Cooperation with civil society organizations is of crucial importance for strengthening the trust of the Roma community and improving the position of young Roma men and women, Commissioner Milan Antonijević emphasized at the final conference of the ADRA Serbia project “From Barriers to Opportunities: Results and Challenges in Working with Youth from Marginalized Groups.”

In his address, Antonijević pointed out that members of the Roma national minority are still most frequently exposed to discrimination, as evidenced by the complaints received by the Commissioner, as well as by the research conducted. He particularly stressed that the problems faced by the Roma community appear in almost all areas of social life – from education and employment to housing and access to public services.

The Commissioner highlighted the importance of the role of independent institutions, which should act as a bridge between citizens, especially members of marginalized communities, and decision-makers, in order to translate the issues raised by citizens into concrete and sustainable public policies. He emphasized that, bearing in mind the complexity of the challenges, it is necessary to clearly define priorities and insist on systemic solutions that can bring long-term change.

He also conveyed that the doors of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality are open to all those facing discrimination, stressing that cooperation with civil society organizations, such as ADRA Serbia, is of crucial importance for strengthening community trust and improving the position of young Roma men and women. The conference was also attended on behalf of the Commissioner’s institution by advisor Milan Nikolić.