out that Roma often suffer discriminatory treatment from civil servants.
-I went to the police in August 2004 to obtain a register number for my child. Although I possess a certificate of Croatian citizenship from 1992, as all members of my family, the officials took away my valid ID card and annulled it without explanation. They have just told me that the ID card is now invalid. I still don’t have any personal documents. – said at the round table Enisa Omerovic, the victim of this humiliating treatment.
Only 10% of foreseen funds realized for Roma in 2004
This, and many other examples, exists despite the 2003 National Program for Roma, consisting of wide measures of systematic approach in improving the position of Roma population. Although the National Program somehow does not include evaluation measures for assessing the scope of achieved goals, the Report claims that only 10% of foreseen funds was realised for the Program in 2004. Therefore, its successful implementation is in question.
Croatia needs anti-discrimination law
Based on the project findings and pursuant to relevant international and domestic legislature, the Report also recommended measures for improving the overall Roma situation. In this regard, aiming to strengthen legal frame for fight against discrimination, the Report stressed the necessity of adopting a general Antidiscrimination Law in Croatia.
Goran Milakovic
