Improving the Status of Roma in BiH through the Action Plan

The Revised Action Plan of BiH (RAP) for resolving the problems of Roma in the areas of employment, housing, and healthcare for 2013-2016 envisages four strategic goals: improving existing institutional capacities, enhancing the employability and employment of Roma, improving housing conditions for the Roma population in BiH, and improving healthcare for members of the Roma national minority, reports the Patria News Agency.  

The Report on the Implementation of RAP for the period 2013-2014, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH at its last session, provides recommendations for the further realization of these goals.

The Report states, among other things, that each local community should engage a Roma mediator who will work on registering children in birth registries, and funds for this will be provided from the grant for Roma employment secured by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees.

It is necessary to define criteria for the registration of Roma associations so that they can become partners of the Council of Ministers of BiH, initiate joint research, and continuously hold operational meetings to improve regional cooperation and cooperation with international organizations, as well as to enhance cooperation with social work centers.

To improve Roma employment, it is essential to establish an adequate coordination mechanism and identify local communities for the adoption of measures that include the development of employment programs. It was assessed that during the implementation of self-employment programs, beneficiaries must undergo training in business management through CISO centers or job search clubs.

Furthermore, it is necessary to initiate amendments to the legal regulations concerning Roma employment and continue cooperation with the Roma non-governmental sector, with more active participation from employment bureaus.

 

To improve housing conditions, it is necessary for local communities to collect the most accurate data possible on informal Roma settlements for the purpose of developing regulatory plans and legalizing these settlements, as well as for spatial planning and equipping locations inhabited by Roma. Relevant data needs to be collected from municipalities where Roma are registered so that Roma families can be included in housing programs.

To provide the Roma population with better and more adequate healthcare, it is necessary to collect data on the number of uninsured persons, allocate additional budget funds at the entity and cantonal levels to improve Roma access to healthcare, and continue educating the Roma population on how to exercise their right to healthcare.

The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees is responsible for submitting the Report on the Implementation of the Revised Action Plan of BiH for resolving the problems of Roma in the areas of employment, housing, and healthcare for 2013-2016 for the period 2013 and 2014 to the governments of the entities and Brčko District of BiH, it was announced from the relevant ministry.