Resource En 186557.Pdf

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Social Inclusion & Housing Improvement in Roma Settlements in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia project of the Roma Resource Centre of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO RRC), implemented from July 2007 – December 2009, was funded by two Swiss organizations: the Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

In 2009 the project was also funded by the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

The expert capacity building to the EHO RRC team has been provided by the Swiss Resource Centre & Consultancies for Development (SKAT). A special thanks goes to their expert consultant Mr. Daniel Wyss.

The Project Coordinator of the Social Inclusion & Housing Improvement in Roma Settlements in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia project thorugh all its phases was Mr. Robert Bu. The project was implemented by the following EHO RRC expert team: Ms. Annamária Faragó, Ms. Milica Leković, Mr. Ljubomir Ivanov, Mr. Fazli Sadrijaj and Mr. Muhamed Eljšani.

This publication is primarily a result of an extensive field work performed by the above EHO RRC team over a nearly three-year period.

The thirty-months’ field work was preceeded by a two-years’ intensive work on information and advocacy.

The author and editor in chief of this publication is Mr. Robert Bu, who was also the Project Coordinator during the course of its implementation.

EHO RRC would like to thank all colleagues and volunteers who contributed to the successful implementation of this project. A special thanks goes to all Roma women and men from the Third New Settlement in Opovo, the Bangladesh settlement in Novi Sad and the Ciganski Kraj Settlement in Djurdjevo, as well as to the representatives of the respective local authorities and the Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

Both EHO and the RRC are particularly grateful to our long-standing partner, the Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS), that helped us develop our own capacities and resources in the field of housing improvement in Roma settlements in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. It is thanks to this collaboration that EHO RRC is one of the rare regional actors with experience, skills, knowledge, methods and instruments for realization of participative, comprehensive and inclusive projects.

The Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements model of work presented in this publication has been devised in collaboration with Swiss partners.

EHO RRC

Background

Roma people are among the most vulnerable It is estimated that there are around 650 Roma social groups in Serbia. Besides long-term settlements* in the Republic of Serbia today, discrimination and equal opportunities with nearly 450,000 Roma living in them. policy implementation failure on all levels Housing conditions in these settlements are of the society, social marginalization of the below the public infrastructural and sanitary Roma – both in Serbia and in its neighbouring minimum. Most of them have no basic countries – has also resulted from infrastructure whatsoever, like paved roads inconsistency of the institutional approach leading to them, drainage and sewage system, to dealing with the Roma issues, as well as safe drinking water or electrical installations in from lack of an institutional framework for the houses. Instead of living in houses made of protection of individual and collective human solid construction materials, the families live rights of members of this ethnic group. The in makeshift temporary housing units with no Roma Inclusion Decade, initiated in 2005 in water, bathrooms, toilets or electricity in them. order to start dealing with the Roma issues and solving their problems, has been a Ever more often these settlements are joint venture of nine countries in the region becoming the home of returnees from Western focusing on implementation of policies and Europe by the Readmission Agreements. The programmes aimed at social advancement Council of Europe estimates are that anywhere and development of the Roma in a democratic between 50,000-150,000 Serbian nationals, way ever since. Education, employment, mostly Roma by their ethnic background, housing and healthcare of the Roma have been will return to Serbia on the base of these identified as key focus areas of the Decade and Agreements. Most of them owning no assets, National Action Plans have been devised for residing in these already overpopulated Roma each of these issues. settlements are the easiest way towards getting a place to live.

* Note: In this publication a Roma settlement is a settlement inhabited by the Roma. Most of Roma settlements in the Republic of Serbia have poor housing conditions: though the people reside in them permanently, their structure is usually camp-like, the housing units are built - or rather improvised - from various scrap material and below the public infrastructural and sanitary minimum. How to deal with it?

The Roma Resource Centre (RRC) from Novi Sad offers you a collaboration opportunity to contribute to the improvement of housing conditions and socio-economical position of Roma, enhancing thus the development of the local communities in general.

A ten-year experience in working with Roma in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (henceforth: APV or Vojvodina) in the Republic of Serbia (henceforth: RS or Serbia) led to the RRC applying one of the rare and successful participative models of work and collaboration with the Roma community today.

