Research: 28 percent of Roma feel discriminated against in employment

The results of the database research for the effective implementation of the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma, presented on Friday at the Croatian Journalists’ House, show, among other things, that 28 percent of respondents reported being discriminated against in the previous year, with discrimination in the area of work and employment being the most prominent.

The research was conducted as part of a project aimed at ensuring comprehensive and effective realization of human rights and improving and facilitating the active participation of the Roma community in all aspects of social life while preserving identity, culture, and tradition.

For this purpose, research-analytical, presentation, and educational activities were carried out, as well as the establishment of a web interface for monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Roma from 2013 to 2020 to meet the prerequisites for the integration of Roma at the local, regional, and national levels.

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The project was implemented over 18 months from February last year to August this year and was co-financed through the IPA 2012 program for the Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. It is being carried out by Ecorys Croatia d.o.o. and the Center for Peace Studies (CMS), it was stated at the meeting.

Acting Director of the Office Branko Sočanac emphasized that the interest is the improvement of all Roma and that the Roma issue has been recognized by this and previous Croatian governments. He also recalled what has been done so far through the adoption of the national program and strategy, and action plan. He emphasized that the goal of the project is to inform stakeholders for central bodies of state administration, local self-government units, offices, and agencies by providing analytical support and a basis for encouraging further work.

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Parliamentary representative of the Roma national minority Veljko Kajtazi assessed that now is the right time to devise a better and higher quality approach to solving the issues of Roma, of whom there are 17,000 in Croatia, and welcomes initiatives that go in that direction.

The research was presented, which includes data obtained from a survey of a total of 1550 Roma households and in-depth interviews and focus groups with representatives of the Roma national minority, civil society organizations, and institutions in 12 Croatian counties.

Among other things, preliminary results of the research show that in the month preceding the implementation of the research, 48 percent of members of Roma households went to bed hungry at least once, and that the average total household consumption amounted to only 2500 kuna, said Sara Lalić from CMS.

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The findings of the conducted research show that a relatively high percentage of children aged 7 to 14 regularly attend primary school, specifically 95 percent of children covered by the research. However, it also shows that a significantly lower percentage of young Roma attend secondary school – only 31 percent of young people aged 15 to 18 covered by the research attend secondary school, although 91 percent of surveyed parents whose children attend primary school strongly wish for their children to continue their education.

What are the barriers to the continuation of education for young Roma and discussions about other findings of the research in the areas of education, employment, social care, health protection, housing, and participation in cultural, social, and political life will be conducted during the national presentation of this comprehensive and multi-methodological research, Lalić said, among other things.