Round Table on Civic Monitoring of the Regional Housing Programme with Special Focus on Providing Housing for Roma – Sarajevo

The Program was implemented in two segments:

   – Gathering information and identifying needs of this national minority, in the course of which was defined that 4900 Roma families need some sort of assistance and aid,

   – Implementation of the Action Plan. During the implementation a vast number of Roma families in need have been reduced.

The implementation of this Action Plan in the B&H is in such phase that the country could exchange experiences with other countries in the region to secure that the Action Plan is being implemented at the highest level possible. However, discrimination of the members of Roma community is still evident, which is the reason more to include local communities in the realization of this Plan – to secure that final beneficiaries have access to the assistance and aid within the framework of this Plan. So far local communities have been involved in the implementation of the Plan not only by providing financial means but also by providing logistical support through their services and close communication with the representatives of Roma organizations, which has vastly improved the implementation of the Program. Mrs. Djuderija pointed out that during this year the first phase of this project, i.e. reconstruction and restoration of housing units for the members of Roma community, should be concluded and that during 2015 the phase of providing housing for Roma who do not own housing units through the Program of Social Housing should commence. This Program also includes health care and social protection of this population. However the Ministry expects certain difficulties in the implementation of the part of the Program related to employment, taking into consideration the economic crisis in B&H. In the implementation of this Program the Ministry certainly seeks assistance from Roma organizations and CSOs, as their suggestions and recommendations could improve its implementation.

Nedzad Jusic, member of the Council of National Minorities of the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H, as well as the expert of the Igman Initiative for B&H, presented his report, i.e. an overview of the results accomplished within the implementation of the abovementioned Program. He stated that with regards to Roma refugee population B&H is in a specific situation taking into consideration inconsiderable size of this population in B&H. There is an area surrounding Tuzla that is inhabited by Roma refugees who fled from Zvornik and Kozluk and who decided to stay there. Regarding the returnees from abroad they have solved their housing issues by building individual housing units from their own resources. Part of this population has inhabited area surrounding Mostar. They are mostly refugees who fled from Kosovo, which should be taken into consideration when it comes to providing housing care for them. Mr. Jurisic pointed out certain issues in the realization of the Program:

   – Due to slow bidding procedures reconstructions are usually being conducted during winter,

   – Prices of reconstruction per m² are too high

   – Inadequate and insufficient monitoring of the Program

He also pointed out that in the course of the implementation of this Action Plan about 90% of the housing units of Roma families with determined property-legal relations have been reconstructed. However, no effort has been made in solving housing issues for Roma families who do not have determined property-legal relations and do not own adequate housing units, and who also can be entirely treated as homeless. This issue should be tackled as soon as possible.

Mujo Music, representative of the Association of Roma Amaro-KHAM-Nase Sunce, deems that the majority of Roma population do not have access to information related to public calls in this area. He also thinks that the inclusion of the representatives of local Roma organizations into commissions for the selection of applicants is not recommended for the reason that, due to the conflict of interest, they cannot participate in the public calls themselves. He pointed out that his organization has established a great cooperation with the representatives of local self-government within this Program.

Renato Radic, Program Manager at the Delegation of the EU to B&H, pointed out that reports of the Delegation on the monitoring of this particular Program, and the reconstructions conducted within its framework, are accurate and can be relied upon.

Dejan Kladarin, representative of the UNHCR in B&H, pointed out that Roma refugee population should be entirely included in the RHP and that competent Ministry should put forth effort to permanently resolve their housing issues within the RHP.

Dervo Sejdic, representative of Kali-Sara Roma Information Center in Sarajevo, drew attention of the participants to a vast number of the members of Roma population with the status of displaced persons in B&H. For example, the Municipality of Novi Grad pays for alternative housing for 15 displaced Roma families. The housing issue of these families should be solved within the RHP. He also pointed out that his organization actively participates in informing Roma population about their rights and options within the RHP, especially during public calls.

Jadranko Duric, representative of CSO Romi na Djelu from Brcko District, deems that the Government of Brcko District is submitting inaccurate reports on the number of Roma families with unresolved housing issues to the Ministry. He deems that the number is much larger as it is the number of Roma families who are in need of social assistance in Brcko District. He drew attention to the villages Prutace and Cerik where Roma families have been placed on the basis of Government decisions, without permanent adequate solutions, which prevents them for applying within any programs related to sanitation or reconstruction.

Assistant Minister for Human Rights and Refugees stated that the Ministry is well aware of this problem and that the representatives of the Ministry will soon visit Brcko District to gain insight into the state of affairs and introduce adequate measures to find solutions to this problem.

Mujo Fafulic, representative of Roma organization Rimalen from Kakanj, states that he issues of homeless Roma should be taken into consideration as soon as possible.

