PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE ON THE OCASSION OF

THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

March 21st was addopted as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Although some progress is made, it is not equally present. The Roma still live marginally in some countries, exposed to offenses, hate speech and attacks. Somewhere it is a matter of official institutions lacking in will to tackle this issue, somewhere it is corruption being responsable for the shortage of funds allocated to integration of the Roma people, somewhere the very Roma do not want to report cases of racial discrimination.

''Yesterday, as this entire week dedicated to fight against racism, should serve as a reminder to everyone that the Roma Integration 2020 is still on, and that many things have left undone, both in EU member states as well as in those waiting for that status. Discrimination aches of the Roma people are: education, settlement legalization, health, social and housing issue, as well as the issue of the employment of educated Roma, whose number rises from year to year. If the willingness and readiness of the state are present, then people addopt new streams more easily and faster.'' - said the President and Ambassador for Peace Jovan Damjanovic.

Belgrade, March 22nd, 2018

Secretariat for information