Activities within the ROMACTED program

ROMACTED program, “Promoting good governance and Roma empowerment at local level”,

is a Joint Program between the European Union (DG NEAR) and the Council of Europe.

The program is implemented by the Council of Europe’s Roma and Travellers Team and the

Office of the Directorate General of Programs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*,

Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey for a period of 36 months, starting in May 2017.

The aims of the program are to:

Strengthen political will and support local development through capacity-building of local

authorities and effective participation of Roma citizens in local plans and projects;

Empower the Roma citizens- on the individual level (assisting people to practice their basic

rights and to expand their capacity and skills), as well as on the community level (assisting

people to get organized to voice their interests around community problem-solving);

Improve and expand the institutions' commitment, capacities, knowledge and skills in

working for Roma inclusion, putting into practice the concepts of good governance.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, as a

national coordinator of the ROMACTED

Program in Macedonia, organized

consultative meeting with the ROMACTED

municipalities, the EUD and the municipality

of Shuto Orizari!

The meeting addressed some of the major

issues of the Roma communities face at local

level and explored possible solutions to

improve the living conditions of the

communities.

On 16th

of January Mr. Hadis Redjepi-

ROMACTED project officer and Mr. Ferdi

Ismaili - National focal point of ROMACTED

program meet with the new Minister without

portfolio Mr.Muzafer Bajram!

The purpose of the meeting was to represent

the program and continue the cooperation and

coordination at local level including policies

and activities targeting the Roma!

On the 17th

of January the Municipal

Council of the Municipality of Debar

adopted the Local action plan for

Roma, prepared by the Community

action group and institutional group of

ROMACTED program! Thanks to all

members and the team of

ROMACTED in Municipality of

Debar- for first time are adopted local

policies targeting Roma issues!

Mr.Hadis Redjepi - ROMACTED

program officer and Mr. Ferdi Ismaili -

National Focal point of ROMACTED

program had a strategic meeting on 24th

January with the Mayors of Municipality

of Strumica and Berovo!

The Delegation of the Council of Europe responsible for the ROMACTED program in

Strasburg together with the team of ROMACTED in Macedonia on 4th

of February held a

meeting with the mayor of Strumica Municipality, the institutional group of ROMACTED

in the municipality of Strumica and a representative of the community. At the meeting it

was discussed about the so far activities taken from ROMACTED, the methodology, the

challenges and the recommendation for further implementation of the program.

A meeting was held with the mayor of

Veles Municipality Ace Kocevski, the

delegation of the Council of Europe and

Sonce association in the frames of the

ROMATED program on 4th

of February.

In the meeting participated Markos

Andrade, manager of the program, Marina

Vasik, project coordinator, Hadis Redjepi

manager of the program in North

Macedonia, Ferdi Ismaili, executive

director of ADRR Sonce and Nazmie

Ramadanovic from the NGO „Romska

sila“- Veles.

Advisory meeting with 12 Municipalities

ROMACTED was held on 5th

of February!

Opening speech by Delegation of European

Union, program office of Council of Europe

in Macedonia, ROMACTED team from CE

- Strasbourg, Ministry of labor and social

policy, Ministry of education, Ministry of

education, Cabinet of the Minister without

portfolio Mr. Muzafer Bajram and Ministry

of local self-government!

`

Coordination meeting with

ROMACTED facilitators took

place on 9th

of February!

On February 13, 2019, the

representatives of the Roma

Education Fund (REF) were on a

monitoring visit in Tetovo and

Gostivar.

On the 14th

of February, Mr. Ferdi Ismaili - Executive Director of

Sonce and Mr. Nezir Huseini program manager for employment and

program director of Sonce, in the Head Office of Sonce we had a

meeting with Ms.Tara Sharafundheen from World Bank Washington!

The purpose of meeting was to support vulnerable women especially

Roma women in labor market in!

We found our sinergies under the ROMACTED program as a one of

the program when we have structures in 12 Municipality!

Within the framework of the ROMACTED, we

visited Vinica today, in order to offer strategic

support and discuss the local and joint action

plans. The meeting took place on 26th

February

was attended by Kiro Dovichinski - Local

Economic Development and Mitko Ilievski –

Secretary of the municipality including Demir

Osmanov - ROMACTED Contact Point and CAG

representative.

On the 4th

of March, we visited the

Municipality of Debar and Kicevo. We had a

meeting about the joint plan between the

community action groups and institutional

working group of the ROMACTED program

and the possibilities for funding!

On the 25.03.2019 in the Municipality of

Kichevo within the ROMACTED program

we had a meeting with the (CAG's)

Comunity Action Group where we

discussed organizing activities for 8 April

and preparing the community for a meeting

with the municipal officials in order their

activities to be financed by the

municipality. Also, we discussed the future

steps and activities that should be

undertaken by the community in

cooperation with the municipalities.

