Europska unija Zajedno do fondova EU ROMA INCLUSION IN THE CROATIAN SOCIETY identity, social distance and the experience of discrimination Nikola Rašić - Danijela Lucić - Branka Galić - Nenad Karajić Publisher: Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia For the publisher: Alen Tahiri, M.A.Pol Sci Year of publication: 2020 Original title: Uključivanje Roma u hrvatsko društvo: identitet, socijalna distanca i iskustvo diskriminacije Authors: Nikola Rašić, Danijela Lucić, Branka Galić, Nenad Karajić Reviewers: Helena Popović and Krunoslav Nikodem Translation: Sinonim d.o.o. Graphic design, editing and printing: Kerschoffset d.o.o. Circulation: 50 copies Cataloguing-in-Publication data available in the Online Catalogue of the National and University Library in Zagreb under CIP record 001083072. ISBN: 978-953-7870-26-3 Projekt je sufinancirala Europska unija iz Europskog socijalnog fonda. Sadržaj publikacije isključiva je odgovornost Ureda za ljudska prava i prava nacionalnih manjina Vlade Republike Hrvatske. Za više informacija: Ured za ljudska prava i prava nacionalnih manjina Vlade Republike Hrvatske Mesnička 23, 10 000 Zagreb, + 385 (1) 4569 358, [email protected] Više informacija o EU fondovima dostupno je na www.strukturnifondovi.hr ROMA INCLUSION IN THE CROATIAN SOCIETY identity, social distance and the experience of discrimination Nikola Rašić - Danijela Lucić - Branka Galić - Nenad Karajić Zagreb, 2020 DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institutions in which the authors are employed nor the views of the Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. NOTE: All linguistic forms having a gender form in this study shall apply equally to both males and females, regardless of the form used. Content List of tables ................................................................................................................... 5 List of graphs .................................................................................................................. 7 List of abbreviations ..................................................................................................... 10 1. INTRODUCTION: THE DISADVANTAGED POSITION OF THE ROMA ...........12 2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY ........................................18 2.1. Objectives of the study on identity, social distance and experience of discrimination .............................................................................................. 18 2.2. Data sources ......................................................................................................19 2.3. Methodology of the study on identity, social distance and experience of discrimination ..............................................................................................22 2.3.1. Regional division and population size estimation .............................22 2.3.2. Processing and analysis of quantitative data ....................................23 2.3.3. Processing and analysis of qualitative data .......................................24 3. ROMA IDENTITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA .................................... 26 3.1. Roma origins: linguistic, genetic, anthropological and sociocultural arguments ........................................................................................................26 3.1.1. Language as a clue ...............................................................................28 3.1.2. Roma in Croatia – data and groups ....................................................35 3.1.3. Language and dialects of Roma in the Republic of Croatia .............40 3.1.4. Religion ..................................................................................................45 3.1.5. Norms and values of the Roma population and the recognizability of Roma culture .....................................................................................51 3.2. Chapter summary ............................................................................................68 4. SOCIAL DISTANCE AND INCLUSION IN SOCIAL LIFE .............................. 74 4.1. The position of members of the Roma national minority ..........................74 4.1.1. Relationship between the Roma and non-Roma population ...........76 4.1.2. Perception of one’s own community ..................................................77 4.1.3. Perception of media coverage .............................................................80 4.2. Political participation ......................................................................................85 4.3. Participation in cultural, artistic and sports life ..........................................96 4.3.1. A gathering place for community members ......................................97 4.3.2. Organized sports and/or recreation .................................................100 4.3.3. Culture and arts societies (CAS) ....................................................... 106 4.3.4. Cultural and entertainment facilities and events ............................ 109 4.4. Chapter summary ........................................................................................... 117 5. EXPERIENCE OF DISCRIMINATION OF RNM MEMBERS ..........................122 5.1. Theoretical framework for the study of discrimination ............................ 122 5.1.1. Prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination – sociological interpretations .................................................................................... 122 5.1.2. Legal framework for combating discrimination .............................. 125 5.2. Discrimination and anti-Gypsyism in EU countries .................................... 127 5.3. Discrimination against the Roma in Croatia ............................................... 129 5.3.1. Experience of discrimination – research results .............................. 131 5.3.2. Perception of discrimination .............................................................. 143 5.3.3. Who to contact in case of discrimination ........................................ 148 5.3.4. Experience of hate crimes and police conduct ............................... 150 5.4. Chapter summary .......................................................................................... 154 6. THE POSITION OF RNM MEMBERS IN THE JUDICIARY ...........................158 6.1. Status issues .................................................................................................. 158 6.2. Free legal aid ..................................................................................................163 6.3. Convictions for criminal and misdemeanor offences, including minors ...166 6.4. Chapter summary .......................................................................................... 168 7. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: INCLUSION AND EQUALITY OF THE ROMA AS THE OUTCOME ......................................................... 170 List of tables Table 1. Regional division and population size estimation ...................................22 Table 2. Regional presentation of the share of the population according to the type of settlement ...................................................................................... 23 Table 3. Regional representation of Roma groups ................................................. 38 Table 4. The language of the Roma in localities and according to region – Romani ...........................................................................................41 Table 5. The language of the Roma in localities and according to region – the Bayash dialects of the Romanian language .......................42 Table 6. Share of the population living in localities where there is (no) religious facility according to the type of settlement ....................50 Table 7. By which element of Roma culture and customs would you like the Roma to be most recognized in Croatia? (idealistic perception) ... 52 Table 8. What are the elements by which the culture and tradition of the Roma is most recognized today among the majority population in Croatia (realistic perception) ................................................................. 53 Table 9. The importance of preserving the characteristics of Roma life ............ 55 Table 10. The importance of preserving the Romani language according to region ........................................................................................................... 56 Table 11. Norms of the Roma population .................................................................60 Table 12. Perception of one’s own community by the majority population according to the type of settlement (positive perception) .................... 79 Table 13. Gender differences in the frequency of voting in elections according to age group ................................................................................................87 Table 14. Premises for the gathering of community members in the localities according to region ..................................................................................... 97 Table 15. Organized sports and/or recreation in localities according to region.....101 Table 16. Sports and/or recreational facilities in localities according to the type of settlement and region ......................................................... 104 Table 17. Distance