OSCE round table in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings together Roma and Ombudsmen institutions
The OSCE is promoting the rights of Roma and Sinti in its region: here, working group discussions at an OSCE meeting on Roma and Sinti issues in Kosovo in 1999. (OSCE) Photo details
SARAJEVO, 30 October 2001 (OSCE) - Improving access of Roma to the Ombudsmen institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the topic of a round table organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday.
The main goal of the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Romani communities and Ombudsmen institutions on the level of the State and the two Bosnia and Herzegovina entities, the Federation and Republika Srpska, was to inform Roma leaders about the mandate and role of the country's Ombudsmen institutions in cases of discrimination and human rights violations.
"In Bosnia and Herzegovina, certain groups within the population are particularly vulnerable to discrimination. The Roma minority is one such group given their marginal social, political and economic position. This is why the draft Law on the Protection of Human Rights of National Minorities is of particular importance to Roma", said Dieter Woltmann, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission and chair of the round table meeting.
During the meeting, Slobodan Nagradic, Assistant Minister of the country's Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, used the opportunity to brief the Roma representatives about the background to this draft Law.
The round table meeting provided an opportunity for the representatives of the Ombudsmen institutions to increase their understanding of the issues and challenges that Roma are facing in the pursuit of equality and elimination of discrimination. They also informed the Romani representatives about the practical mechanisms through which they may file their grievances.
As a result of the meeting, Romani non-governmental organizations agreed to appoint representatives, who will compile cases of discrimination encountered by Roma, and serve as contact points for the different Ombudsmen institutions in the country.
The main goal of the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Romani communities and Ombudsmen institutions on the level of the State and the two Bosnia and Herzegovina entities, the Federation and Republika Srpska, was to inform Roma leaders about the mandate and role of the country's Ombudsmen institutions in cases of discrimination and human rights violations.
"In Bosnia and Herzegovina, certain groups within the population are particularly vulnerable to discrimination. The Roma minority is one such group given their marginal social, political and economic position. This is why the draft Law on the Protection of Human Rights of National Minorities is of particular importance to Roma", said Dieter Woltmann, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission and chair of the round table meeting.
During the meeting, Slobodan Nagradic, Assistant Minister of the country's Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, used the opportunity to brief the Roma representatives about the background to this draft Law.
The round table meeting provided an opportunity for the representatives of the Ombudsmen institutions to increase their understanding of the issues and challenges that Roma are facing in the pursuit of equality and elimination of discrimination. They also informed the Romani representatives about the practical mechanisms through which they may file their grievances.
As a result of the meeting, Romani non-governmental organizations agreed to appoint representatives, who will compile cases of discrimination encountered by Roma, and serve as contact points for the different Ombudsmen institutions in the country.