We initiate change together, which is why we have invited institutions and relevant organizations to unite and undertake various activities in order to successfully fight for an equal position of Roma in our society, said the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, at the opening of the conference “Prevention and protection against discrimination against Roma men and women”.

The Commissioner stated that the Roma are targeted by discrimination almost daily in all segments of social life, while at the same time the latest data show that the social distance towards them is growing. Roma are often mentioned in the media and on social networks in a negative context, and in some schools there are still classes composed exclusively of Roma children. Despite the fact that 80% of complaints to the Commissioner for discrimination on the basis of nationality in 2021 refer to discrimination against Roma, I am sure that there are still a large number of unreported cases, the Commissioner stated. Therefore, joint work is needed with the aim of encouraging Roma to report discrimination. At the same time, work should be done on the education of the majority population, primarily children and youth, while special emphasis should be placed on employees in public authorities, judges, prosecutors, police, journalists and all other actors in society, concluded Janković.

On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child, the Commissioner pointed out the gender inequality faced by girls, especially young Roma women, who are at multiple risk of discrimination.

At the opening of the meeting, the Provincial Protector of Citizens, professor Zoran Pavlović, Director of the European Roma Rights Center, Đorđe Jovanović, Tanja Jovanović from GIZ – German cooperation in Serbia and Aleksandar Jovanović from the Vojvodina Roma Center also spoke. The conference was organized as part of the “Roma against racism” campaign, which is jointly implemented by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, the European Roma Rights Center and the Vojvodina Roma Center.