Category Archives: North Macedonia

Balkan, Work, and Roma

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Balkan, Work, and Roma

The labour market situation in the countries of the Western Balkans is bad – the population of Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina is aging.

The other big problem for these countries is migration – many young people of working age emigrate and prefer to build a career in EU countries – for example, in Germany, Austria or Italy. This creates a serious shortage of qualified labour in the Western Balkans.

By 2050, Serbia is expected to lose over 40 percent of its citizens of working age. The situation is similar in neighbouring Bulgaria, where according to UN data, the country will shrink by 23% by 2050. Similar forecasts are made for other countries in the region.

Roma can solve part of these issues in the labour market.

North Macedonia and Integration

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North Macedonia and Integration

Shaban Saliu, Minister without Portfolio for Integration and Implementation of the Roma Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030, presented the work carried out last year and considered that avenues had been opened for the direct, systemic integration of Roma in all areas of life. According to him, the greatest progress has been made in integration into education, while efforts have also been made in access to health services and concrete projects aimed at ensuring decent housing.

Well, reality may be somewhat different …

North Macedonia and Housing for Roma

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North Macedonia and Housing for Roma

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said at the “Conversations for Equality” event, on the theme “Roma Right to Housing,” organized by the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, that despite the continued work of non-governmental and international organizations, the lives of Roma have not improved significantly.

Well, it will not unless the majority population changes their minds…

Šutka: Femicide

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Šutka: Femicide

The Roma Association for Women and Youth “LULUDI” expresses serious concern about the premature reaction and lack of measures to protect a Romni who was a victim of domestic violence by her partner despite the fact that she reported it several times at the local police.

North Macedonia and Roma

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North Macedonia and Roma

An interview with Aziza Sally, coordinator of the association “Initiative for the Rights of Roma Women from Shuto Orizari”. She says that since the pandemic, not a single patronage nurse has visited a mother from the Roma community. Roma women have been facing the same problems in the country for decades – from discrimination in the educational process to institutional belittling and humiliation.

Bad.

North Macedonia: Discrimination

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North Macedonia: Discrimination

Skopje’s public transportation is apparently discriminating against Roma, not stopping at stops in the Roma neighbourhood.

Bad.

North Macedonia: Unequal Opportunities

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North Macedonia: Unequal Opportunities

“The poorest areas (ghettos) or suburban areas are poorly developed neighbourhoods with poorly built houses, without access to water, sewage, paved roads, electricity and other basic public services available in the modern world. All this contributes to creating an unequal starting point and life opportunities compared to other citizens living in a developed neighbourhood, settlement, district or city. “Due to poor housing conditions, a series of other social problems arise, such as social exclusion, insufficient inclusion of children in education, difficulties in accessing work, health, social rights and other public services,” says the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.

North Macedonia: Conference

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North Macedonia: Conference

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mutsunski participated and addressed the government donor conference “Roma and their friends”, dedicated to projects aimed at improving the integration of Roma into society, with a focus on housing, culture and education.

The Minister highlighted the importance of the National Strategy for Roma Inclusion 2022-2030, which addresses key areas such as education, employment, housing, social and health care. He stressed that the government will continue its efforts to achieve social cohesion and equal development and will firmly keep the promise that “no one will be left behind”, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda.

North Macedonia: Kindergarten

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North Macedonia: Kindergarten

350 Roma children will be able to attend kindergarten free of charge in Centar and Gazi Baba in the periphery of Skopje. This is part of a project for the inclusion of Roma children in municipal institutions.

Knowing how many Roma there are around Skopje, this is a drop of water on a hot stone. Almost an alibi exercise. And the user of “Roma Nationality” is very much reminiscent of the old socialist notion.

They are North Macedonians …

North Macedonia and Romanes

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North Macedonia and Romanes

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North macedonia emphasised at the commemoration of the International Day of the Romani Language that taking care of the language is also taking care of the future of Roma culture and its values. With the support of education, cultural manifestations and international initiatives, he said we can be sure that the Romani language will continue to be part of our cultural wealth.

North Macedonia and Roma

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The police and the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime committed direct discrimination against a Roma child from Prilep by failing to conduct a thorough and detailed investigation into how the child was injured in the head, chest and back and whether this was due to the use of excessive police force.

Surprised?

EU, Balkans, and Roma

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North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani, in his role as co-chair of the Berlin Process, delivered the opening speech of the ministerial meeting dedicated to Roma integration hosted in Tirana, Albania. He said that “Roma are an integral part of our societies. Without any excuses, we must take concrete political and legal measures to increase their involvement in all social events. Integration with the EU is a common path and the Roma cannot be left aside. As countries aspiring to EU membership, we must demonstrate an effective regional concept of Roma integration, with visible progress in the areas of education, employment, health and housing for Roma.”

Bitola, North Macedonia

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The three-year project “BAIR-Joint Action of Bitola for the inclusion of Roma” ended and was financed by the EU, implemented by the Italian NGO COSV, Preda Plus Foundation and the Municipality of Bitola. The final conference of the project “BAIR-joint action of Bitola for the inclusion of Roma” is the culmination of the joint efforts and dedicated initiatives of the project partners and collaborators in the direction of encouraging socio-economic inclusion in the Bair settlement. Through cooperation and dedicated action, the project enabled significant improvements in the urban component in the Bair neighbourhood and improved social inclusion.

Roma Ball

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More on the Roma ball and on the fashion exhibited there in Skopje yesterday.

Skopje Roma Ball

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On January 13th, the European Roma Ball was held in the “Alexandar Palace” hotel in Skopje, organized by the Roma United from Macedonia (ROM) party, headed by Erdzhan Selimi. He thanked the many people present, and mentioned the leader of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, who was among the guests, calling him the future prime minister of Macedonia.

Roma Ball in Skopje

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The two Balkan stars Svetlana Ceca Ražnatović and Tea Tairović will perform at the “World Roma Ball” in Skopje, which will be held on January 18 of this month. Ceca will sing for 50,000 euros, Tea Tairovic for 20,000 euros.

This is a ball with budget to say the least …

Roma Ball

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The traditional World Roma Ball will be held in Skopje for the 44th time on January 18, are already preparing for the event. As in previous years, guests from all over Europe are expected. They will be entertained by Ceca, Thea Tairovic, Jogani, Muharem Serbezovski, Tarkan, Jefrina at the Alexander Palace Hotel.

Šutka

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The Šutka offers the iconic but often caricatural image of the Roma of North Macedonia. The municipality of Šuto Orizari, on the outskirts of Skopje, was born in 1963, after the earthquake which devastated the Macedonian capital. Far from the “slum” imagined by some, travel to discover the many faces of the neighbourhood. First part of a series of 4 articles.

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