ROMACTED received a Certificate of Appreciation

from the mayor of the municipality of Gostivar - Mr

Arben Taravari. This meeting was initiated from the

Community Action Group and organized by the

municipality in its premises. The aim of the meeting

was to celebrate the #RomaDay2019, discuss the

implementation of the Program and to offer strategic

support to Gostivar. As part of the strategic

cooperation, the Cabinet of the Minister without

Portfolio was represented by Ms Mersiha Usein, who

presented the funding opportunities and Mr Elvis

Memeti from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy,

who spoke about the Roma Information Center and the

kindergartens.

On the 28th

of March at the Municipality of Kocani, within the framework of the ROMACTED program of

the Council of Europe, we had a meeting with the Mayor of the Municipality of Kocani and the municipal

working group of the Municipality of Kocani where we discussed several points:

1. The adoption of the Municipality Council of Kocani of the Joint Action Plan for Development of the

Roma Community in the Municipality of Kocani for the period 2019 and 2020.

2. Adoption of the Municipality Council of the Local Action Plan for Roma Education for the period from

2019 to 2021.

3. The Municipality of Kocani’s application to the call by the European Delegation for Roma Housing

4. Activities of the Municipality of Kocani to mark the International Day of 8th of April.

5. Accomplished activities for the Roma community with the received funds from the Ministry of Local

Self-Government. It was also talked about the future steps and activities that will be undertaken by the

Municipality for the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for Development of the Roma Community in

the Municipality of Kocani!

Activities within this project

From action to equal rights for Roma

This project seeks to increase the participation

of Roma communities in the FYROM in

decision-making that affects their lives. Through

consultation and cooperation between Roma

mediators, civil society organizations (CSOs),

national and local authorities and legal bodies,

the program aims to reduce discrimination

against Roma and demand recognition and

implementation of their basic rights.

Induction training was organized

on 18th of April in Skopje for the

new members of the ROMACTED

Support team, which have been

selected in the last Call for Tenders

for facilitators and experts.

On March 6, 2019 in the premises of

Bella Mia restaurant in Tetovo, a

workshop was held with NGOs that

are sub grantees from the third call for

granting small grants. This workshop

was realized as part of the project

From Action to Equal Rights for Roma

Funded by the European Union,

implemented by ADRR Sonce in

partnership with the Minority Rights

Group in London.

The Advocacy meeting with representatives from the

Municipality of Debar held on 26th

of March focused on

issues affecting the local community determined during

the field visits in the settlements in the municipality of

Debar, where the community lives and the identification of

the necessary steps for dealing with the issues. The

meeting was attended by representatives of the

Municipality of Debar, mediators from the Roma

community working on the field, representatives of the

Roma community from the respective local communities

as well as the project team from the Association for

Democratic Development of the Roma Sonce-Tetovo. This

meeting was realized as part of the project From Action to

Equal Rights for Roma funded by the European Union,

implemented by ADRR Sonce in partnership with the

Minority Rights Group in London.

In the framework of the project From Action

to Equal Rights for Roma, small grants were

awarded to four organizations in connection

with the third and last call, namely: Roma

Cultural and Educational Center Ternipe MK-

Delcevo, Humanitarian and Charitable

Association of the Roma Intelligence -

Anglunipe , Roma Association "AVENA" and

Humanitarian and Charity Association of

Roma "Mesecina" Debar.

On April 17, 2019, a meeting was held with the

Deputy Ombudsman and representatives of the

National Preventive Mechanism and pro-bonno

attorneys. This meeting was realized as part of

the project From Action to Equal Rights for

Roma Funded by the European Union,

implemented by ADRR Sonce in partnership

with the Minority Rights Group of London.

Meeting with the Pro-rector of SEEU, the dean and the

pro-dean of the Law Faculty at the South East European

University in Tetovo within the project From Action to

Equal Rights for Roma Funded by the European Union,

implemented by ADRR Sonce in partnership with the

Minority Rights Group in London.

Other activities

On March 15, in the premises of ADRR Sonce

Tetovo, a meeting was held between the members of

the Forum for Social Dialogue from Tetovo and the

project team. The social dialogue forum is being

implemented within the project "Mobile team for

social inclusion of vulnerable categories in Tetovo"

funded by the German Agency for International

Cooperation GIZ.

The team of the project "Increasing the

access and participation of Roma children to

quality early childhood development and

primary education" held a meeting with the

Mayor Mr. Taravari and the Head of Sector

Asliana Snopce on March 21, 2019. At the

meeting it was discussed in relation to the

preschool children education and the

specific number of Roma children that will

be covered by the Municipality of Gostivar.

At the same time the project's future

activities in cooperation with all partners

were discussed. The project is financially

supported by DG Near and Roma Education

Fund - Budimpest! Implemented by the

Roma Resource Center - Skopje in

partnership with the Roma Democratic

Development Association SONCE - Teovo!

The same project is regional and is

implemented in the countries of the Western

Balkans and Turkey. In the Republic of

Northern Macedonia, it is implemented in

the Municipality of Shuto Orizari, Tetovo

and Gostivar!