During its work the RRC developed a unique methodology of infrastructural problem- solving in Roma settlements, as well as dealing with their legalization.

The Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements model, developed with the Swiss partners, is a comprehensive approach to actual problem-solving, including participative operation methods involving all interested stakeholders and social actors in the decision-making process.

The representatives of the Roma community have a key role in this model of work, contributing thus actively to the sustainability of the overall process.

Project implementation with the Roma doing construction with expert support requires a project team with exceeding communication, motivation, planning and supervision skills, along with having developed an efficient monitoring, management and implementation methodology for numerous individual project designs, both hands-on in field and dealing with administration.

The RRC is one of the rare regional actors with experience, skills and know-how - involving methodology and instruments - for implementation of participative, comprehensive and inclusive projects.

Today, the RRC is a partner of the Swiss, Norwegian and the Government of Vojvodina in implementation of social inclusion and Roma settlements’ housing improvement projects in APV. The Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements model application requires the local authorities to:

Participate in the project actively; Provide funds for infrastructural investments in the Roma settlement (provision of electricity and water installation, paving roads to and in the settlement, organized garbage disposal on regular basis, etc); Support the process of architectural and administrative documentation for every individual house (re)construction project; /If necessary:/ Initiate and follow through with the process of changing the usage purpose of the land on which the settlement is located into a residential area, acknowledging thus the actual existence of the settlement; /If necessary:/ Produce a new Detailed Regulation Plan (of urbanization) complying with the actual state of affairs; Enable legalization of all individual housing units / houses in the settlement. Five Reasons to Use the Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements Model

Particpation This model works only if the residents of the Roma settlements participate in it. The project is planned and devised exclusively in collaboration with the Roma, who are the key decision- makers in it, and with participation of the local authorities throughout the process.

Flexibility The model provides solutions and project packages suitable for all beneficiaries and/or stakeholders under identical conditions. Enabling individual planning according to the residents’ actual and specific needs this model strengthens their feeling of ownership over the process and offers the Roma the opportunity to decide on the various project phases on their own. This model is also applicable in various areas the Roma have chosen for their living environment.

Sustainability Striving towards emopwerment of its target group and promotion of its active involvement in thorughout the process, this model of work enables the Roma to take over the responsibility for project implementation. The vocational and on-the-job trainings, employment and self- employment programmes increase the competitiveness of the Roma in the labour market, also enabling for more economic independence and personal integrity.

Cost-effectiveness For every 1,500 EUR project investments in construction material for housing improvement the Roma invest another 1,500 EUR worth of their own labour doing construction work or providing second-hand construction material.

Comprehensiveness This model of work has been developed along the lines of the National Housing Action Plan, but it also involves other activities in advocacy, education, vocational training and (self-)employment. All project activities aim at capacity and resource building of the Roma, contributing thus to the development of the local community in general.

The Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements Model: The Implementation Process

1. Meeting with the residents of the Roma settlement In order to get to know the residents of a particular Roma settlement and establish initial communication, the RRC will organize a meeting in the settlement. Later on, individual direct contacts with the residents will be organized in order to clarify the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved throughout the project implementation process.

2. Establishment of the Settlement Development Board The RRC will organize elections for members of the Settlement Development Board (henceforth: SDB or the Board). Comprising of three Roma women and three men, the Board will represent the rights and interests of the settlement residents thoruhgout the project implementation process and upon its completion. Establishment of this Board is a necessary precondition for continuing the project implementation process.

3. Initiating the Settlement Development Perspectives Forum The RRC will initiate and later on facilitate the Settlement Development Perspectives Forum attended by the SDB, the representatives od the local authorities, public companies and service providers, as well as NGO activists. The Forum aim is twofold: to provide common ground for devising problem-solving models for infrastructural isues and – if necessary - to initiate the settlement legalization process. 4. Doing a Study on the Residents’ Socio-Economical Position The RRC will do a field study in order to analyze the existing problems in the settlement and determine the social, material, educational and professional capacities of its residents. Once the analysis has been completed, the RRC will produce The Residents’ Socio-Economical Position report.

