Growing Animosity Towards the Roma

'One of the feature characteristics of the Provincial Protector of Citizens - Ombudsman (PPCO) institution is its field work. This way the institution gets a more elaborate insight into the Roma minority challenges. Some of the issues, such as employment, education and housing have already been mentioned today. However, there are other, unmentioned problems, such as that of the employment status of the Roma Coordinators with the local self-governments, abuse of the affirmative measures or non-transparent funding in calls for proposals to which Roma associations apply as well,' stated Еvа Vukаšinоvić, the National Minority Rights Protection Deputy Ombudswoman.

Participating in the Openly About Roma Culture panel discussion, she pointed out that there is a growing animosity towards minorities in general in the society because there is an impression that members of national minority communities are privileged as compared to the ethnic majority.

'Roma education should be a priority,' stressed the Deputy Ombudswoman, 'but still more importantly: it is crucial to work on majority education in order to change its perception of and relation to the minorities.'

The Openly About Roma Culture panel discussion was a part of this year's Street Performers' Festival organized in Novi Sad for 14 years now. Besides Eva Vukаšinоvić, the speakers were Slаvicа Dеnić, the Assistant Provincial Secretary for Economy, Employment and Gender Equality and Nadir Rexhepi, Project Manager of the Open Society Fund from Budapest. The panel was a part of the Open Up program aimed presenting contemporary Roma culture, facilitate intercultural dialogue and collaboration of the Roma artists with those from the national and international scene in a creative and innovative way.