Saha Ahmetovic, representative of CSO Veseli Breg from Banja Luka, informed the participants that in Banja Luka housing units for Roma families have been constructed mostly with the help of international community. Nevertheless, those units have not been legalized yet. She also mentioned that the Republic of Srpska has not provided financial means for this Program as the Federation of B&H has, and that certain incentives should be identified so as to involve the Republic of Srpska in this Program.

The conclusions of the Round table have been defined as follows:

1. The first phase of the reconstruction of housing units within the framework of this Program is in its final phase. According to unofficial data, over 90% of housing units of Roma population have been reconstructed and restored through this Program.

2. Finding solutions to the housing issues of the members of Roma population with the status of refugees and displaced persons should be accelerated. Those issues could be solved as part of the Social Housing Program.

3. Monitoring of the implementation of the Program (prices, quantities, housing quality, demand, and supply) on the part of competent institutions should be adequate, accurate, impartial and transparent.

4. Deadlines for filling complaints against contractors should be determined and all final beneficiaries should be informed about these deadlines.

5. Competent Ministry should accelerate the process of resolving the issues of illegally constructed housing units for Roma population.

6. In 2015, it is expected that the Ministry will commence the phase of providing housing for the members of Roma population, especially for those falling into the category of socially disadvantage persons. The Ministry plans to seek assistance from Roma organizations and other interest groups, as well as to utilize experiences of other countries in the region, to define feasible methodology, especially taking into consideration that in this group of Roma the majority of them lack education and employment.

The conclusions from the Round table are only part of assessments, suggestions and recommendations of the entire discussion. The conclusions will be integrated by the expert team into the final text of the publication.

Representatives of the Radio and TV station of the Sarajevo Canton expressed interest in producing a TV Debate on the subject matter in cooperation with the Igman Initiative. The TV Debate should be broadcast on 09.07.2014. Representatives of the Igman Initiative suggested that the following representatives of Roma organization participate in the debate: Dervo Sejdić from Kali-Sari Roma Information Center from Sarajevo and Muharem Tahirović from Roma Association Život Roma from Novo Sarajevo.

Round table on the topic Civic Monitoring of the Regional Housing Programme with Special Focus (RHP) on Providing Housing for Roma was held on July 8^th 2014 in Sarajevo at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Round table was organized within the framework of the project Integrating Roma Interests to the Sarajevo Housing Process, supported by the Foundation Open Society Institute from Budapest.

Participants of the Round table were representatives of competent government institutions, international community, Roma organizations, CSOs and media. There were approximately 40 participants at the event.

After the introductory speeches of Vehid Sehic, Co-president of the Igman Initiative for B&H and Aleksandar Popov, Co-president of the Igman Initiative for Serbia, who presented the project activities objectives and expected results, the participants were addressed by Saliha Djuderija, Assisstant Minister for Human Rights and Refugees. She informed the participants about the efforts of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees towards the implementation of the RHP.

She reminded the participants that the implementation of the Action Plan of B&H on Finding Solutions for Roma Population in the Areas of Employment, Housing and Health Care started only in 2008 and that according to the Ministry numerous positive results have been achieved regardless of all obstacles.

The Program was implemented in two segments:

– Gathering information and identifying needs of this national minority, in the course of which was defined that 4900 Roma families need some sort of assistance and aid,

– Implementation of the Action Plan. During the implementation a vast number of Roma families in need have been reduced.

The implementation of this Action Plan in the B&H is in such phase that the country could exchange experiences with other countries in the region to secure that the Action Plan is being implemented at the highest level possible. However, discrimination of the members of Roma community is still evident, which is the reason more to include local communities in the realization of this Plan – to secure that final beneficiaries have access to the assistance and aid within the framework of this Plan. So far local communities have been involved in the implementation of the Plan not only by providing financial means but also by providing logistical support through their services and close communication with the representatives of Roma organizations, which has vastly improved the implementation of the Program. Mrs. Djuderija pointed out that during this year the first phase of this project, i.e. reconstruction and restoration of housing units for the members of Roma community, should be concluded and that during 2015 the phase of providing housing for Roma who do not own housing units through the Program of Social Housing should commence. This Program also includes health care and social protection of this population. However the Ministry expects certain difficulties in the implementation of the part of the Program related to employment, taking into consideration the economic crisis in B&H. In the implementation of this Program the Ministry certainly seeks assistance from Roma organizations and CSOs, as their suggestions and recommendations could improve its implementation.

