Conclusions "Seminar on Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Communities in Kosovo and beyond 2015 Policy and Commitments" 12 November 2015

Transcription

1 EUROPEAN UNION EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG ENLARGEMENT Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosova-Republic of Kosovo Qeveria Vlada-Government Conclusions "Seminar on Roma, Communities in Kosovo and beyond 2015 Policy and Commitments" 12 November 2015 On 12 November the third seminar took place on the Roma, communities in Kosovo, co-chaired by DPM Shala and Marta Garcia Fidalgo, Roma Coordinator in the Commission s Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement negotiations. Participation (around 60 persons) included a wide range of interlocutors from the government of Kosovo (both central and local level), three Members of Parliament representing each of the communities, civil society organisations and international organisations. The meeting was very timely due to the current Strategy and Action Plan for the Integration of the Roma, Communities coming to an end and new policy commitments for being developed. The Government are drafting new policy commitments and they are being prepared in an inclusive manner. It is important that these include realistic and concrete objectives, identifying the timeframe and responsible authorities for implementation as well as allocated budget. The aim is to fulfil all recommendations in these conclusions at the latest until the next seminar is held, i.e. within approximately a two-year time span from the 2015 seminar. During this period, fulfilment of the recommendations will be assessed in a regular manner. The seminar was divided into two main parts. Firstly, the state of play of the implementation of the current strategy and action plan and the conclusions of the 2013 seminar was presented and discussed. Secondly, in the afternoon, the future commitments and challenges were discussed amongst participants in five working groups covering education, employment, health, housing and civil registration. The working group discussions identified the following main challenges in each of the five areas: 1. Education: challenges in accessing primary, secondary, vocational and university education, lack of awareness of parents belonging to the Roma, communities on the importance of education, lack of transport to school especially in rural areas, segregation in schools and drop outs. 2. Employment: lack of proper qualifications (linked with education), discrimination, scarcity of information on employment opportunities and necessary administrative procedures, including the need to register at local employment offices. 1

2 3. Health: discrimination by medical professionals, insufficient vaccination, early marriages, limited education on reproductive health. 4. Housing: informal settlements remain a huge challenge which needs to be dealt with through the implementation of existing housing policies by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. There is a need to complete the registration of property and to resolve property disputes. 5. Civil registration: complex legal criteria for registration, lack of coordination between central and local level and between ministries, insufficient capacity at local level. Discussions and exchanges of views resulted in the following overall recommendations (see further Annex I): To develop a first draft of new policy commitments as a follow up to the Strategy and Action plan for the Integration of the Roma, Communities ( ). These commitments should be realistic, credible and measurable with indicators and clear timelines. Sufficient budget should be allocated to and spent on each commitment. Time: by April Responsible authority/body: Office for Good Governance (OGG) / Prime Minister's Office (OMO) / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Develop and implement a plan on how to strengthen coordination and inter-institutional cooperation and mechanisms with the line ministries, within relevant institutions, between central and local levels and with other relevant governmental bodies. Time: consolidated consistently throughout Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Provide information on how the collection and management of ethnically disaggregated data has been improved in line with EU standards and requirements. Time: by the end of Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Provide information on how the government is engaging more deeply with relevant civil society and representatives of the Roma, communities and how it is involving them earlier in policy-making processes. Time: by the end of Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Provide information on how the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities and civil society organisations are represented at events (including but not limited to events focusing on Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians) at central and local level has been ensured and will be ensured in the future. Gender aspects should be taken into account. Time: by mid Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee in close cooperation with municipalities. 2

3 Promote exchange of best practices in implementing strategies and action plans as well as future policy commitments among municipalities. Time: by mid Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee, in close cooperation with municipalities. At the local level, develop mechanisms and tools to allow for an improved implementation and monitoring of future policy commitments. Such mechanisms and tools should involve all necessary partners including the Roma, communities, and proper allocation of budget for developing such mechanisms should be secured. Time: by mid Responsible authority/body: Municipalities in close cooperation with the OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Provide information on how relevant government bodies and civil society organisations are meeting on a regular and more frequent basis in a team effort in order to address issues and resolve problems together. Time: by mid Responsible authority/body: OGG / PMO / Chair of the Inter-Institutional Steering Committee. Civil society organisations should play a more active role in promoting integration policies at central level and local level. Time: by the end of Responsible authority/body: Civil society organisations. Discussions and exchanges of views resulted in the following thematic recommendations (see further Annex I): 1. Civil registration a. Legal criteria for registration to be made more flexible. b. Provide information on how civil registration of repatriated children is being systematically processed. c. Routine registration and checking systems should be established in all municipalities with the support and further capacity building of the Civil Status Offices and the central Civil Registration Agency. 2. Education a. Improved participation in education and improved quality of education for members of the Roma, communities. Special attention to be given to increase attendance in pre-school education and reduce or eliminate charges to facilitate access to secondary education. b. Raising awareness within the community on forms of discrimination and its prevention, including Roma, parents and students. c. Capacity building of educational staff in the identification and resolution of identified cases of all types of discrimination against Roma, students. Increase efforts 3