5. Documentation Provision for Individual Reconstruction Projects The RRC will organize field visits and talk to the residents and representatives of the local authorities indidvidually in order to determine the level of damage with each housing unit in the settlement and to provide for creation and issuing of the official technical and urbanization documentation necessary for further project implementation.

6. On-the-Job Training The RRC will provide an on-the-job training programme in order to facilitate the project implementation. The residents will get an opportunity to attend courses in construction, bricklaying and plumbing. The courses have a strong application component with their on-the- job training part. The participants will have a chance to demonstrate their newly-acquired skills and knowledge on the so-called showpiece house located in the settlement. 7. Individual Reconstruction Planning Together with the Board, the RRC will do the individual reconstruction planning for each of the houses or housing units in the settlement. The Roma and the RRC will jointly decide on the particular construction work, materials, tools and expert support needed for the reconstruction of each house in the settlement. The residents will also be informed and learn about the Work Principles project document and only then will they sign the Reconstruction Contract.

8. Reconstruction Material Distribution The RRC will organize distribution of the reconstruction material. A special software named The Catalogue will be used to monitor the spending rate and usage. The distribution is carried out in phases and its dynamics depends solely on the pace the Roma are managing the reconstruction of their own houses according to the previously devised plan.

9. Reconstruction of Houses or Housing Units The reconstruction process is run by the residents. They do the construction work themselves or hire trained hands to do it. Roma proficient in construction and with sufficient experience often assist them with the process. This process has a major positive side-effect: by reconstructing their own houses the Roma increase their own competencies and skills, which in turn makes them more compatible in the labour market. This way the residents become responsible participants of the settlement reconstruction process, their sense of ownership over the whole process is increased, contributing thus to the overall project sustainability. The RRC provides construction and other material and tools, providing also for consultancy and instruction services, expert support and construction quality monitoring. Possible Solutions: Bathroom Construction & Houses Expansion Plans Projekat: »Socijalna inkluzija i poboljšanje uslova stanovanja u naselju Bangladeš u Novom Sadu, Grad Novi Sad, AP Vojvodina, R. Srbija«

The RRC Experience Project No. 1: „Social Inclusion & Housing Improvement in Bangladesh Settlement Near the Town of Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia”

From July 2007 – December 2008 the reconstructed, refurbished and put to use, Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements and each house was connected to the town’s model was tested in the Bangladesh settlement electrical infrastructure. near Novi Sad. The entire process of settlement renewal, reconstruction of houses, replacement The RRC invested 11 million RSD (around of old roofing, construction of collective septic 122,000 EUR) in construction material, tanks, a new additional room and bathroom, equipment and tools. The Roma invested doing the plumbing and electricity installation additional 4.5 million RSD (around 50,000 EUR) in the houses was managed by the residents by doing the construction work themselves and the RRC. or providing second hand construction material, whereas the local authorities invested By the end of 2009 the living conditions 1.8 million RSD (around 20,000 EUR) in the were improved in 60 houses in Bangladesh Electricity Provision to Bangladesh Settlement settlement. All houses got new roofing and project of town of Novi Sad. an additional room; the bathrooms were

1.1. The Initial Situation in Bangladesh Settlement: The buildings in which the Roma have been living since 1970 were once workers’ bungalows of a state-owned farm onthe outskirts of the town of Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia. There were 233 residents in 67 families with 138 children and youth and average age of the population being 21. 60 housing units / flats were built from solid material (bric walls) and they had 1-2 rooms. There was no sewage system, except for 20 ruined latrines. There was no electricity and no electrical installations outside or in the homes. 70% of the roofs were leaking and 60% of the windows were broken. Only 4 housing units / flats had a bathroom each. The major source of income was collection of secondary raw materials, i.e. recycling garbage. Only 2 people had full time jobs. Neraly 100 residents live on 120 RSD (i.e. around 1.3 EUR) a day.

1.2. The RRC Preparatory Activities: Establishing the state of affairs in the settlement: asessing the conditon and usability of the housing units, doing the Actual State project (i.e. a document formally required for any further project-relevant official proceedings) and the analysis of the socio-economical position of the residents; Lobbying for support with the local authorities; Election of members of the Settlement Development Board; Organizing the Forum in order to define the needs and priorities jointly and make decisions on the further developments in the settlement according to the Roma Housing National Action Plan within the Roma Inclusion Decade.