Informative meeting with the representatives of

citizen associations within the project "Improvement

of local policies for ensuring access to justice"

An informative meeting was held on 27th

February with the representatives of the

local self-government units within the

frames of the project "Improving local

policies for access to justice" which

project addresses the needs of vulnerable

communities that are denied the exercise

of certain rights, the access to certain

services has been denied to them or are

discriminated against in the realization of

certain services by the institutions.

The press conference that was held on 28th

February,

organized and supported by 100 civil society

organisations, had in aim the draft law on prevention

and protection against discrimination that has been

stuck in the Parliament for 8 months. This is the first

step of the organizations to express the urgency of

passing this law and its importance to citizens who

are the most frequent victims of discrimination.

The representative of Roma Advocacy Network

Almira Redzepi Useini said that:

“As a representative of the Roma Advocacy Network

of ADDR Sonce, a member of the Roma Lawyers

Association, but especially as a representative of the

Roma community, I feel responsible to call for the

adoption of a new draft Law on Prevention and

Protection against Discrimination, which will

undoubtedly establish strong legal guarantees in case

of discrimination and providing victims with an

effective remedy, especially the Roma community,

which historically tolerates systemic, hidden, direct

and repeated discrimination in all areas living in the

Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic communities, but

especially the Roma community is discriminated

against in access to goods and services (restaurants,

cafes, swimming pools, etc.), it is discriminated

against in the field of employment, it suffers from

hate speech and hate crime, and let’s not start talking

about the 45% of Roma children in Macedonia who

are enrolled in schools for children with special

needs, facts that are confirmed by the reports of HP,

CPD, and ECRI.

On 22.03.2019, in the premises of the GIZ

in Skopje, the second working meeting for

the establishment of a National Network

for representing the interests of returnees

was held in order to define the areas and

priorities of the Network, defining the

strategic goals, the name and potential

members of the Network.

`

On 26.03.2019 (Tuesday), within the

project "Increasing the access and

participation of Roma children to quality

early childhood development and primary

education", the team of ADRR Sonce,

engaged for its implementation in the

municipalities of Tetovo and Gostivar, was

on a visit at the kindergarten Mladost -

Tetovo the building in Potok where an

extension of an existing premise within the

kindergarten was renovated, the visit was

also made with an intention to monitor the

current state and regularity of the children

involved in this project.

The project is financially supported by DG

Near and Roma Education Fund -

Budapest! Implemented by the Roma

Resource Center - Skopje in partnership

with the Association for Democratic

Development of Roma Sonce - Tetovo!

The same project is regional and is

implemented in the countries of the

Western Balkans and Turkey. In the

Republic of Northern Macedonia, it is

implemented in the Municipality of Shuto

Orizari, Tetovo and Gostivar!

On 11th April dr. Arif Pini held a meeting

with the council body of doctors from Tetovo

and Skopje within the project “Changing

narratives amongst health workers”.

The first three-day training for mediators from

8 municipalities in RSM within the project:

"Promotion of local policies for ensuring

access to justice", supported by the Open

Society Foundation Macedonia and

implemented by ADRR Sonce Tetovo. The

topics of the first training are: right to health,

health care system, health insurance and

protection of patients' rights.

Our work through the implementation of the

project: "Good cooperation better doctors" is

tasked to enable mutual improvement of the

narratives, through mutual improvement of

information, communication and

understanding. Through this project, the NGO

"SONCE" and "IRIZ" enable mutual

understanding of the doctor-patient relationship

and at the same time familiarize themselves

with the everyday problems that both doctors

and Roma face as patients. Such work and this

approach at the beginning of the project gave

positive results and led to the improvement of

the narratives together. As an example, we can

cite the problem of not prescribing and

administering an antibiotic by doctors leading

to verbal examinations of a doctor-patient

relationship and a loss of mutual trust that

increases negative narratives. Therefore,

through our work and the work of the advisory

body, we came to the conclusion that the

population should be informed through

workshops about antibiotic resistance and that

it is not always necessary for them to be writen,

and at the same time doctors try to find an

appropriate way in their communication with

correcting the examination and explaining the

danger of improper antibiotic ingestion. After

several workshops and advice directed at

doctors through the advisory body, progress

was made in understanding some patients about

the harmfulness of inappropriate antibiotics,

thereby improving communication and

confidence.

That is why the NGO SONCE and IRIZ

actively contribute to the improvement of the

area for improving the health status by creating

conditions for analysis and improvement of the

attitudes of the family doctors, mediation in

solving the problems between the healthcare

workers and the Roma patients, and improving

the communication between the healthcare

workers and patients by familiarizing their

duties and obligations.

RDDA SONCE within the project: “Legal strengthening of the Roma community in the western

part of the North Republic of Macedonia” in the period January - March 2019 worked in the field

of providing paralegal assistance and support in the field of access to the realization of social and

health rights, according to the laws of the NRM. Work has been done in order to strengthen the

local community in the municipalities of Gostivar and Tetovo regarding the realization of their

health and social rights through assessment, information and mobilization of the community, as

well as advocacy and lobbying of the interests of the Roma community in front of the institutions

of the system.

