Roma and Egyptians in Albania Public Disclosure Authorized from Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion
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Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Ilir Gedeshi Sabine Beddies Hermine De Soto From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Roma and Egyptians in Albania THE WORLD BANK WORLD BANK WORKING PAPER NO. WORLD 53 BANK WORKING PAPER WORLD BANK WORKING PAPER NO. 53 Roma and Egyptians in Albania From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Hermine G. De Soto Sabine Beddies Ilir Gedeshi THE WORLD BANK Washington, D.C. Copyright © 2005 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America First Printing: March 2005 printed on recycled paper 12345070605 World Bank Working Papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank’s work to the development community with the least possible delay. The manuscript of this paper there- fore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to formally-edited texts. Some sources cited in this paper may be informal documents that are not readily available. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply and judgment on the part of The World Bank of the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission promptly to reproduce portions of the work. For permission to photocopy or reprint any part of this work, please send a request with complete information to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA, Tel: 978-750-8400, Fax: 978-750-4470, www.copyright.com. All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA, Fax: 202-522-2422, email: [email protected]. ISBN-10: 0-8213-6171-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6171-9 eISBN: 0-8213-6172-4 ISSN: 1726-5878 Hermine G. De Soto is a Senior Social Scientist in the Environmentally and Socially Sustain- able Development Sector Unit of the Europe and Central Asia Region of the World Bank. Sabine Beddies is a Social Scientist in the Social Development Department of the World Bank. Ilir Gedeshi is an Economist at the Center for Economic and Social Studies. Cover Photo: Roma children from Berat, Albania (by Hermine G. De Soto). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been requested. Contents Foreword ix Acknowledgments xi Acronyms and Abbreviations xiii Glossary of Terms xv A Roma Folk-Tale: The Cup of Gold Coins xvii Executive Summary xix Objectives of the Study xix Albanian Roma in a Regional Perspective xix Historical Background xxi Methodology xxiii Findings xxv Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations xli 1. Introduction 1 Objectives and Methodology. 2 2. Historical Background: The Diversity of Roma and Egyptians 7 The Origins of Roma and Egyptians 7 A Brief History of Albania 8 The Interwar Period 8 World War II 10 The Socialist Era 10 Transition 12 Conclusion 13 3. Culture 15 Language 15 Expressions of Culture and Identity 16 Family Ceremonies 18 The Roma Fis 21 Specific Roles of the Fis Leader 23 Changes in the Social Organization of the Roma Fis over Time 24 Conclusion 24 iii iv Contents 4. Marriage and Family Planning 27 Formal and Informal Family-Planning Education 30 Effects of Early Marriage and Childbearing 30 Increasing Divorce Rates 31 Conclusion 33 5. Income and Living Standards 35 Household Income 36 Household Expenditures 39 Living Conditions 41 Infrastructure 44 Health and Health Care 47 Conclusions 50 6. Education 53 Decreasing Education Levels 54 Barriers to Education 56 Parents’ Suggestions for Improving Education for Roma Children 60 Conclusions 61 7. The Labor Market 63 Traditional Socio-Occupational Identities 64 Forms of Formal Labor 68 Forms of Informal Labor 69 Conclusion 72 8. Migration and Remmittances 73 Origins of International Migration 74 Host Countries and Regions 79 Forms of International Migration 80 Effects of International Migration 84 Conclusion 85 9. Prostitution and Trafficking 87 Prostitution 87 Causes of Prostitution 89 The Effects of Prostitution: Remittances and Social and Economic Costs . 