Protection of ethnic minorities
Within the
scope of the priority thematic area “Democracy and Rule of Law”, the SDC fosters, in the countries of the western Balkans, the protection of minorities. Protection of minorities means that the rights
of the minorities are able to be exercised and their role as active citizens is strengthened. In addition, this implies supporting the state authorities in protecting and respecting these rights.
This is particularly crucial in the areas of schooling, medical care, participation in democratic debate, and even in the provision of drinking water.
For further reading about this topic:
Les Roms dans les Balkans
occidentaux
L‘éducation, clé de l‘intégration
télécharger (PDF, 253 KB) : [de] [fr]
Commitment to greater education and employment opportunities
Switzerland endeavours to help Roma obtain improved access to education and training in South Eastern Europe. The following presentations are exemplary samples of SDC work at the project
level.
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Education for ethnic minorities in
Serbia
Country / Region: Serbia
Theme: Education
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
The Roma population and the other 20 recognized “national minorities” are in a difficult situation in Serbia both economically and socially. SDC emphasizes with education programmes on the
inclusion of minorities in general and the Roma in particular in the public education system.
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Education for ethnic minorities in Albania
Country / Region: Albania
Theme: Education
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Albania’s economic progress allowed decreasing poverty in the past recent years. However, the most affected strata of the population continued to remain the Roma and
Egyptian communities. This project is dedicated to the inclusion of Roma through promotion and enhancement of their rights as citizens of the Republic of Albania.
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Education Fund for
Roma
Country / Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia
Theme: Education
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
The poverty and the peripheral existence of the Roma minorities in the Eastern European countries (about 10 million people) can become an explosive problem in a united
Europe over the medium term. The situation of Roma with regard to education is especially critical due to their difficulty in gaining access to it.
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Support for minorities
Country / Region: Kosovo
Theme: Education, Employment and Income
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
The government of Kosovo has committed itself to improving the participation and integration of minorities. Nonetheless, progress with implementation of this commitment is slow and represents a
great challenge, particularly with regard to the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) communities.
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The European Roma Information
Office
Country / Region: Regional
Theme: Employment and Income, Rule of Law and Democracy
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
In the countries of Eastern Europe national minorities, especially the Roma, suffer greatly from discrimination: living conditions are poor, educational levels low and
unemployment high. As many Roma do not possess either a birth certificate or any other official documents, they are not able to register with the municipalities, with the effect that statelessness is
also widespread in some countries.
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Community building and local development of minorities in South
Kosovo
Country / Region: Kosovo
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Kosovo finds itself confronted with great economic and political challenges. The protection and integration of ethnic minorities, in particular the Roma, Askhali and
Egyptian (RAE) communities, has still not been secured, which could result in new tensions arising.
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Social and economic development of Roma
municipalities
Country / Region: Kosovo
Theme: Education, Employment and Income
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Although according to its new constitution Kosovo wants to be a multi-ethnic society, it is not easy to bring together the different sections of the population and
integrate minority groups into society. This applies in particular to Roma, who today still represent a significant number of those seeking asylum in Switzerland.
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Social integration and improved living conditions for
minorities
Country / Region: Kosovo
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Despite the Kosovan government's comprehensive strategy and detailed action plan, minorities continue to suffer from poor economic and social conditions. Access to social
and educational services is difficult for Roma, Askhali und Egyptians (RAE) above all.
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Socio-economic integration of Roma in
Vojvodina
Country / Region: Serbia
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
The situation of the Roma has worsened drastically as a result of the war and process of transition in the Balkans. On top of economic, political and social exclusion, the
significant migration to Serbia and other neighbouring countries that occurred in the wake of the Kosovo conflict has had a further negative impact on their position.
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More protection for stateless Roma
Country / Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
As the largest minority, an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 Roma live in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of them are not registered and therefore cannot prove their citizenship.
This means they can easily fall victim to human trafficking.
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Integration of Roma children in Sarajevo primary
schools
Country / Region: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Theme: Education
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern Europe
Of the total of 17 minority groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina the Roma are the largest. However, as a result of discrimination and large-scale social exclusion, they live in
extreme poverty.
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Migration management in South Serbia
Country / Region: Serbia
Theme: Migration
SDC department: Cooperation with Eastern
Europe
South Serbia is one of the most underdeveloped areas in all of Serbia. The overall decline in poverty across the country as a whole has left this region largely untouched.
As a result poor living conditions prevail and the young and better educated are leaving rural districts in droves.
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Additional Information and Documents