In parallel offices in Tetovo and Gostivar for the period January-March 2019 a total of 57 cases

were addressed, which requested assistance, advice, consultations, logistical support, most of

which related to health and social protection.

During this period, our organization, through the implementation of the envisaged activities, in

addition to offering direct help and support to the Roma population, also worked to strengthen the

community and advocate for the institutions of the system, especially in front of health institutions.

The main and most important activity of RDDA Sonce in

this newsletter is the marking of the 8th

of April -

International Roma Day The celebration of the 8th of April the International Roma Day in Tetovo began with the setting

up of the Roma flag in the pole of the Municipality of Tetovo, followed by a reception with the

mayor Mrs. Teuta Arifi, where other representatives of the Municipality were also present. The

topic of the discussion was the accomplished projects, the resolved problems within the

ROMACTED program, the vulnerable issues of the Roma community and the future issues that

will be solved by mutual further cooperation.

Unfortunately, there are still municipalities in the North Republic of Macedonia that have never

marked the 8th

of April!

That is why 8th

of April 2019 was a historical day, because thanks to the ROMACTED program

in the Republic of Northern Macedonia, implemented by ADRR Sonce and the Council of

Europe Program Office in Skopje, for the first time the municipalities of Veles and Strumica

marked the 8th of April, the International Roma Day. In both municipalities, the key activity was

the panel discussion with panelists Denis Selmani from Romalitico, Silhan Saitov from

Romaversitas and Daniel Petrovski from 24 Vakti, who discussed about Roma history, Roma

identity, Roma language and the inclusion of the Roma community in the creation of public

policies. As ending activities of the evening were the musical performances of the young talented

Roma and the cocktails were the informal discussion about the future of Roma community

continued.

Great thanks to 24 Vakti, Romaversitas and Romalitico for their support.

On 8th

of May

there was a

meeting with the

community action

group of

ROMACTED

program at the

Municipality of

Debar.

Workshop related to the Law Clinic with

students from South East European

University, Faculty of Law was held on

the 9th

of May as part of the project

From Action to Equal Rights for Roma

funded by the European Union.

The second workshop was held from 10 - 12 May: Providing

paralegal assistance and support for realization of the rights in

the field of health care, health insurance and protection of the

rights of the patients for the mediators from 8 municipalities in

the Republic of North Macedonia included in the project: Local

Policies for Providing Access to Justice, supported by the

Foundation Open Society Macedonia and implemented by

RDDA Sonce Tetovo.

Awarding certificates for successful completion of the online

course "Minority Rights and Local Governance" to the

participants from the Municipality of Tetovo. The online course

was organized by the Roma Democratic Development

Association SONCE-Tetovo and the International Minority

Rights Group-London in 2018 as part of the European Union-

funded project "From Action to Equal Rights for Roma" to

improve the skills and capacities of local government

representatives for more effective inclusion of minorities in

decision-making processes and public affairs.

A partnership meeting with members of the community action groups,

representatives of local authorities, representatives of the Roma civil

society and Roma mediators from the municipalities of Vinica, Berovo

and Stip was held on 21 May at the Hotel Manastir Berovo.The

purpose of this meeting was to strengthen capacities, foster

collaborative cooperation, improve existing initiatives for policy

participation through exchange of best practice ideas, discuss

opportunities for improvement, including the development of more

institutionalized bodies for joint decision-making among action group

community, local authorities, the Roma civil sector and the Roma

mediators. The partner meeting outlined priorities for 2019 and,

designed a joint action between the community action group and the

local government unit. This meeting was organized in the frame of the

project: From action to equal rights for Roma, implemented by RDDA

Sonce and Minority Right Group London.

The Annual Partnership Meeting within the European

Union-funded project From Action to Equal Rights for

ROma, implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership with

the Minority Rights Group in London, took place on May

22nd

at Radika Hotel in Mavrovo. The purpose of this

meeting was to strengthen capacities, foster collaborative

collaboration, improve the existing initiatives for policy

participation through exchange of best practice ideas, and

discuss the opportunities for improvement, including the

development of more institutionalized bodies for joint

decision-making between action community groups, local

authorities, the Roma civil sector and Roma mediators.

The meeting was attended by members of the community

action groups, representatives of local authorities and

local institutions, representatives of the Roma civil sector

and Roma mediators from the municipalities of Debar,

Kicevo and Tetovo.

On the 23rd

May the team of the ROMACTED program held a meeting with the representatives from the

cabinet of the Minister without portfolio Muzafer Bajram and with the deputy Samka Ibraimovski for

activities they are going to perform together on local level.

Within the project "Building stronger local networks

to improve the protection of Roma children's rights",

the Roma Resource Center in cooperation with

RDDA Sonce Tetovo, held a public event promoting

the Local Coordination bodies set up under the

ROMACTED program concerned with the

implementation of the Local Action Plans of the

National Strategy for the Improvement of the

Situation of the Roma. The event was held on

27.05.2019 (Monday), starting at 12:00 in the

premises of Hotel Liraku in Tetovo.

