Category Archives: Serbia

News Eastern Europe Serbia

RARE

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RARE

Young Roma from various countries are participating in the RARE Roma Youth Leadership Bootcamp in Divčibare, Serbia, aimed at developing leadership skills and community engagement among Roma youth.

The bootcamp features sessions like “Own Your Voice,” focusing on building self-confidence, confronting stereotypes, and preserving cultural identity.

The program is part of a larger EU initiative to improve educational opportunities for Roma students in the Western Balkans and Turkey, funded by the European Commission.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

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Roma in Serbia

Minister for Human and Minority Rights, Demo Beriša, visited Beočin to discuss challenges faced by the Roma community with local officials and community members.

Beriša emphasized the importance of open dialogue and collaboration to improve living conditions for the Roma minority.

The visit reflects the Ministry’s approach of engaging directly with citizens to understand their needs and work with local governments on solutions.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

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Roma in Serbia

Nevenka Vasić from the Democratic Union of Roma (DUR) stated that Roma in Serbia should no longer be treated as political targets during elections with empty promises and cheap packages.

She emphasized the long-standing systemic economic and social neglect of the Roma community, calling for permanent jobs, quality education, and real equality instead of temporary promises.

According to the 2022 census, there are 131,936 declared Roma in Serbia, but estimates suggest the actual number could be between 400,000 to 500,000, highlighting the need for the community to be recognized beyond just social assistance.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia – Challenges

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Serbia – Challenges

The article discusses the challenges faced by young Roma in Serbia, including education, discrimination, and the desire to emigrate for better opportunities.

Despite improvements in educational attainment, young Roma still face high unemployment and discrimination in the job market, leading many to consider leaving Serbia.

The article emphasizes the need for systemic change and support from both the state and the Roma community to ensure young Roma can thrive and contribute to their society.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Protestantism

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Protestantism

A book by sociologist Dragan Todorović discusses the spread of Protestantism among the Roma community in southeastern Serbia and its societal impacts.

The research highlights how religious changes can influence education, family dynamics, women’s status, solidarity, and community involvement among Roma.

The event at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts emphasizes the importance of recognizing Roma’s personal choices and identities beyond stereotypes of poverty and discrimination.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Political Rally and Busing

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Political Rally and Busing

A significant number of Roma attended a political rally organized by the ruling party in Serbia, primarily coming from southern Serbia in four buses.

They received the lowest daily allowances compared to other groups, with 2,000 dinars, while Roma from Čačak received 4,000 dinars and those from Ljig received 3,000 dinars.

The Roma coordinator from Čačak, Gradimir Radosavljević, was notably vocal at the rally, initially calling out a derogatory term before correcting himself to a more neutral term.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Political Rally in Serbia

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Political Rally in Serbia

A tense political rally in Užice, Serbia, saw Serbian President Vučić facing significant local opposition, including physical confrontations with activists and police blocking access to the event.

Many attendees were reportedly brought in from other regions, while local residents, including Roma, expressed their discontent and refused to support the rally, highlighting a divide within the community.

The event was marred by violence, with reports of activists being attacked and police using tear gas against local protesters, indicating a growing unrest against Vučić’s regime.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Skateboarding is not for Girls

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Skateboarding is not for Girls

Director Dina Duma aimed to avoid romanticizing poverty and to portray the Roma community authentically in her film “Skateboarding Is Not for Girls,” focusing on the characters’ humanity beyond stereotypes.

The film, inspired by a young girl’s maturity observed while skateboarding, explores themes of early marriage and sisterly love in the context of poverty in the Roma community.

Duma emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the filmmaking process and addresses the pervasive issue of patriarchy, highlighting the double standards faced by women in the film industry.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

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Roma in Serbia

YUROM Center has initiated a proposal for a special law to ensure equal employment for national minorities, particularly the Roma, in Serbia’s public administration and sector.

The initiative highlights the underrepresentation of Roma in public administration despite their population of nearly 132,000, and calls for systematic measures to address structural discrimination and promote professional development.

The proposal includes establishing a monitoring system for ethnic representation, defining affirmative measures, and involving national minority councils in the legislative process to enhance public administration quality and support Serbia’s European integration efforts.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Leskovac Roma

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Leskovac Roma

A study on the position and needs of youth in Leskovac, Serbia, revealed significant issues such as unemployment and lack of opportunities, but did not specifically analyze the situation of young Roma and Romni.

The research, conducted with 301 participants aged 15 to 30, highlighted that nearly 90% of youth feel they lack equal opportunities compared to peers in other Serbian cities, with many planning to leave Leskovac.

The absence of data on ethnic backgrounds limits understanding of inequalities faced by young Roma and Romni, emphasizing the need for targeted research and inclusive youth policies.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Vučić and Minorities

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Vučić and Minorities

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited the village of Strezovce, promising support to local Serbs, prompting a response from Preševo’s mayor, Ardita Sinani, highlighting the presence of Albanians and Roma in the municipality.

Sinani emphasized the need for equal treatment and investment in all communities, including Albanian areas, and criticized the government for its slow response to requests for projects in Albanian neighborhoods.

She called for equal rights and treatment for all residents, regardless of ethnicity, and vowed to continue advocating for the issues faced by Albanians in Preševo.

News Eastern Europe North Macedonia Serbia

Roma, Serbia, and North Macedonia

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Roma, Serbia, and North Macedonia

A delegation of Roma political, social, and media representatives from Serbia met with Minister Nedžet Mustafa in Skopje to discuss Roma political participation and regional cooperation.

Key points included the need for stronger political organization among Roma, continuous political awareness, and active involvement of new generations in decision-making processes.

The meeting emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and combating discrimination, with a call for ongoing institutionalized efforts rather than sporadic meetings.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Really???

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Really???

A Roma settlement in Braća, Serbia, is being evicted. Instead of being offered alternative lodgings, the legal team of Initiative A 11 reports that the Social Work Center has offered some residents of the option to separate their children into alternative care, which harmful and illegal.

This practice contradicts the best interests of the child, who should live with their parents.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma in Serbia

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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