91 Trafficking of Children 93 Contents v Trafficking of Drugs 97 Conclusion 98 10. Social Capital 101 Definitions 102 Cognitive Social Capital: Trust and Solidarity 103 Structural Social Capital 109 Implications of Social Capital 111 Conclusion 113 11. Social Exclusion 115 Albanian Roma Within a Regional Perspective 116 Summary of Findings 118 Causes of Social Exclusion Identified by Roma and Egyptians 121 Definitions of Relative Poverty 122 Factors Contributing to Uncertainty and Vulnerability 125 Perceptions of Roma and Egyptians about Discrimination 129 Perceptions of Albanians about Roma and Egyptians 130 Ways of Addressing Social Exclusion According to Roma and Egyptians 131 12. Social Inclusion: Recommendations and Policy Implications 133 Access to Public Goods and Services 134 Market Opportunities and Employment 137 Access to the Justice System 139 Access to Information 140 Safety and Security of Livelihoods 140 Social Capital, Voice, and Participation 141 Roma Cultural Centers as a Means for Social Inclusion 141 Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations 142 APPENDIXES A. Working Definitions 147 B. Questionnaire on Needs Assessment of Roma and Egyptian Communities in Albania 153 C. Focus Group Discussions 177 D. Statistical Data, Tables, Graphs, and Flowcharts 187 E. More Voices of Albania 199 vi Contents F. Selected Albanian Roma and Egyptian NGOs and Contact Information 219 G. The Patrilineal Kinship Structure of One Roma Fis 221 H. National Minorities in Albania 223 I. “The List” 225 J. Community Profiles 227 K. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion 237 L. Analytical Framework 247 M. Conference Agenda 249 N. Dissemination Conference Material 257 Bibliography 261 Materials Used in Desk Review 263 Map . 000 LIST OF FIGURES 1. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion—Analytical Framework xxvi 2. Distribution of Identified Poverty Categories among Roma, Egyptians, and Albanians xxvii 3.1. Characteristics that Distinguish Roma or Egyptian Culture from Albanian Culture 16 6.1. Illiteracy Rates for Roma and Egyptians, by Gender and Age Group 54 7.1. Employment Sectors during Socialism for Roma, By Gender 65 7.2. Employment Sectors during Socialism for Egyptians, By Gender 65 8.1. Host Countries to Which Roma and Egyptians Migrate 79 8.2. Informal Labor Sectors for Roma and Egyptians Migrating Abroad 82 10.1. Trust of Roma and Egyptians in Their Neighbors 104 10.2. Trust of the Roma and Egyptian Communities in Roma and Egyptian Associations 110 11.1. Distribution of Identified Poverty Categories among Roma, Egyptians, and Albanians 123 11.2. Levels of Discrimination Experienced by Roma, According to District 129 11.3. Levels of Discrimination Experienced by Egyptians, According to District 130 D.1. Education Structure for Roma, by Gender and Age Group 190 D.2. Education Structure for Egyptians, by Gender and Age Group 190 D.3. Reasons Why Children Do Not Go to School 191 D.4. Main Employment Sectors for Roma and Egyptians During Transition 192 D.5. International Migration of Egyptians by District 193 D.6. International Migration of Roma by District 194 Contents vii D.7. Informal Labor Sectors for International Migrating Roma Fise 195 D.8. Migration and Remittances as Poverty Trap 196 D.9. Prostitution as a Downward Spiral into Poverty 197 D.10. Children Are Obligated to Beg for Their Family, Roma, and Egyptians by District 197 LIST OF TABLES 1. Distribution of Roma Population 1991–94 (thousands) xx 2. Estimated Population of Albanian Roma and Egyptians, by District xxiv 3. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Matrix of Exclusion Manifestations and Recommendations for Inclusion Policies and Actions xxxiii 4. Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations xli 4.1. Marriage Ages for Roma, Egyptians, and Total Albanian Population during Transition 28 4.2. Ages of Roma and Egyptians at Birth of Their First Child 28 4.3. Average Roma and Egyptian Family Sizes, by Zone 30 5.1. Average Income through State Assistance for Roma and Egyptian Households (in percentages) 37 5.2. Average Monthly Household Expenditures for Roma and Egyptians (in US$) 40 5.3. Surface Area of Homes, by Ethnicity 44 5.4. Type of Appliance/Furnishing Available to Roma and Egyptians, by Amount (quantity), and Ownership (percentage) 45 6.1. Illiteracy Rates and School Years Completed for Roma and Egyptians Ages 7–20, by District 55 8.1. Length and Cost for Initial Travel 76 8.2. The Role of Financial and Social Capital in the Different Stages of International Migration 78 9.1. Daily Income of Trafficked Children 93 11.1. Distribution of Roma Population 1991–94 (thousands) 116 11.2. Self-Assessment of Family’s Socioeconomic Conditions 122 11.3. Albanian Perceptions of Roma/Egyptians 131 12.1. Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations 143 D.1. Monthly Income for Roma and Egyptian Households (US$), by Source 188 D.2. Surface Area of Homes, Total and Per Capita for Roma and Egyptians 188 D.3.