On International Roma Day, OSCE Mission to Skopje Head calls for improving living conditions of Roma

SKOPJE, 8 April 2015 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Ralf Breth, congratulates the Roma community on the occasion of the International Roma Day,  April 8. The OSCE Mission joins the Roma community, as well as relevant Non-Governmental Organizations and state institutions, in celebrating and reflecting on our joint work to promote human rights and social inclusion.

“The Mission believes that a sustainable democratic future can only be achieved in a society inclusive of all communities,” said Breth. “International Roma Day serves to remind all of us, who are working in this field, of our mandates and of the country’s commitments in regards to Roma.”

Breth noted that the Mission encourages and supports a multi-agency approach, which aims to improve the living conditions of the Roma community and enables them to fully exercise their rights.

“April 8 should not be the only day in the year when we reflect on the challenges that Roma face, but rather it should remind us all that there is still much work to be done in many areas such as civil registration of unregistered persons, employment, education, housing and healthcare, among others,” he said.