4 in fighting prejudices and discrimination at school, for instance by organising workshops for teachers. d. To address transportation needs to school for Roma, students especially in rural areas. e. Qualitative and efficient cooperation between relevant institutions and organisations in the effectiveness of education towards the members of the Roma, communities. When necessary, include after school support as part of the education system. f. Inclusion of Roma language in the schools attended by Roma students. g. Increase and develop the awareness among parents to support the education of members of the Roma, communities and facilitate their school registration h. Develop awareness campaigns with the aim of reducing drop-out rates amongst the three communities, in particular amongst girls, and encourage the work of mediators. i. Provide information on how the implementation of the Romani curricula has improved. 3. Employment a. Provide information on what efforts are undertaken to recruit persons from the Roma, communities in the public sector, for instance in schools as teachers and school assistants including at the local level. b. Increasing the number of employees of members of Roma, communities in public/private sector through vocational training policies and employment. c. Launch an information campaign on available jobs and the need to register in local employment offices. d. Facilitate employment of members from the Roma, communities in the activities of agriculture, forestry and rural development. e. Launch initiatives to allow for self-employment of members of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. f. Improving the social welfare of members from the Roma, communities. 4. Health a. Improve access of members of the Roma, communities in health care by engaging mobile teams and ensuring implementation of the law on health insurance. b. Improve maternal and child health with special attention to reproduction and vaccination. c. Improve the sanitary conditions in settlements and living environment of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities through public awareness campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) in the areas inhabited by Roma, communities. d. Continue education of members from the Roma, communities concerning the importance of the health supporting the use of health mediators. e. Increase the budget allocation at the level of the Ministry of Health for health and implement the primary health care/family medicine. f. Develop awareness-raising campaigns to inform members from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities about medical issues. 5. Housing 4

5 a. Address problems of property registration, property dispute and legalisation of informal settlements b. Provide information on how legal cases on real property, relevant for the return of persons from the Roma, communities, are prioritised by the courts and the Kosovo Property Agency. c. Allow for land to be systematically allocated to returning families from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities coming from neighbouring countries. d. Support municipalities in developing and implementing social housing improvement schemes for families from the Roma, communities. e. Implementation of housing policies and related laws for the Roma, communities. f. Implement projects for informal settlements, social housing for Roma, communities in Kosovo for improvement of housing conditions or the construction of new homes. g. Mapping of needs and development of an action plan for improving the infrastructure of settlements. 5

6 Annex I Conclusions from the workshop for the inclusion of Roma,, 11 October 2015 No Conclusions / Activities Actions Timeline Responsible Institution I. Intersectorial issues 1 Development of the first draft of the Strategy and Action Plan on Inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo society, Finalizing the draft Strategy and Action Plan on Inclusion of Roma, communities in Kosovo society, The publication of the strategy and information to all levels of institutions and civil society 3 Strengthening coordination and interministerial cooperation and cooperation mechanisms in the ministry with relevant institutions, between central and local level Validation of the first draft of the Strategy and Action Plan on Inclusion of Roma, communities in Kosovo society from the Interagency Steering Committee Approval of Draft Strategy and Action Plan for Inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo society from Government of the Republic of Kosovo The establishment of a secretariat in OGG / OPM Establishment of Municipal Task Force Review the terms of reference of the Technical Working Group December 2015 March-April 2016 June- September 2016 September 2016 September 2016 June 2016 OGG / OPM / Inter ministerial Steering Committee OGG / OPM / Inter ministerial Steering Committee, Kosovo Government OGG / OPM / Inter ministerial Steering Committee. MLG and Civil Society OGG / OPM, Kosovo Government Municipalities MLG OGG / OPM, 6

