ZAGREB ZAGREB, April 8 (Hina) - Marking World Romany Day a lecture was held in Zagreb on Monday where the most significant problem identified for the Romany is their integration into mainstream Croatian society and removing the
barriers that prevent the Romany from being treated the same as all other citizens.
ZAGREB, April 8 (Hina) - Marking World Romany Day a lecture was held
in Zagreb on Monday where the most significant problem identified
for the Romany is their integration into mainstream Croatian
society and removing the barriers that prevent the Romany from
being treated the same as all other citizens.#L#
The lecture was held at a gathering of representatives of Romany
associations who portrayed numerous examples of discrimination
with which the Romany are faced in day to day life.
Attending today's gathering as a guest, MP Vesna Pusic (HNS)
promised the Romany that she would relay their demands and needs to
the Sabor and in other places where decisions are made. Pusic noted
that the problems of discrimination and prejudices most often
result from mutual ignorance and a lack of communication. She
invited the Romany to become more actively involved in the civil
sector including political life in Croatia.
A drastic example of discrimination was portrayed as occurring in
Medimurje County where, as it was said, Romany children are not
allowed to attend the same classes as their peers but sit in
segregated classrooms.
Problems are faced when attempting to obtain citizenship,
employment, education, enrolment into kindergarten, health
protection. The Romany often live in unfit conditions and hygiene
circumstances which are just some of the problems these people are
faced with in Croatia, Monday's gathering pointed out.
There are currently 6964 Romany's officially registered living in
Croatia, while an unofficial estimate notes about 40 thousand.
World Romany Day has been marked since a decision by the First
Congress of Romany held in London, April 8 - 12, 1971.
(hina) sp it