Nedzad Jusic, member of the Council of National Minorities of the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H, as well as the expert of the Igman Initiative for B&H, presented his report, i.e. an overview of the results accomplished within the implementation of the abovementioned Program. He stated that with regards to Roma refugee population B&H is in a specific situation taking into consideration inconsiderable size of this population in B&H. There is an area surrounding Tuzla that is inhabited by Roma refugees who fled from Zvornik and Kozluk and who decided to stay there. Regarding the returnees from abroad they have solved their housing issues by building individual housing units from their own resources. Part of this population has inhabited area surrounding Mostar. They are mostly refugees who fled from Kosovo, which should be taken into consideration when it comes to providing housing care for them. Mr. Jurisic pointed out certain issues in the realization of the Program:

– Due to slow bidding procedures reconstructions are usually being conducted during winter,

– Prices of reconstruction per m² are too high

– Inadequate and insufficient monitoring of the Program

He also pointed out that in the course of the implementation of this Action Plan about 90% of the housing units of Roma families with determined property-legal relations have been reconstructed. However, no effort has been made in solving housing issues for Roma families who do not have determined property-legal relations and do not own adequate housing units, and who also can be entirely treated as homeless. This issue should be tackled as soon as possible.

Mujo Music, representative of the Association of Roma Amaro-KHAM-Nase Sunce, deems that the majority of Roma population do not have access to information related to public calls in this area. He also thinks that the inclusion of the representatives of local Roma organizations into commissions for the selection of applicants is not recommended for the reason that, due to the conflict of interest, they cannot participate in the public calls themselves. He pointed out that his organization has established a great cooperation with the representatives of local self-government within this Program.

Renato Radic, Program Manager at the Delegation of the EU to B&H, pointed out that reports of the Delegation on the monitoring of this particular Program, and the reconstructions conducted within its framework, are accurate and can be relied upon.

Dejan Kladarin, representative of the UNHCR in B&H, pointed out that Roma refugee population should be entirely included in the RHP and that competent Ministry should put forth effort to permanently resolve their housing issues within the RHP.

Dervo Sejdic, representative of Kali-Sara Roma Information Center in Sarajevo, drew attention of the participants to a vast number of the members of Roma population with the status of displaced persons in B&H. For example, the Municipality of Novi Grad pays for alternative housing for 15 displaced Roma families. The housing issue of these families should be solved within the RHP. He also pointed out that his organization actively participates in informing Roma population about their rights and options within the RHP, especially during public calls.

Jadranko Duric, representative of CSO Romi na Djelu from Brcko District, deems that the Government of Brcko District is submitting inaccurate reports on the number of Roma families with unresolved housing issues to the Ministry. He deems that the number is much larger as it is the number of Roma families who are in need of social assistance in Brcko District. He drew attention to the villages Prutace and Cerik where Roma families have been placed on the basis of Government decisions, without permanent adequate solutions, which prevents them for applying within any programs related to sanitation or reconstruction.

Assistant Minister for Human Rights and Refugees stated that the Ministry is well aware of this problem and that the representatives of the Ministry will soon visit Brcko District to gain insight into the state of affairs and introduce adequate measures to find solutions to this problem.

Mujo Fafulic, representative of Roma organization Rimalen from Kakanj, states that he issues of homeless Roma should be taken into consideration as soon as possible.

Saha Ahmetovic, representative of CSO Veseli Breg from Banja Luka, informed the participants that in Banja Luka housing units for Roma families have been constructed mostly with the help of international community. Nevertheless, those units have not been legalized yet. She also mentioned that the Republic of Srpska has not provided financial means for this Program as the Federation of B&H has, and that certain incentives should be identified so as to involve the Republic of Srpska in this Program.

The conclusions of the Round table have been defined as follows:

1. The first phase of the reconstruction of housing units within the framework of this Program is in its final phase. According to unofficial data, over 90% of housing units of Roma population have been reconstructed and restored through this Program.

2. Finding solutions to the housing issues of the members of Roma population with the status of refugees and displaced persons should be accelerated. Those issues could be solved as part of the Social Housing Program.

3. Monitoring of the implementation of the Program (prices, quantities, housing quality, demand, and supply) on the part of competent institutions should be adequate, accurate, impartial and transparent.

4. Deadlines for filling complaints against contractors should be determined and all final beneficiaries should be informed about these deadlines.

5. Competent Ministry should accelerate the process of resolving the issues of illegally constructed housing units for Roma population.

6. In 2015, it is expected that the Ministry will commence the phase of providing housing for the members of Roma population, especially for those falling into the category of socially disadvantage persons. The Ministry plans to seek assistance from Roma organizations and other interest groups, as well as to utilize experiences of other countries in the region, to define feasible methodology, especially taking into consideration that in this group of Roma the majority of them lack education and employment.

The conclusions from the Round table are only part of assessments, suggestions and recommendations of the entire discussion. The conclusions will be integrated by the expert team into the final text of the publication.

Representatives of the Radio and TV station of the Sarajevo Canton expressed interest in producing a TV Debate on the subject matter in cooperation with the Igman Initiative. The TV Debate should be broadcast on 09.07.2014. Representatives of the Igman Initiative suggested that the following representatives of Roma organization participate in the debate: Dervo Sejdić from Kali-Sari Roma Information Center from Sarajevo and Muharem Tahirović from Roma Association Život Roma from Novo Sarajevo.