The relationship of the state towards the Roma community in Montenegro is best illustrated by the example of Volujica, where the Bisljimi Roma family lost four members and the roof over their heads in a terrible fire. Today, after more than a year, instead of the promised safety, they face poverty, unsafe living conditions, and institutional silence.
Despite the fact that there were clear announcements that they would be provided with a roof over their heads, there is still no concrete solution, which shows a lack of political will and responsibility.
The state often does not recognize the complexity of the challenges the Roma community faces, nor does it approach them in a way that would lead to substantial and sustainable changes.
At the institutional level, the commitment to equality and the dignified life of all citizens stands out, but the reality is far from that. Members of the Roma community still face systemic discrimination, obstacles in education, demanding access to healthcare, and the impossibility of exercising fundamental human rights. This attitude of the state, characterized by passivity, irresponsibility, and the absence of political will, contributes to the further marginalization of Roma men and women and the deepening of social inequalities.
A special problem is negative social practices such as forced marriages, which, although prohibited by law, still exist, further endangering the rights and perspectives of young Roma women.
Without real political will and concrete steps, the problems of minority communities will remain a synonym for institutional indifference, and promises will be empty words that fade before the burden of reality.
On the occasion of the International Day of Roma, Civic Alliance developed an analysis about the position of the Roma community in Montenegro, which includes demographic aspects and obstacles this community faces. A special focus is on the case of the Bisljimi family, which illustrates the problem of institutions’ unwillingness to react promptly in crises and find a long-term solution. At the end, specific recommendations were given for the competent institutions and organizations dealing with minority policies, with the original goal of improving the position of Roma men and women in Montenegro.
The analysis is available at the following link
Jelena Ristović,
Civic Alliance
