Sirom Of Serbia Manifestations, cultural programs and public events are organized every April 8, and institutions and politicians send messages about the importance equality, respect and inclusion of the Roma community.
However, every other day, everyday for Rome. means living in poverty, difficult access to education and employment, as well as the constant fight against discrimination - which is why community representatives and civil society organizations are increasingly saying that congratulations are not enough.
Roma feminists and activists are at the forefront of the struggle to improve the position of Roma women, drawing attention to deep-rooted social inequalities and violations of women's and children's rights.
Congratulations are coming.
A large number of Roma live in difficult living conditions, often in informal settlements without access to running water and electricity.
Although, according to estimates, they make up about two percent of the total population of Serbia, the Roma are significantly more often affected by poverty than the rest of the population and face serious obstacles when it comes to access to education, the labor market and health care services.
Photo: Momir TurudićRoma are often affected by poverty
And on their day, congratulations arrive from the top of the state.
"This day is an opportunity to remember the richness of culture, tradition and identity of the Roma people, which is an inseparable part of our society," he said. Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia Đuro Macut in a congratulatory message on the occasion of International Roma Day, he said that Serbia remains committed to improving their position, strengthening equal opportunities and building a society based on respect, solidarity and inclusion.
"We will continue to work together to create conditions for better education, employment and quality of life for all members of the Roma community, with full respect for their rights and dignity," said Macut.
Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe. The announcement of the European Commission points out that Roma suffer continuous discrimination, face social exclusion and unequal access to opportunities, while 70 percent of Roma in the European Union are exposed to the risk of poverty.
Child marriages still exist
Underage and arranged marriages are still a big problem among the Roma population, and this was pointed out at the presentation of "Case study analysis: child marriage and domestic violence", organized by the Roma Women's Network of Serbia, with the support of the Trag Foundation, on the eve of World Roma Day.
The analysis was presented as part of the "Month of Roma Women's Activism" campaign at the Ethnographic Institute SANU in Belgrade.
The event brought together experts and activists who deal with the situation of Roma women in Serbia, in order to draw attention to the problem of child marriage and domestic violence, but also to the systemic failures that contribute to their survival.
The president of the network's Board of Directors, Slavica Vasić Mitrović, emphasized that child marriage must be seen as a form of gender-based violence, and not as a "tradition", as it is often misinterpreted in practice.
Activists shared their experiences from working directly with women and girls. Thanks to the built trust, many Roma women spoke for the first time about the violence they suffer. In most cases, the decision to get married is made by the parents, and the partners are often of legal age, reports Rom Info Media.
Although the practice of child marriage is prohibited under the current laws of Serbia, the latest UNICEF research from 2019 showed that as many as 57 percent of Roma girls get married before the age of eighteen.
Fear, stigma and financial dependence often prevent women from reporting violence. Distrust in institutions further deepens the problem.
Photo: AP Photo/Vadim GhirdaChild marriages have not yet been eradicated
Borka from the verb Boriti
Feminist cultural center Befem published the documentary film "The Struggle of Verbs to Fight", which follows the life of Borka Vasić, a Roma feminist and activist dedicated to the fight for the rights of the most vulnerable.
"The film was born out of the need to preserve the memory of Borka's life and the history of female Roma activism, which remained invisible for a long time," Befem writes on her Instagram profile.
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