A two-day (28-29.05.2019) workshop with

representatives of the ELS on legal

empowerment, community monitoring and legal

needs of the population was held within the

framework of the project "Improving Local

Policies for Providing Access to Justice"

implemented by RDDA Sonce and supported by

the Foundation Open Society Macedonia.

The representatives from the institutional

working group and the community action

group within the ROMACTED program

on the 30th

of May have presented the

joint project proposals for the priorities of

the ROMACTED program!

A two day workshop (10-11 June 2019) was held in

hotel Scardus, Popova Sapka within the framework

of the initiative for forming the Forum for Social

Dialogue of Tetovo Municipality which is

organized by RDDA Sonce in partnership with GIZ

– Skopje and Municipality of Tetovo. The topics of

this workshop are: public advocacy, the similarities

and differences of the concepts advocacy and

lobbying.

On June 11, representatives of RDDA Sonce

and the Minority Rights Group - London met

with representatives of the Municipality of Stip.

The meeting discussed issues affecting the

Roma community identified during field visits

in Stip where the community lives and the

possibilities for taking certain steps to solve

them. The meeting was held within the

framework of the European Union-funded

project From action to equal rights for Roma,

implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership

with the Minority Rights Group in London.

On June 12, Mr. Nezir Huseini from the

program ROMACTED had a meeting with the Mayor of

the Municipality of Debar, Mr. Hekuran Duka. The

meeting was also attended by the members of the

municipal working group Gazmend Cami, the head of

the geo-engineering company Ylli Mizo, the secretary

of the municipality of Debar, Fuat Spahiu member of

the Council of the municipality of Debar and Urim

Kurtishi, the responsible person appointed by the mayor

for the program ROMACTED. The ROMACTED team

presented the ROMACTED program to the new mayor,

Mr. Hekuran Duka, and the current work of the local

action group (LAG).

The first working meeting of the Informal

Returnees Network in the Republic of North

Macedonia with NGO representatives was

held on 14.06.2019 in Hotel Porta, Skopje.

This network is supported by the GIZ office

in North Macedonia. The discussions at this

meeting resulted in concrete steps,

guidelines and instructions for future

network activities.

The second Steering Committee of the Joint European Union and Council of Europe ROMACTED Program on

“Promoting good governance and Roma empowerment at local level” was held in Skopje on 18 June 2019.

The meeting gathered together representatives from the Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement

Negotiations (DG NEAR), the Council of Europe, the European Union Delegation to North Macedonia,

representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Cabinet of the Minister without Portfolio

(North Macedonia), mayors from the 12 partner municipalities (North Macedonia), representatives from

international organizations, National Roma Contact Points and ROMACTED support teams from seven

beneficiaries.

The Joint EU / CoE Program is implemented by the Council of Europe`s Roma and Travellers Team and the

Office of the Directorate General of Program in seven beneficiaries of the Western Balkans and Turkey. It aimс

at building up political will and sustained policy engagement of local authorities to enhance democratic local

governance, while stimulating the empowerment of the local Roma communities to contribute to the design,

implementation and monitoring plans and projects concerning them.

Today on 20th June the representative of the European Commission, advisor-coordinator of Roma policy Marta Garcia

Fidalgo, Kristina Vujic from DG NEAR, and the representatives of the Council of Europe Marcos Andrade-

ROMACTED Program Manager and, Marina Vasic-Project Officer of the ROMACTED program, had a field visit at

the “Mladost” kindergarten in Tetovo, which has been reconstructed and renovated with the support of the project

“Increasing the access and participation of Roma children to quality early childhood development and primary

education” implemented jointly between Roma Resource Centar - Skopje and RDDA SONCE and financially

supported by DG Near and Roma Education Fund. The institutional and community structures of ROMACTED

program in the Municipality of Tetovo was also actively involved as a synergy of this initiative. Topic of discussion

was the number of children engaged in this kindergarten, the most common difficulties with which the director of this

institution faces every now and then, the organization of classes, the importance given to the chance of having mix

classrooms in order to enhance the inclusion of the Roma children and etc. The other part of the field visit included a

discussion with the Community Action Group and highlighting the most urgent problems of the community and what

needs to be done for them to be resolved in a shorter period of time. The problems were presented by the CAG and the

systematic solutions were discussed. The final part of the visit included a meeting with the Mayor of the Municipality

of Tetovo, Mrs. Teuta Arifi, to whom the representatives of the ROMACTED program presented the problems

discussed earlier with CAG and asked for solutions to be provided. Mrs. Arifi also had the opportunity to explain to the

representatives the progress that has been made until know with collaboration of the ROMACTED team and the

Municipality and, the plans for further implementation of the aims of the ROMACTED program.

