Zaev: Increased awareness over Roma needs

I urge for increased public awareness over the needs of Roma citizens in our society. All nationalities and religions need education and culture rights, but also a dignified life, with Roma being the most vulnerable regarding these issues, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev at the event marking International Romani Day on Thursday.

In the address, PM Zaev said Suto Orizari is the only municipality in the world where the majority of citizens are Roma, while the Romani language is the official language alongside the Macedonian, the Government said in a press release.

“The Roma community has been equal with all other communities since the 2001 constitutional changes. We also fought last year for the concert of one society for all, having equal rights and obligations before the law. It was difficult, but I feel proud of these achievements as am I sure you are too,” stressed Zaev.

According to him, the first steps towards solving the most pressing Roma issues have been made, such as housing, possession of identification documents, underage marriages, access to employment and health insurance, inclusion of Roma in culture and education.

“The political participation of Roma in decisions related to the enhancement of their position in the country is also important. Macedonia is a regional model in this regard. Our goals are social cohesion and equal development in the society,” added Zaev.

The event was attended by the diplomatic corps, MPs and government ministers.

The International Romani Day-April 8 is a day to celebrate Romani culture and raise awareness of the issues facing Romani people. The day was officially declared in 1990 in Serock, Poland, the site of the fourth World Romani Congress of the International Romani Union (IRU), in honour of the first major international meeting of Romani representatives, 7–12 April 1971 in Chelsfield near London.