Strategy for the Roma in Republic of Macedonia 2014 – 2020
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REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL POLICY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF THE DECADE AND STRATEGY OF ROMA STRATEGY FOR THE ROMA IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 2014 – 2020 June, 2014 This document is made within the frames of the project “Encouraging of the implementation of the Strategy for the Roma in Republic of Macedonia through improvement of the strategic and operational management processes on national level”, with financial aid from the foundation MAKING THE MOST OF EU FUNDS FOR ROMA (MTM) from Budapest. CONTENTS Page | 2 I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………............3 II. Review of the national and international legislation in the areas of action that imply preparation and implementation of policies, strategies and programs for social inclusion of Roma in Macedonia……….. …………………………………………………………………………..................9 III. Demographic Profile of the Roma community in Macedonia………………………………..36 IV. Commitment to the Strategy/Vision, Strategic objectives, Specific strategic (program) goals ………………………………………….................................................................................................... 40 V. Strategic intervention by areas of action/Strategic determinations, Context-actual conditions, Specific strategic (program) goals Employment ………………………………………………………….................................................................................. ...... 42 Education......................................................................................................................................................... ...............52 Housing............................................................................................................................................................ ................74 Health............................................................................................................................................................... ................85 Culture............................................................................................................................................................. ................98 VI. Proposed measures for strategic implementation and strategic control............................................................................................................................................................. ...............117 VII. List of Acronyms......................................................................................................................................130 VIII. Attachments....................................................................................................................................... ........131 I. Introduction Page | 3 The Strategy for Roma in Republic of Macedonia 2014-2020 is prepared as a document that is part of the public policy of Republic of Macedonia to even the level of involvement and integration of all ethnic groups who live in this country in a common and modern society. In addition, the Republic of Macedonia is leaded by the desire to improve the quality of life of all its citizens and is leaded by its aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration and involvement in European initiatives for social inclusion. That would mean finalizing of the aspirations which we are facing in the direction of building a cohesive society that strives for continued economic and overall sustainable development. Republic of Macedonia wants to be developed in a society in which citizens regardless of their ethnicity they belong, feel safe and have equal opportunities for personal development and advancement. A society that integrates rather than segregates, a society giving equal rights and opportunities for all and a society that includes rather exclude. In order to achieve these high goals, Republic of Macedonia undertook the obligations regarding the need for the harmonization of national laws for which there is a need to comply with the regulations and a number of EU policies. The European Union has a strong legal framework to combat discrimination against Roma, based among other things, in Article 13 of the EC Treaty, Directive 2000/43 / EC of the Racial Equality Directive 2000/78 / EC, which prohibits discrimination in employment and professional trainings. Republic of Macedonia is a member of the Decade for Roma Inclusion 2005 - 2015 as a political commitment by the European governments to improve the socio-economic status and social inclusion of Roma, bringing together governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and Roma civil society, to accelerate the progress towards improving the welfare of Roma and to initiate such progress in a transparent and measurable way. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy with the full support of the Government adopted the Strategy for Roma in Macedonia in 2004, which regulates the National Action Plan for education, health care, employment and housing that is revised and updated annually. In 2004, the National Coordination Body was established as a structure to monitor and guide the implementation of strategies and policies for social inclusion and integration of Roma. In 2005 the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs with support from the World Bank office in Skopje adopted the National Action Plans for the Decade of Roma in the areas of housing, employment, education and health. The same National Action Plans for objective reasons were revised in 2009. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, through the Department for implementation of the Strategy and the Decade of Roma, which was established in 2008 in cooperation with the Minister without portfolio, the National Coordinator of the Decade and Strategy for Roma, since then initiated the creation of more than 15 local (municipal) strategies and action plans for the implementation of the Roma Decade. In 2010, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy with support from the UNDP office in Skopje adopted the National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia 2010- 2020. Page | 4 In 2011, at the initiative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy was adopted the National Action Plan for improving the social status of Roma women in 2011 - the 2013. In 2011, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in cooperation with the Minister without portfolio, the National Coordinator of the Decade and Strategy for Roma, as a part of the project financed by IPA funds, adopted the National Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma in the social security system. In the period 2011-2012, the Republic of Macedonia chaired the Decade of Roma. The above stated facts confirm the determination of the Government, through the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in cooperation with the Minister without portfolio, the National Coordinator of the Decade and Strategy for Roma, to take the necessary measures at the level of policy and strategies that will initiate improvement of the quality of living and integration of Roma in society. Although there is some progress in improving the integration of the Roma into the society, still the current conditions indicate the need for continuation of the positive trends and successful operations in the future. Therefore, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in cooperation with the Minister without portfolio and the National Coordinator of the Decade and Strategy for Roma created the opportunity to conduct a participatory process for revising or redesigning the Strategy for Roma in Macedonia 2005. In the second half of 2013 began the process of development of the Strategy. The process of developing the document included: 1) Organizing series of practical workshops that included all stakeholders and interested parties or representatives, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Cabinet of the Minister without Portfolio, the National Coordinator of the Decade and Strategy for Roma, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Health, Department for improving the education in the languages of the ethnic communities, the Employment Agency, Department for development and promotion of the culture of ethnic communities, representatives of non-governmental organizations, representatives of the local Roma community, the media and representatives of national and international donor organizations and development agencies such as MTM, UNDP, REF, OSCE, European Commission, FOSM etc. 2) Creating the basis for the first draft; 3) Creating a first draft; 4) Workshop for review and updating of the first draft; 5) Creating a second draft; 6) Meetings with individuals and workgroups 7) Electronic communications for review and updating of the second draft; 8) Preparation of the final draft; Page | 5 In the process, a method called Process consultancy was implemented by the professional team where the participants with the skills, competence and experience can contribute not only to identify problems, but also to propose measures and strategic approach. Finally, the team aligned the text with the basic provisions of the EU 2020 Strategy, harmonized the text and prepared the document in the attached form. The Strategy covers priority areas: employment, education, housing, health and culture. This is due to the fact that in the period of enactment of the first Strategy for Roma in Macedonia, there have been more positive developments and changes in attitude towards Roma and the Roma Decade. They are chronologically listed in