Category Archives: Serbia

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

Published by:

Roma in Serbia

The Roma community in Serbia is advocating for better living conditions and proposed two methods to improve their situation alongside the country’s development.

Salih Saitović, President of the Democratic Union of Roma in Serbia, emphasized the need for a broader policy on labor value, education, and equal job opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their background.

The YUROM Center and Roma education representatives proposed amendments to education laws to ensure systemic support for Roma students, including affirmative enrollment and prevention of segregation in schools.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Action Plan for Minorities

Published by:

Action Plan for Minorities

The inaugural meeting of the Coordination Body for Monitoring the Implementation of the Serbian Action Plan for Minority Rights (2026-2029) took place on August 11, with participation from state officials and minority councils.

Minister Demo Beriša emphasized the importance of collaboration between state institutions and minority councils to enhance the protection and realization of minority rights.

The Coordination Body will monitor the Action Plan’s implementation, analyze activities, address challenges, and propose measures for improvement, aiming for systematic oversight of minority rights.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in our City

Published by:

Roma in our City

The 14th annual event “Romski svome gradu” in Pirot showcased Romani music, dance, and tradition, organized by the citizens’ association “Ternipe”.

The event attracted many fans of Romani culture, featuring performances by young folklorists from Pirot and guests from Vranje, emphasizing the continuity of Romani culture through new generations.

This year’s program included a humanitarian aspect, raising funds for the education of Romani girls, linking cultural preservation with support for the community’s future.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in one’s City

Published by:

Roma in one’s City

The event “Romi svome gradu” was held in Pirot, Serbia, showcasing the richness of Romani music, dance, and tradition, featuring performances by local youth and guests from Vranje.

Radmila Nešić from the organizing association “Ternipe” emphasized the festival’s importance in preserving Romani culture and its growing popularity among the audience.

The event also included an initiative to support the education of Romani girls, highlighting the challenges faced in maintaining cultural traditions due to lack of funding and resources.

https://youtu.be/MJnPu_63QTs

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Ruma Music and Culture

Published by:

Ruma Music and Culture

The traditional Roma evening in Ruma, in the Vojvodina in Serbia, part of the ‘Cultural Summer’ program, showcased Roma culture through music, dance, and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of cultural events in connecting communities.

Local officials highlighted the progress in education for Roma youth, with increasing numbers continuing secondary education and the introduction of teaching in the Roma language to preserve their identity.

The event was supported by the municipality, which aims to improve the position of the Roma community through various initiatives, including scholarships and educational support for Roma students.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

Published by:

Serbian Elections

The Union of Roma in Serbia announced its independent participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections, centered around the Movement of Roma in Serbia, aimed at creating a fairer and more dignified society for all citizens.

The goal is to ensure that Roma have representatives in the National Assembly of Serbia after more than two decades, allowing their voices to be heard in legislative processes.

The Movement is intended to be inclusive, gathering a broad team of Roma and other citizens who believe in improving the position of the Roma community through work and knowledge.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Initiative for Romnja

Published by:

Initiative for Romnja

The initiative for Romnja students in Serbia has been empowering young Romane women for over a decade by providing education, mentorship, and community engagement.

Their mission emphasizes that no girl should abandon her education due to a lack of information, support, or role models, fostering a cycle of mentorship and leadership among Romani women.

The initiative challenges stereotypes and discrimination, advocating that education is a right and a powerful tool for equality and social change.

News Eastern Europe Serbia Slovenia

Slovenian Conference and Serbia

Published by:

Slovenian Conference and Serbia

The National Council of the Roma National Minority from Serbia participated in the Second International Roma Conference in Slovenia, focusing on the progress and challenges faced by the Roma community over the past 20 years.

Dalibor Nakić, the president of the council, highlighted advancements in education, political participation, and decision-making inclusion for Roma in Serbia, attributing these to collaboration with various institutions and organizations.

The conference included discussions on housing and local development, with a visit to the Pušča Roma settlement in Slovenia, recognized as a model for organized Roma communities with developed infrastructure.

All wishful thinking …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Politics and Roma

Published by:

Politics and Roma

The SNS (Serbian Progressive Party)  and current party in power upporting Vučić is intensifying efforts to attract Roma voters in southern Serbia, opening new offices in Leskovac, a region historically associated with the SPS (Socialist Party of Serbia).

The absence of the Roma flag in Leskovac’s SNS office raises questions about the party’s approach to representing the Roma community and whether they are being used for political gain.

The shift in political power dynamics indicates that SNS is not only targeting opposition strongholds but is also encroaching on the traditional base of its coalition partner, SPS, suggesting a weakening of the latter’s influence.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Commemoration in Serbia

Published by:

Commemoration in Serbia

The Topovske Šupe camp was the first concentration camp for Jews and Roma in occupied Belgrade during World War II, where 5,000 Jews and 1,500 Roma perished.

Krinka Vidaković Petrov, director of the Staro Sajmište Memorial Center, emphasized the need for an inclusive culture of remembrance, advocating for a memorial plaque for Roma victims alongside the existing one for Jews.