7 4 Cooperation with civil society The involvement of civil society in drafting the Strategy and Action Plan for Inclusion of Roma, communities in Kosovo society, Exchange of experiences to better implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan on Inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo society, The involvement of civil society in the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan for Inclusion of Roma, communities in Kosovo society, Creating data base of NGOs that work for the rights of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian, in order to have comprehensive consultations and cooperation amongst government and civil society, and held regular meetings with civil society every 3 months. Meetings with municipal officials to implement the Strategy and Action Plan for Inclusion of Roma, communities in Kosovo society Q Q1,Q2,Q3,Q Through all the process September-October 2016 OGG / OPM, OGG / OPM, Municipalities, the minister of the line and the civil society OGG / OPM OGG / OPM, MAPL Muncipalities 7

8 EDUCATION Improved participation in education and the quality of education for members of Roma, communities. 1 The establishment of school grants scheme for community integration and development programs mentoring / tutoring for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Grantee schools identified Schools develop and implement projects arising from the scheme 2 Additional language programs for children from Roma community 3 Increasing enrolment in vocational education 4 Creating conditions for continuing education after school Optional teaching organized in the Roma language Campaigns on the importance of vocational education Organization of transportation for high school students April, May, June, July Scholarship scheme for students of higher secondary schools 5 Offering reintegration programs for children returning from abroad organizing courses on local language for returning students Additional teaching is 8

9 6 Inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians and their assistants in the pre-primary level 7 Motivation for increasing participation in education organized for students returning from abroad Engage educators from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities Engage aid assistants / teachers in the classroom - Organize ongoing campaigns on the benefits of education - Organize family visits and meetings of the benefits of education 8 The illiteracy rate falling Programs offered to reduce the rate of illiteracy Preventing discrimination in the education system May to July 9 Primary and secondary legislation harmonized and implemented - Analysis of the situation regarding discrimination in education - Enforcement of the law against discrimination - Implementation of the Law on Pre respectively standards for comprehensive inclusion 10 - Raising awareness of the community about the forms of discrimination and its prevention, including parents and students of Roma, Ashkali - Organize ongoing campaign against discrimination 9

10 and Egyptian communities 11 Capacity building of educational staff in the identification and resolution of identified cases of all types of discrimination against pupils and students of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian - Develop training modules for identification and response to discrimination - Organize training to identify discrimination and ways to solve the cases EMPLOYMENT Increase the number to eight employees of members of Roma, public / private sector through vocational training policies and employment. 1 Research on Research on the possibility for including Roma, communities in active measures in labour market Findings from reports on research needs and the possibility of inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in MWSW 2 Train members of Roma, communities for vocational job active measures to TP's Provide training on search skills job Employment Agency Employment Offices Vocational training centres Encouraging and preparing members of Roma, communities to involve them in the activities of agriculture, forestry and rural development 3 Identification and selection of individuals from the three communities interested in benefiting from projects funded by MAFRD in the Conducting visits to inform Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities on the financing of MAFRD 2016 MAFRD 10

11 following areas: Forestry agriculture 4 Training of members of Roma, communities in coordination with NGOs and MAFRD on the Law Against Discrimination and the Law on Gender Equality Provide training on the Law against Discrimination and the Law on Gender Equality HEALTH 2016 MAFRD Improving the access of members of the three communities in health care 1 The three community awareness of the importance of health care Keeping immunization campaigns, health systems, recycling, traditional MH 2 Provision of care for mother and child health and reproductive health through education, health services from a gender perspective 3 Improving immunization (vaccination) the children of the three communities treatment, etc. - Undertake educational and informative activities for childcare and parenting -Regular Visit to mothers from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities who gave birth at home, monitoring of maternal and child health Keeping vaccination awareness campaigns by distributing leaflets, posters, radio and television programs, etc. HOUSING MH MH

12 Improve the quality of life and provide sustainable solutions for Roma, communities living in inadequate housing conditions and the creation of optimal conditions to enable sustainable returns of Roma, communities in Kosovo. 1 Identify needs for housing / Setting the criteria In the period of 3 MAPP category that need renovation and construction of the foundation course by programs designed for the population in their territory. months during the year. 2 Assignment and Assessment Priorities for families in need for inclusion in the residential 3-year housing plan. 3 years MAPP program 3 identification of settlements and neighborhoods that do not have public infrastructure, schools, health centers, sewage system, water supply, secondary roads and lighting. Creation of a working group for drafting municipal infrastructure programs (relevant directories, MCO, communities and CSOs / NGOs); During the next three years. MAPP 12