1.3. Project Objectives: Roofing reconstruction and replacement; Construction of septic tanks and bathrooms; Doing the electrical installation in the housing units and their connection to the town’s electrical infrastructure; Expansion of the existing housing units by constructing the additional rooms planned: construction, hydro and thermo isolation, plastering, carpentry, plumbing and electricity installation.

1.5.1. Project Participants / Partners: Overall project implementation was the responsibility of the Roma Resource Centre (RRC), a programme of the local NGO (the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation – EHO) from Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia. The project was devised by the RRC (Vojvodina, Serbia), HEKS and Skat (Switzerland). The implementation training and expert support and consultancy was provided by Skat (Swiss Resource Centre & Consultancies for Development ), Switzerland. Decisionmaking was the responsibility of the Settlement Development Board, the local authorities and the RRC.

1.5.2. Project Implementation: Information of residents on the housing improvement project; Individual planning according to the needs of each family; Delivery of construction material; Doing the construction (residents themselves or assisted by experienced hired hands); Electrical installations done by experts. .

1.5.3. Results: 90% of the housing units were expanded by building one adjacent room from solid material. 100% housing units got a functioning bathroom. 100% housing units got electrical installations and a new roof.

1.6. Lessons Learnt:

The advantages of residents’ participation in construction work: Cost-effectiveness: they invested their own manual work or hired experienced hands and provided for second-hand construction material. A strong feeling of ownership over the project increased with the residents as the project progressed. The RRC invested 1,500 EUR intially, whereas the Roma families invested on average from 500-1,500 EUR worth of their own resources throughout the project implementation, either by doing some manual work themselves or by provision of second-hand construction material.

Challenges: Individual planning: agreeing on the size of housing units up to a limit complying with the residents’ material resources in order to do the construction in time and keep it within the given project budget; Provide for the good quality of construction: all construction work was done in agreement with the RRC that did its monitoring and quality control. This was also a conflict prevention mechanism. In case the construction was poorly done or the deadlines broken, the Roma could be excluded from the further project implementation. The RRC Experience Project No. 2: „Social Inclusion & Housing Improvement in Ciganski Kraj Settlement in the Village of Djurdjevo, Municipality of Zabalj, Vojvodina, Serbia”

The implementation of the Social Inclusion & previously damaged parts of the houses were Housing Improvement in Ciganski Kraj Settlement reconstructed. Another 44 septic tanks were in the Village of Djurdjevo, Municipality of also built. Zabalj project began in March 2009. The relevant Cooperation Agreement was signed The RRC invested 13 million RSD (around by the Municipality of Zabalj, the Ecumenical 145,000 EUR) in construction material, Humanitarian Organisation from Novi Sad and equipment and tools. The Roma invested the Roma Inclusion Office of the Government additional 7 million RSD (around 78,000 EUR) of Vojvodina in April 2009. by doing the construction work themselves or providing second hand construction material, Housing conditions in all 75 houses in the while the Municipality of Zabalj invested Ciganski Kraj settlement were improved by another 13 million RSD (around 145,000 EUR) the end of 2009. All houses got an additional in paving roads to and in the settlement and room each, the bathrooms were refurbished expanding the water supply infrastructure to and put to use, whereas the rest of the the Ciganski Kraj settlement. Mr. Gojko S., Ciganski Kraj settlement: „I’m very pleased with this model of work and collaboration with the Roma Resource Centre. They helped me to get trained in bricklaying and construction work, so I did most of the work on my own house by myself. I built the bathroom all by myself and I even managed to help my neighbour with some building. It is by the assistance of the Roma Resource Centre, that provided construction material and the training, that we (impl. the family) have a bathroom, a boiler and hot water in our home. It is very important to us! 1.1. The Initial Situation: It is a traditional Roma settlement on the outskirts of the village of Djurdjevo in Zabalj Municipality, Vojvodina, Serbia. It has around 300 residents with 76 families, each living in its own housing unit. The housing units are free-standing (i.e. single) houses with at leat one of the three rooms built from solid material. 95% of the houses could be reconstructed. There is no sewage or drainage system whatsoever. Only 10 houses had bathrooms. Residents’ main source of income came from harvest-time engagements or other seasonal part-time jobs. It was a semi-legal settlement: the local authorities had paved all the streets in the settlement and expanded the existing water supply system. It also supported the the RRC Housing Improvement project.

