Press release

SKOPJE, 9 May 2008 - Teaching non-ethnic Roma police officers about Roma history and culture to help them overcome prejudices and stereotypes, with the aim of raising the quality of the police service in ethnic Roma areas, is the focus of a workshop in Skopje today.

"The long-term goal of the project is to improve policing in areas where ethnic Roma live by combating discrimination and promoting tolerance in an effective and sustainable manner," said Philip Tolson, the Head of OSCE Mission's Police Development Department.

"The incorporation of this innovative course in the Interior Ministry's vocational Police Training Programme is a good example of the national authorities' commitment to improve policing in ethnic Roma areas, foster respect for diversity and combat all forms of discrimination."

The workshop is part of a project that began last year, organized by the Interior Ministry in co-operation with the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia (FOSIM) and the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.

The activity is designed to ensure proper implementation of the recommendations included in the 2003 OSCE Action Plan to Improve the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area, and was brought forth at the OSCE regional workshop on policing in Roma and Sinti Communities that took place in Skopje in 2006.