First day of the First National ROMACTED Workshop

was held in Hotel Scardus, Popova Shapka, with the

structures of the 12 Municipalities included in the

ROMACTED program, the ROMACTED facilitators,

the Institutional Working Group and the Community

Action Group. On the second day of the

First ROMACTED National Workshop the task for the

participants was identifying the priorities of the Roma

community on local level and reviewing the ways how

to incorporate these priorities in the annual working

programs of the municipalities. The third and last day of

the ROMACTED National Workshop focused on the

budget and budgetary cycle at local level, entry points

for incorporating Roma and gender sensitive budgeting,

upon which was also touched the monitoring and

evaluation process of activities that are going to be

implemented in the municipalities in order to improve

the quality of living conditions for the Roma

community. In addition, the participants touched upon

specific good practices of mainstreaming of Roma

priorities in programming and budgeting. The workshop

lasted from the 25th

till the 27th

June.

On the 4th

of July, within the

framework of the health program

Good Cooperation Better Doctors,

a meeting was held with the

doctors from Suto Orizari. The

Sonce team and the Iriz NGO

from Skopje conducted field

visits with family doctors to

improve the Roma patient-doctor

relationship.

Photographs from the field visits in the frame of the project Legal strengthening of the Roma community in the Western

part of the Republic of North Macedonia

The Third Annual Network and Strategy meeting of Roma Advocacy Network organized by RDDA Sonce and the

Minority Rights Group London (MRG) was held on July 09 at Hotel Porta in Skopje. The meeting was opened by

Ferdi Ismaili, the executive director of RDDA Sonce, who welcomed the attendees and wished them a successful

working meeting. Dragi Celevski, a representative of the Ombudsman's Office made a presentation on the published

Annual Report of the Level of Ensuring Respect, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms 2018,

with particular reference to the findings of the report concerning the Roma community. Igor Jadrovski, MRF legal

officer, spoke about the novelties in the recently adopted Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination.

Igor Antevski, representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy made a presentation on the novelties in the

Law on Social Protection, the Law on Social Security for the Elderly and the Law on Child Protection. The

participants initiated a discussion on the possible challenges in implementing the new legal solutions, while the

MLSP representative answered the questions posed by the participants. At the end of the meeting the network

member organizations had a session on revision of the advocacy plan, the status of realization of the set priority goals

and possible new items for inclusion in the plan.

The Third International Advocacy Coordination Meeting of Roma Advocacy Network was held on 10th

of July. At

today's meeting, Silva Pesic, Human Rights Adviser, Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, gave a

general overview of international advocacy within the UN Human Rights Council. She presented a list of UN human

rights treaties, the work of the contracting bodies (committees), the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, the

functions of the UNHR mechanisms and the reasons for the civil sector's engagement with human rights mechanisms.

It specifically addressed the reporting cycle and procedure and the roles of civil societies in the reporting cycle. MRG

legal officer Igor Jadrovski shared experiences of advocacy before the Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and made recommendations on how organizations should prepare for

advocacy before such bodies. HERA Project Leader Dragana Karovska-Chemerska explained HERA's advocacy

process to the UPR and shared some of the concluding observations and recommendations of the Universal Periodic

Report (UPR) on Roma rights. The last part of the meeting was focused on identifying the main issues that could be

addressed in some of the following reports.

On July 24, representatives from New York City of the

Health Care / Paralegal help program together with

representatives from the Foundation Open Society

were welcomed at the RDDA Sonce premises. During

the meeting the project facilitators described their

working day and shared positive examples and stories

from their working days, what are the most common

problems they face and how with their help and

intervention problems are resolved. Executive director

Ferdi Ismaili explained the work of the organization

and shared information on how Sonce staff synergies

with projects and has good cooperation in sharing

information to solve problems that paralegals face in

the field of health, education, social care and other

problems affecting the community.

Representatives of RDDA Sonce and the Roma

community mediator held a working meeting today

with Mr. Sejdin Abazi, Head of the Sector for

Communal Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and

Energy Efficiency in the Municipality of Kicevo. The

meeting discussed a number of needs and challenges

identified by the mediator in the field visits to the

community and the actual opportunities for the

Municipality to respond to those challenges. This

advocacy meeting was held in the framework of the

European Union-funded project From action to equal

rights for Roma, implemented by RDDA Sonce in

partnership with the London Minority Rights Group.

Representatives of RDDA Sonce and the Roma community mediator held a working meeting today with Mr. Baskim

Mashkuli, President of the Council of Debar Municipality and Mr. Gazmend Jami, Head of Geo-engineering in the

Municipality of Debar. During the meeting there were discussed the many needs and challenges identified by the

mediator in the field visits to the community and the actual opportunities for the Municipality to respond to those

questions. This advocacy meeting was held within the framework of the European Union-funded project From action

to equal rights for Roma, implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership with Minority Rights Group-London.

The Minister without portfolio Mr. Muzafer Bajram had a

meeting with Mayor of Strumica and the structure of CAG

of ROMACTED program for future cooperation and

supporting the initiative of CAG.