1.2. The RRC Preparatory Activities: Establishing the state of affairs in the settlement: asessing the conditon and usability of the housing units, and the analysis of the socio-economical position of the residents; Election of members of the Settlement Development Board; Joint decision-making by the residents, the local authorities and the RRC on the most suitable project implementation method according to the Roma Housing National Action Plan within the Roma Inclusion Decade.

1.3. Project Objectives: Construction of septic tanks and bathrooms; Expansion of the existing housing units by constructing the additional rooms planned: construction, hydro and thermo isolation, plastering, carpentry, plumbing and electricity installation.

1.4. Roma Participating in the Work With Expert Supervision: The RRC provided for reconstruction planning and training the residents in construction work, the tools, professional support of experienced construction workers and consultancy. The residents did the construction work themselves or hired experienced hands previously tested and selected by the RRC to do it with assistance of the unqualified manual labourers. The residents also provided second-hand construction material. The project budget wass 1,500 EUR per family. Phase No. 1: it was mandatory for the families to chose the type of the bathroom and the additional room foundations from the six architectural solutions offered; Phase No. 2: upon completion of phase one, the families were free to chose construction material for reconstruction of their houses up to the amount of the remaining project funds. 1.5. Project Implementation & Results: 1.5.1. Project Participants / Partners: Overall project implementation was the responsibility of the Roma Resource Centre (RRC), a programme of the local NGO (the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation – EHO) from Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia. The project was devised by the RRC (Vojvodina, Serbia), HEKS and Skat (Switzerland). The implementation training and expert support and consultancy was provided by Skat (Swiss Resource Centre & Consultancies for Development ), Switzerland. Decisionmaking was the responsibility of the Settlement Development Board, the local authorities and the RRC. 1.5.2. Project Implementation: Information of residents on the housing improvement project; Election of members of the Settlement Development Board; Consultations with the residents; Preparation of a catalogue of standard technical plans for bathrooms; Individual planning and chosing the most convenient plan; Documentation signing (the Reconstruction Contract and Work Principles); Creating an activities timetable; Delivery of construction material in phases, according to the needs of each family; The residents did the reconstruction themselves, assisted by experienced construction workers and RRC supervision. 1.5.3. Results: 75% of the housing units were expanded by building one adjacent room from solid material. 100% housing units got a functioning bathroom. 100% housing units got electrical installations and a new roof.

1.6. Lessons Learnt: The advantages of residents’ participation in construction work: High level of cost-effectiveness since the residents invested their own manual work or hired experienced hands and provided for second-hand construction material; Roma families invested thus 1,500 EUR worth of their own resources throughout the project implementation; Production of standardized technical bathroom plans decreases the administration costs and raises the construction quality level; Collaboration with the local construction companies. Challenges: Hiring a supervisor creates a balance between cost-effectiveness and construction quality. Good organization of contruction work done by the residents prevents breaches of deadlines. The RRC Experience Project No. 3: „Supporting Inclusion Processes - Housing & Socio-Economical Position Improvement of Residents of the Roma Settlement in Opovo, Municipality of Opovo, Vojvodina, Serbia” Poor housing in Roma settlements influences the level Centre of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation. of involvement of the Roma in the life of the overall local community, especially relating to their social, Following project activities were implemented in the economical and educational development. Numerous so-called Third New Settlement in Opovo: local initiatives had been dealing with this problem Election of the Settlement Development Board; over the course of the last decade, but this project Organization and facilitation of six Forums; led to a unique collaboration of the regional (i.e. Doing an analysis of the socio-economical provincial) and local (i.e. municipal) authorities, NGOs position of the settlement’s residents; and the Roma community aimed at improvement of Production of two major project documents, as the position of the Roma in Vojvodina. well as of an expert evaluation on the state and usability of the housing units; The result of this collaboration has been the Construction of a Development Centre; Supporting Inclusion Processes - Housing & Socio- Organization of a vocational training in Economical Position Improvement of Residents of the construction and plumbing; Roma Settlement in Opovo project implemented in Building a twin-house for two most vulnerable 2006-2007. families in the settlement.

