Roma still most discriminated group in Serbia

Roma still most discriminated group in Serbia

BELGRADE -- Much has been done over the past years to improve the position of Roma, who, however, continue to face prominent discrimination, the equality commissioner says.

This minority is discriminated against when it comes to employment, education, health care and housing, Nevena Petrušić stated on Monday.

Most complaints received by the commissioner are related to ethnic discrimination against the Roma, Petrušić told a conference in Belgrade marking April 8, the International Roma Day.

The complaints are mostly legitimate, Petrušić said, adding that one third of the lawsuits filed by the office of the commissioner pertain to discrimination against the Roma.

Vladimir Božović, a state secretary at the Interior Ministry, said that 33 incidents targeting members of the Roma community have been registered in 2013.

The incidents included 16 physical and eight verbal attacks, five involved anti-Roma graffiti, while Roma-owned property was damaged in two incidents, Božović said, noting that state institutions and representatives of the Roma community must do more to protect the rights guaranteed to all by the Constitution and the law.

The fact that many Roma are still seeking asylum in Germany and other countries is one of the problems, too, he said.

Just 0.2 percent of the asylum requests have been accepted, which shows that Serbia's Roma are not subjected to repression by the regime and that their fundamental human rights are not being violated in a drastic manner, Božović stressed.

An estimated 255,000 Roma live in Serbia - 100,000 more than was established by the 2011 census, said the director of the Office...