Representatives of RDDA Sonce and the mediator from

the Roma community on 16th

August held a work

meeting with Mrs. Hana Memeti, representative from

the Sector for urbanism, communal activities and

environment. At the meeting it was discussed about

important burning issues for the Roma community at the

Roma settlement like “29th

November” and “146”. In

these settlements the burning issues are related to the

sewerage and water supply infrastructure, so as a

consequence the community is lacking basic conditions

for everyday needs. These problems are identified from

the field visits to the community from the mediator and

the Municipality is being asked to solve these problems

in the shortest period of time possible. This advocacy

meeting was held within the framework of the European

Union-funded project From action to equal rights for

Roma, implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership

with Minority Rights Group-London.

Оn 19th

August, representatives of the RDDA Sonce held a national advocacy meeting with the Cabinet of the

Minister without portfolio responsible for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Improvement of the

Status of Roma in the Republic of North Macedonia, with Minister Muzafer Bajram and counselor Senada

Lamovska. The purpose of this meeting was to lobby for issues identified by Roma mediators during field visits

and cases reported in virtual centers. The most pressing issues to be lobbied for are: the persistence of segregation

in primary schools in some cities, housing problems, sewage and water infrastructure, the collective problem of

families living in an old hospital building inhumane and unequal health treatment workers (doctors, paramedics,

nurses) towards members of the Roma community. The minister said that the problems are being met and that

meetings are being held with the mayors of the municipalities where the problems are most prominent and that

some municipalities have already developed a project plan for building houses to solve the housing problem, and

if this turns out to be a success the project will serve as a good practice and will be implemented in other cities.

The Minister also mentioned that he is always at the disposal of citizens and NGOs and will do everything in his

power to assist in any way possible. This advocacy meeting was held in the framework of the European Union-

funded project From action to equal rights for Roma, implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership with the

Minority Rights Group-London.

Updates from the ROMACTED program in North

Macedonia! The priority of the community action

group from the ROMACTED program in the

municipality of Strumica already started to get

implemented. The Municipality of Strumica has

invested from its local budget 1.000.000 mkd for

the reconstruction of the street Betovenova in the

Roma settlement in Strumica. This priority is part

of the local action plan and the joint plan of the

ROMACTED program in the municipality of

Strumica.

On 13.09.2019 in the premises of ADRS

Sonce Tetovo was held a coordination

meeting of the team of RDDA Sonce and RRC

within the project "Increasing access and

participation of Roma children for quality

early childhood development and

elementary education". The aim of the

meeting was to be given guidelines for

implementing preschooleducation activities

and the new component, primary education

that includes tutor support for 2019/2020 by

project manager Sebihan Demirovski. This

project is funded by the European Union /

DG NEAR and managed by the Roma

Education Fund in Budapest, implemented in

partnership with RDDA Sonce.

Оn 17.09.2019 the representative from the European

Commission, advisor-coordinator of Roma policy Marta

Garcia Fidalgo, the EU Delegation representative Nafi

Saracini, RRC representative Ipek Useinova, project officer

of the program office of the Council of Europe for North

Macedonia Hadis Redjepi and the executive director of

RDDA Sonce and national focal point of ROMACTED in

North Macedonia, Ferdi Ismaili had a site visit to the

Municipality of Vinica where a meeting with the Mayor of

Vinica Municipality was held, the benefits of EU projects

were discussed, a meeting with the Community Action

Group (CAG) also was realized, and a site visit to Roma

settlement in the city of Vinica took place later on.

The same agenda is foreseen for the Municipality of Veles.

for today.

Updates of ROMACTED program in North Macedonia!!!

One more community action group priority already start to be implemented!!! From Strumica we are moving now in Municipality of Vinica!!! Investment in the Roma settlement street Ivo lola Ribar with total ammount of 1.5 milion denars from local budget for asphalting of 450 metars! This is one of the prorities of CAG in Vinica!!!

The team of ADRR Sonce held a meeting with the

Principal of Bratstvo Baskimi Primary School in

Gostivar on 24.09.2019 with the aim of presenting

the new component of Tutoring of the Roma first

graders in primary education. This meeting was

held in the framework of the project "Increasing

access and participation of Roma children for

quality early childhood development and primary

education". This project is funded by the

European Union / DG NEAR and managed by the

Roma Education Fund in Budapest.

The ADRR Project Sonce Project Coordinator and the

Roma community mediator held a working meeting with

representatives of the Municipality of Berovo on

27.09.2019.

This advocacy meeting was held within the framework of

the European Union-funded project Action to Equal

Rights of Roma, implemented by ADRR Sun in partnership

with the London Minority Rights Group.

The ADRR Project Sonce Project Coordinator and

the Roma community mediators held a working

meeting with representatives of the Municipality

of Vinica on 27.09.2019. This advocacy meeting

was held in the framework of the European

Union-funded project Action to Equal Rights of

Roma, implemented by ADRR Sun in partnership

with the London Minority Rights Group

The second working meeting of the Informal

Returnees Network in the Republic of Northern

Macedonia with NGO representatives took place

on (27.09.2019) at Hotel Porta, Skopje. This

network is supported by the GIZ office in

Northern Macedonia. The discussions at this

meeting resulted in concrete steps, guidelines

and guidelines for future network work.

