Тhe final conference of the project “ROMA ACTION + CIVIL ENGAGEMENT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY” was held оn November 30, 2017 at the Continental Hotel in Skopje.
At the conference, the results of the project were, presented as well as the recommendations for improving the implementation of national Roma policies at the local level.
The conference was attended by: Mr. Samka Ibramimoski – Minister without Portfolio and national coordinator for implementation of the Strategy for Roma of the Republic of Macedonia; Ms. Mabera Kamberi the representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy; Mayors of the municipalities that have adopted the Local Action Plans for Roma, Presidents of Councils, Coordinators and members of the Local Coordinative Bodies; representatives of civil society organizations and media, as well as representatives from the Western Balkans Region (Republic of Albania, Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Montenegro) and others.
The conference speakers were:
- Mr. Samka Ibraimoski – Minister without portfolio and National Coordinator for implementation of the Strategy for Roma of the Republic of Macedonia,
- Ms. Mabera Kamberi – Representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
- Gordana Nestorovska – Key expert of the implementation of trainings for the members of the Local Coordinative Bodies in 12 municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia
- Deniz Selmani – one of the authors of “Comparative analysis of the applicability of national Roma policies at the local level”.
- Albert Memeti – one of the authors of Policy briefs: “Challenges and possible solutions to the problems faced by Roma in 12 municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia (Chair, Suto Orizari, Tetovo, Gostivar, Bitola, Prilep, Stip, Kumanovo, Delcevo, Vinica , Kocani and Berovo) “
- Mr. Dusan Jovanovic – Consultant for Roma Inclusion, Permanent Conference of Towns and Municipalities – Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure
- Ms. Darka Ognjanovič – Secretariat for youth sport and social issues – Montenegro
- Ms. Ina Kokedima – Roma and Egyptian Specialist in the Ministry of Health and Social Policy – Albania.
The conference also had a part for discussion: Mayors of Municipalities, Presidents of Councils, Coordinators and members of Local Coordinative Groups, Civic Organizations and Media.
Conclusions and recommendations:
- There is a clear declaration of support by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia through Mr. Samka Ibraimoski – Ministeer without portfolio and National Coordinator for the implementation of the Strategy for Roma of the Republic of Macedonia and Ms. Mabera Kamberi the representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy;
- Measures for solving the problems with people without personal documents;
- Measures for improving the employment of the Roma community through the program for Active Measures, conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in the Republic of Macedonia.
- Improvement of the situation of the Roma community in the area of housing with an emphasis on improving the infrastructure in the settlements where the number of Roma is significantly higher than the other and assisted part of the housing.
- The expectations of coordinated cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the international community and civil society organizations working on the needs and problems of the Roma in the Republic of Macedonia have been clearly emphasized, with particular emphasis on the National Program for reintegration of Roma returnees from EU countries.
Local level:
- The process of focusing more on the representatives of the Local Self-Government Units and the representatives of the institutions at the local level, on the needs and problems of the integration of Roma in the society, has been initiated.
- Established Local Coordinating Bodies (LECTs), established in 12 municipalities, need institutional and technical support and thereby become more functional in the municipalities.
- There is a need for real support of the Local Coordinative Bodies (LGUs) from the Mayors and the representatives of the Councils in the municipalities, especially in the allocation of funds from the budgets of the municipalities and project planning.
At the regional level it has been concluded that:
- More intensive cooperation in the exchange of information, practices and experiences is needed, because the issues of Roma integration is not only local issue, but also a regional need.