Despite the measures and activities undertaken so far, the discrimination against Roma children in Macedonia is still present. Major discrimination is evident in the part of the registers related to the issue of persons who are not registered in the register, there is the appearance of segregation on ethnic grounds, especially when it comes to Roma students. Also, the situation with children on the street is alarming, and 98.2% of them are Roma. There have been cases of discrimination in the areas of housing and access to goods and services.
These are just some of the areas of discrimination in Roma children registered in the Report "Roma Discrimination, International and Domestic Regulations, National Policies and Institutional Set-up - Field Case Analysis" that was presented today, and is part of the project "Preventing discrimination against Roma children ".
In order to overcome such conditions, the report states, it should work on raising awareness and capacities in institutions and citizens for protection against discrimination, to increase the awareness of discrimination against discrimination, especially among victims belonging to the Roma community. In order to overcome the state of affairs, it is necessary that the domestic legislation be brought into line with the international law and the obligations that the country has accepted, as well as to improve the implementation of national policies.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who addressed the closing conference of the project, said that the state has an obligation to build a society for everyone, not just as a flock, but rather, and that it is the highest on the government's agenda.
- No one should be discriminated against nor neglected. At least it must be a child, especially children from vulnerable categories. For us, such rights and dignified life for all are sincere belief that this is the road to a successful joint state, a home for all, Zaev said.
EU Ambassador to Skopje Samuel Zbogar noted that although many activities are being undertaken in the country for the prevention of discrimination, it is still in place and can be seen on the streets, in the fact that many of the children do not have any documents, live in bad conditions, have no access to education and other services. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate policies, harmonize objectives and find funds and funds for their realization.
The Ombudsman Ixhet Memeti says that these issues should be spoken openly because, as he said, the problems of the Roma are our problems, that is, problems of the whole society. Inquiry, he said, are we ready to find a solution to the problems and the integration of Roma in society. If that's the case, it should act in that direction, Memeti said.
