At the conference "Advancing the Rights of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian Communities: Achievements and Challenges," organized by the Good Governance Office of the Prime Minister's Office in collaboration with the Roma Integration III project of the Council of Europe, the challenges faced by this community at the institutional level were discussed.
Roma community representative, Isak Skenderi, stated that at the local level, the information system is fragmented, and the reporting mechanisms are inconsistent. Skenderi said that at the municipal level, the strategy is invisible. He added that they expect more financial support from both the local and central levels.
"The strategy, in its vision, aligns with some regional and international commitments such as the EU framework. The goal of this strategy has not progressed at our pace. When it comes to the local level and the central level, the information systems are fragmented, and the reporting mechanisms are inconsistent. Key municipalities lack them. Although some municipalities have shown initiatives, only 7 of them had approved it by 2023. The strategy is missing at the local level and is invisible. The expectation now is greater than ever that the Government of Kosovo takes a more significant financial role in support. What we need is greater political, institutional, and financial courage," he said.The Director of the Good Governance Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, Habit Hajredini, said that the government has implemented practical employment for the Roma community.
"The purpose of today’s conference is to discuss the progress and challenges we face regarding the rights of these communities. With this continuation of our work, we have worked on health, education, housing, and other crucial components. It has been one of the biggest challenges for years. This initiative approved by the government came from the civil society sector. It has initiated action, and has encouraged practical employment. Our focus has been long-term on the security sector, police, KSF, and others. In the health sector, we have seen an increase in the number of employees, especially in Family Medicine Centers in Gjakova," said Hajredini.
