Podgorica, (MINA) – Strengthening of political will and support to local development by building capacities of local authorities for more efficient participation of Roma people in plans and projects, as well as empowering of that community at individual and collective level, are the goals of the Romacted project which was presented in Podgorica on Thursday.
Director of NGO Young Romani Samir Jaha said that the purpose of Romacted project is promotion of good management on one hand and empowering of the Romani community on the other.
“There are 8 municipalities in which most Romani people live. Together with local authorities of those municipalities, institutions, we are drafting local action plans with intention of improving the position of the Romani community”, Jaha told Mina.
On the other hand, he added, the target group are the Romani communities themselves.
“The goal is to mobilize them and get them participate in the decision making process, and the fields which should be improved in regard to the life of Romani community”, said Jaha.
He said that this NGO has been, in cooperation with Arhimed, monitoring the work of 15 media outlets in the last two years and their reporting about the Romani people.
According to him, the practice proved that, regarding criminal activities, identity of perpetrators is often emphasized, which is not in the line with the code.
On the other hand, regarding reporting on positive stories in the Romani communities, he said that bad image is again sent, by showing images of the Romani people’s poverty.
“We want to send different message which will present Roma people are successful, since we have such people among us, the positive examples among us”, said Jaha.
Nerdi Ahmetovic of the NGO Center for Romani Affirmation said that the Romacted will influence education of the youth and improvement of their status, as well as housing problem, and accessibility to health protection, as well as resolving the problem of issuing personal documents.
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