PM Krivokapić meets with representatives of Roma community in Montenegro

Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić met today with representatives of Roma organisations in Montenegro. The meeting was attended by Mensur Šaljaj, President of the Roma Council, Samir Jaha, NGO Young Roma, Fana Delija, Executive Coordinator of the NGO Center for Roma Initiatives from Nikšić, Elvis Beriša, Roma Youth Organisation "Walk with us - Phiren Amenca".

Prime Minister Krivokapić talked with representatives of the Roma community about the implementation and goals of the Government's Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro 2021-2025 with the Action Plan for 2021. The Strategy has been harmonised with the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation for 2020-2030.

The Prime Minister said that the Government's goal is to significantly improve the socioeconomic and legal status of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro. He emphasised that Montenegro is committed to building an inclusive and open society, a society of equality and justice, based on the fight and elimination of all forms of discrimination, intolerance and poverty.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the process of full inclusion and integration of Roma into Montenegrin society will be intensified through ambitious projects in the field of education, employment policy, housing, resolving the legal status in all pending cases, unhindered access to health care, social and family protection projects, the fight against domestic violence, child marriages and begging.

President of the Roma Council in Montenegro Mensur Šaljaj pointed out that the Roma community does not have authentic representatives in the Parliament of Montenegro, although the Constitution guarantees the authentic representation of minorities in the Montenegrin Parliament. In that sense, it is necessary to work on amending the Law on the Election of Councillors and Members of Parliament in order to ensure political participation of Roma and reduce the existing census from 0.70% to 0.35%, bearing in mind that the current census is unattainable for the Roma community, Šaljaj said.

Executive Coordinator of the Center for Roma Initiatives Fana Delija stressed the need to improve the area of human trafficking by amending the Criminal Code to recognise all forms of child marriage, in order not to process only cases in which there was an exchange of money.

President of the NGO Young Roma Samir Jaha said that they were closely monitoring the activities of the new Government and welcomed the efforts made by Prime Minister Krivokapić to reduce poverty in Montenegro.

President of the Roma Youth Organisation "Walk with us - Phiren Amenc " Elvis Beriša thanked for the opportunity to discuss with the Prime Minister the problems facing the Roma population in Montenegro and used the opportunity to propose organising an online dialogue between the Prime Minister and the Roma community.

State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights Bojan Božović also attended the meeting.