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RESEARCH ON THE POSITION OF ROMA IN PCINJ DISTRICT

14. December 2015.

Vranje, Bujanovac – A research on the position of Roma in the Pcinj district entitled "From the Margins of Society against Discrimination" showed that the bad economic position of Roma was the key issue of that community in Vranje.

The author of the research, Zoran Gavrilovic, a sociologist, said that the research showed that discrimination resulted in a violation of the rights of Roma, a decrease in the quality of their life and that it was the reason why they were leaving South Serbia and the country itself.  

“Simply not enough is being done to improve the economic position of Roma. Because they don’t have money, connections and positions in the political parties, Roma don’t participate in the mechanism of the Serbian society, and are, therefore, discriminated against in that respect too”, Mr. Gavrilovic said.

Researcher Gavrilovic claims that members of this population showed a conciliatory and tolerant attitude, understanding the situation in which there are. The research also found that Roma don’t want any special rights, which would  make them more involved in society, but the same rights as everyone else.

This is the first such research, and it shows that Roma expect the state to show real willingness to change their position, and the Government of the Republic of Serbia to initiate and support the fight of Roma for the exercising of their rights.

The research "From the Margins of Society against Discrimination" was carried out in the municipalities of Bujanovac, Vranje, Vranje Spa, Vladicin Han and Surdulica by "Human Rights Defenders". It was published by the Bureau for Social Research, while it was presented in Vranje by the Bujanovac-based Youth Forum for Roma Education (YFRE) with the support of the international non-governmental organization Civil Rights.

Source: OK Radio, Bujanovac News and Coordination Body