Programme Clusters in UNDP Serbia |
Panel Discussions: "At Risk: The Social Vulnerability of Roma, Refugees and Internally Displaced in Serbia", Belgrade, 18 July 2006
Summary and presentations The event was aimed at presenting to the public the regional report "At Risk: Roma and Displaced in Southeast Europe" and of the equivalent analysis focused on Serbia "At Risk: the Social Vulnerability of Roma, Refugees and Internally Displaced in Serbia". “Summary of the regional report” (English | Srpski) This occasion has brought around the table the most relevant stakeholders, engaged in addressing the situation of vulnerable and marginalized groups in Serbia, from national institutions, civil society organizations, and especially organizations representing vulnerable groups such as Roma and refugees, and international organizations. Experts from other countries in the Southeast European region have shared their experiences in tackling social exclusion and presented programmes and priorities in their countries. The introductory remarks have been an occasion to introduce the newly established Service for Human and Minority Rights, in charge, among other human rights related issues, of the implementation of the Roma Decade. The Head of the Roma Secretariat has presented the steps undertaken so far, and the additional efforts ahead, while the Serbian Commissioner for Refugees has called the attention on the unresolved vulnerability of many refugees, despite several years have passed since the end of the conflict. Finally, the importance of social inclusion in the European Integration agenda has been remarked by both representatives of Serbian institutions and of the Delegation of the European Commission in Serbia. Poverty and unemployment The discussion on how to alleviate poverty and unemployment among the vulnerable stressed the importance of enhancing access to employment opportunities for excluded and marginalized groups. All panellists agreed that improvements are possible only through cooperation and partnerships, building synergies among public and private actors, and the civil society. A human rights-based approach in guaranteeing equal opportunities to all citizens, including the disadvantaged ones, and with a focus on the most vulnerable among them, such as women, was the methodology chosen also by neighbouring countries such as Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Presentations and other related documents:
Education Investments in the education of vulnerable groups, particularly Roma, who are those lagging behind national averages, have been assessed as a prerequisite for breaking the vicious circle of poverty and assuring high returns in terms of fighting exclusion. Serbia has emerges as the country with the worst indicators in this field in the region. Partnership between educational institutions and experienced civil society organizations has proven a winning strategy at the local level, where tailored strategies are needed to address the specific needs of vulnerable children. For instance, returned children, who attended school abroad and lack knowledge of the local language, demand a different approach than domicile Roma, refugees or IDPs. Presentations and other related documents:
Health The health situation of vulnerable groups is quite heterogeneous. While in some communities access to health care institutions for vulnerable groups is comparable to national averages, there are pockets of deprivation where the lack of health assistance, combined with accommodation in unhygienic and hazardous locations, are determining health conditions, which were thought non-existent in nowadays Europe. Legal provisions to assure health assistance also to people without documents have been recently adopted by the Serbian government, but more needs to be done to assure their implementation. Presentations and other related documents:
Housing Despite no specific panel discussion was dedicated to the issue of housing during the event, data and analysis related to housing and settlement conditions of vulnerable groups are present in both Serbian and Regional report. Moreover, the issue was discussed during various panels, providing examples and sharing relevant documents. Presentations and other related documents:
As a concluding remark, the correlation of all aspects of social exclusion analysed and debated during the discussion was pointed out to recall the need for coordinated and comprehensive strategies. All participants recognized the utility of the analysis provided by both Regional and Serbian report, and the usefulness of collecting disaggregated data to monitor progress and developed better informed policies and programmes. |
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