CEDEM's representative, Elvis Beriša, took part at two-day regional roundtable event that was organized in Tirana on 26 – 27 February by OSCE/ODIHR within Best Practices for Roma Integration (BPRI) project. The OSCE used this event to present examples of good practices in improving the housing situation for Roma in the Western Balkans.
More than 100 representatives of municipal authorities and NGOs from the region were familiarized with good practices on housing legalization, settlement upgrading and social housing for Roma, as well as with recommendations on their implementation contained in the report.
Namely, despite many years of activity in the housing sector, the available data that were presented at the round table and in the regional report, confirm that the housing conditions of Roma and Egyptians in Montenegro are substandard. Regardless of whether they are permanent residents, displaced or internally displaced persons, almost half of the Roma and Egyptian families live in public housing, similar to military barracks. Living conditions of these families are further influenced by location, and proximity to landfills, where frequent flooding of wastewater is evident and the air quality is bad. In addition, these families live in ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods that were illegally built in the suburbs of the cities.
"Roma and Egyptians, like all citizens, have the right to access social housing and enjoy decent living conditions," said Ambassador Florian Raunig, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania. "Improved living conditions for Roma should not be seen merely as a financial burden for the state budget, but as a crucial investment for the country and the wellbeing of its citizens."
Paul Rabé, one of the authors of the report said: "This report identifies policy and technical interventions at several different levels, but political will on the part of authorities at central and local government levels is crucial to improving housing conditions for the Roma".
BPRI is a regional project funded by the European Union, supported by OSCE participating States and implemented by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The project supports innovative programmes to promote greater Roma participation in political and public life and decision-making, help to combat discrimination and contribute to better living conditions.