The implementing partners were the Municipality This was the first ever joint project of the provincial of Opovo, the Provincial Secretariat (i.e. regional and local authorities and the RRC in the field of ministry) of Labour, Employment and Gender Equality, improvement of housing and socio-economical the Provincial Secretariat of Architecture, Urbanism position of Roma in Vojvodina. The project budget was and Construction, the Roma Inclusion Office of the 4.5 million RSD (around 50,000 EUR). Government of Vojvodina and the Roma Resource

WHO ARE WE?

THE ROMA RESOURCE CENTRE (RRC) is the program of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization. The RRC began work in January 2000. The Roma Resource Centre provides various resources and brings together a range of activities and services: The promotion of equal rights for all citizens, overcoming of prejudice against marginalised groups, information, advice and consultations, advocacy and lobbying, empowering through education, on the job training, employment and self-employment, assistance with improvements of living conditions etc

GOALS OF RRC

Overall goal: To contribute to the socio-economic position of Roma in Serbia.

Specific objectives: To promote human rights and support the Roma ethnic community in inclusive processes, through improved information, education, on the job training employment and self - employment and improvement of housing conditions. To support the social inclusion of Roma children and young people, by providing equal access and participation in the education processes.

RRC PROGRAM AREAS

Housing Information and public advocacy Education Employment

The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) of Novi Sad is a non- profit making citizen’s association registered under the Law on Association of Citizens and Societies, Social Organisations and Political Organisations founded in the territory of Yugoslavia (State Gazette of SFRY, No. 42/90), whose field of activity is registered in the territory of the Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia.

EHO was founded in 1993 in Novi Sad at the initiative of the World Council of Churches, Switzerland. The founder churches of EHO are: Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia, The Reformed Christian Church in Serbia, The Evangelical Methodist Church in Serbia, The Greco-Catholic Church in Vojvodina and the Evangelical Christian Church of the Augsburg Confession in Vojvodina – Serbia.

EHO supports the building of a cohesive civil society in Serbia through the alleviation of poverty, the development of ecumenical collaboration and the promotion of human rights. international and local partners

Lead agency, co-financing, HEKS Swiss Interchurch Aid concept, monitoring, Seminarstrasse 23 programme steering CH-8075 Zurich Switzerland +41 44 360 88 00 www.heks.ch Co-financing, monitoring Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC Freiburgstrasse 130 CH-3003 Bern Switzerland +41 31 324 16 94 www.deza.admin.ch in cooperation with Federal Office for Migration

Methods, tools, coaching Skat Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development Vadianstrasse 42 CH-9000 St.Gallen Switzerland +41 71 228 54 54 www.skat.ch Co-financing Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina Mihajla Pupina 16 21000 Novi Sad AP Vojvodina Government Serbia of the Autonomous +381 21 487 4000 Province of Vojvodina www.vojvodina.gov.rs

Co-financing Norwegian Church Aid Bernhard Getzgate 3 0165 Oslo Norway Tel: +47 22 09 27 00 www.kirkensnodhjelp.no

Co-financing Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 7. juni-plassen / Victoria Terrasse Oslo Norway Tel: +47 22 24 36 00 www.regjeringen.no About the Publication

Title: Social Inclusion & Improvement of Housing in Roma Settlements in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia Publisher: Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) Director: Rev. Vladislav Ivičiak Author & Editor in Chief: Robert Bu Co-author: Daniel Wyss (SKAT, Switzerland) Expert Consultant: Milica Leković Translation from Serbian: Ankica Dragin Photos: EHO (Serbia), Yves Leresche (Switzerland) and Dave Seddon (UK)

Novi Sad, January 2010

Contact information: Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization Roma Resource Centre Ćirila i Metodija 21 21000 Novi Sad AP Vojvodina Serbia Phone/fax: (+381 21) 466 588, 469 683, 6504 296, 6749 940, 6397 626, 6361 266; E-mail: [email protected] http://romacenter.ehons.org http://www.ehons.org

Additional copies of the publication can be ordered by mail or e-mail from EHO. in cooperation with Federal Office for Migration