Igor Jovanović, deputy president of the Belgrade City Assembly, highlighted the significance of August 2 as a day to remember the suffering of the Roma people during the war, as recognized by the European Parliament in 2015.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Criminal Complaint

Published by:

Criminal Complaint

A criminal complaint has been filed against retired public prosecutor Jasmina Paunović and YouTube show host Dejan Lučić for racial and other discrimination due to controversial statements made during media appearances.

Lučić’s comments included conspiracy theories about a so-called “population replacement” and derogatory remarks about Roma people, which he referred to as a “fraud.”

The complaint alleges that Paunović and Lučić incited hatred and discrimination against members of the Serbian Progressive Party and other political opponents during their show aired on July 21.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Conspiracy Theories

Published by:

Conspiracy Theories

Dejan Lučić, a publicist known for conspiracy theories, made derogatory statements denying the existence of Roma, calling their identity a ‘fraud’.

The portal Romanenevimata.rs condemned Lučić’s remarks and announced legal actions against him for spreading hate speech and anti-Roma sentiment.

Activists and organizations are urged to publicly denounce such narratives to combat discrimination and promote equality for the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma Voters

Published by:

Serbia and Roma Voters

Serbian opposition figure Božo Drašković made derogatory comments about Roma in Serbia, accusing them of being corrupt and selling their dignity for money.

The article criticizes the racist attitudes of the current protesters who claim to uphold European values while showing contempt for minority communities. Here they take a pro-government attitude, and amalgamate the protesters with political opposition figures.

The article highlights the failure of media hosts to condemn Drašković’s remarks, indicating, according to the article,  a broader issue of racism and discrimination against the Roma community. Well, except that even Roma say that their votes have been bought, and this by the government …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Olivera Katalina

Published by:

Olivera Katalina

Olivera Katarina, a versatile performer known for her work in film and music, passed away on July 21, 2026, at the age of 86, after a career spanning over 60 years.

Born in Belgrade, she gained fame for her role in the film ‘I Even Met Happy Gypsies’ where she played the role of a Romani singer and had a successful singing career across multiple languages and genres. She also sang in Romanes.

Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her second husband, Katarina continued to work in the arts until her later years, leaving a lasting legacy in Yugoslav cinema.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Social Cards

Published by:

Serbian Social Cards

The UN has criticized Serbia’s social card system for leaving over 60,000 citizens, particularly from the Roma community, without financial assistance due to issues with data processing and automated decision-making.

Experts highlight that many Roma earn informal or irregular incomes, which are misinterpreted as grounds for denying social aid, exacerbating their poverty. The UN recommends that Serbia improve transparency, establish effective appeal mechanisms, and ensure that digital systems do not lead to discrimination against vulnerable populations.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

Published by:

Serbian Elections

The Roma Party announced its decision to participate in upcoming elections and is open to discussions with opposition parties for potential collaboration if there is mutual political will.

Party President Srđan Šajn emphasized their goal is not to divide the opposition but to create a broad front to defeat the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and promote a free-thinking Serbia.

Šajn criticized the SNS for not disclosing their presidential candidate and future government composition, suggesting that their allies are expected to follow orders without independent thought.

Kosovo News Eastern Europe Serbia

Ethnic Cleansing

Published by:

Ethnic Cleansing

Kosovo’s Interior Minister declared Serbian Minister Snezana Paunovic persona non grata due to her controversial remarks advocating ethnic cleansing during the Kosovo War.

The EU criticized Paunovic’s statements, emphasizing that such rhetoric contradicts European values and the reconciliation process necessary for EU accession.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic distanced himself from Paunovic’s comments, while opposition parties called for her resignation, highlighting the ongoing tensions regarding ethnic relations in the region.

All this in 20926 …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Romane Media

Published by:

Romane Media

Minority media in Serbia, particularly Roma media, face existential threats due to lack of systemic support and sustainable funding, relying heavily on project-based financing.

The editor of ROMINFO media warns that the current funding system is unsustainable, jeopardizing the survival of media that serve national minorities and their cultural identity.

Experts emphasize that the disappearance of minority media would lead to a loss of reliable information for citizens in their native languages and diminish media pluralism, impacting democratic development.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma

Published by:

Serbia and Roma

The Commissioner for Equality, Milan Antonijević, suspended the procedure against Dragan J. Vučićević for discrimination against the Roma minority, following a complaint from Initiative A11 regarding Vučićević’s statements about Roma stealing copper wires.

Roma leaders express disappointment over the decision, arguing that a mere warning is insufficient and sends a dangerous message that discrimination and hate speech are tolerated.

Critics highlight the need for stronger institutional responses to racism and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights of all citizens, including the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Employment

Published by:

Roma Employment

Despite various programs aimed at improving the situation of the Roma community in Serbia, they remain one of the hardest groups to employ due to deep structural issues.

Government strategies often fail to translate into real opportunities, creating a facade of progress that does not reflect the daily lives of individuals.

The article argues that economic measures alone cannot address social exclusion without tackling the ingrained prejudices that define who is considered a ‘desirable’ worker.

rroma.org
en_GBEN
de_DEDE fr_FRFR en_GBEN