ROMACTED North Macedonia hosted

the 2nd National Workshop for the

members of the Community Action

Group and representatives of the local

authorities.

From Strumica and Vinica we are moving to the West part of North Macedonia!

Congratulations to the Mayor of Municipality of Gostivar Mr. Arben Taravari, the institutional working group and community action group from the ROMACTED program for the implementation of CAG priority for seting up street lighting to the Roma settlement Grudajca!

Proud of our work under ROMACTED program, now in municipality of

Kicevo! Thanks to all stakeholders for the process! This is one of good

examples how we can working together in order to ensure better

conditions of our Roma!!!

The preparatory meeting of the Roma

Advocacy Network was held on the 24th and

25th October at the Hotel Romantic, in Veles.

Join activities between institutional working group and community action group of ROMACTED program in municipality of Strumica! Marking the international Romani language day in city library in Strumica!

The RDDA Sonce project team and MRG-London

Lawyer held a working meeting on 07.11.2019 with

representatives of the Directorate for

Development and Improvement of Education in

the Languages of Communities where they

discussed the challenges regarding the use of

Roma language in education and textbooks in

Roma language that Sun and MDF addressed on

behalf of the Roma Rights Advocacy Network to

the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues who will

present a thematic report at the 43rd session of

the Human Rights Council and the UN on the

subject: Education, language and human rights of

minorities. This advocacy meeting was held within

the framework of the European Union-funded

project From action to equal rights for Roma

implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership with

the Minority Rights Group London.

On 11.11.2019, in the premises of RDDA

Sonce - Tetovo, a meeting was held between

the Director of the Inter - Municipal Center

for Social Work - Tetovo, representative of

the child rights and the Roma community.

The purpose of this meeting was to clarify

some of the most pressing problems faced by

the Roma community in exercising their

rights in the area of: guaranteed minimum

assistance, disability allowance, pecuniary

assistance and care, educational allowance

and more. The community said what

problems they encountered most often and

representatives suggested solutions to those

problems, and how the sun could play the

role of mediator to convey the problems to

the Center for Social Work and find a quicker

solution.

In the Municipality of Kicevo, the RDDA Sonce project team, the

Roma community mediator and representatives of the

Foundation Open Society - Macedonia met with Mr. Emin

Nasufi, Head of the Cabinet of the Mayor of Kicevo. The

meeting discussed the implemented projects of the

Municipality in the Roma community in 2019, the ongoing

infrastructure problems of the families on Prilepska street, the

availability of transport to the primary school for children from

one of the Roma settlements, the safety of pedestrians on one

of the predominantly Roma streets. The meeting also

presented the possibility to improve access to justice for

vulnerable categories of citizens by establishing a Center for

Access to Justice. This meeting was organized within the

framework of the European Union-funded project From action

to equal rights for Roma and co-financed by the Foundation

Open Society - Macedonia within the project Promoting Local

Policies to Improve Access to Justice.

Updates from ROMACTED in North Macedonia!

We continue with the implementation of the priorities of CAG!!! Now we are moving to the Municipality of Veles!!! Thanks to the Mayor, the institutional working group and the community action group of ROMACTED, we start to resolve long term problems with activities for the supporting wall for pervention of land slides at the Roma settlement PRCOREG in Veles!

On November 12, 2019, the RDDA Sonce project team, the

Roma community mediator and representatives of the

Foundation Open Society - Macedonia in the Municipality

of Debar met with Ylli Mirzo - Secretary of the Municipality

of Debar, Fuat Spahiu - member of the Council of the

Municipality of Debar, - Head of the Debar Municipality

Department of Urban Planning and Urim Kurtishi - Roma

Affairs Officer. The meeting discussed the installation of a

sewage system on one of the streets where the Roma

population lives, for which solid guarantees for realization

were given by the representatives of the Municipality. The

meeting also presented the opportunity to improve access

to justice and public services for vulnerable categories of

citizens by establishing a Center for Access to Justice.

Representatives of the municipality shared that the

Citizens Service Center already has a similar role in the

municipality. The representatives of EBRD Sonce and

FOSM discussed the possibility of including paralegals /

mediators in the work of this Center given their key role in

connecting the community with the institutions and

informing the population. This meeting was organized

within the framework of the European Union-funded

project From action to equal rights for Roma and co-

financed by the Foundation Open Society - Macedonia

within the project Promoting Local Policies to Improve

Access to Justice.

Updates of ROMACTED in North Macedonia!

We had joint initiatives between Municipality of Berovo, the government of North Macedonia with the Minister without portofolio Mr. Muzafer Bajram and MP - Mr. Samka ibraimovski ! Infrastructural investment after 20 years and acces to water on Roma settlement Prohobcinski in Berovo!!!

Field visit and consultation meeting with Roma community in Berovo!!!

This is one of best practice initiatives how we can cooperate each other for better live of Roma!!!

Proud to be part of ROMACTED program!!Opre ROMA!!!

On November 20, 2019, the RDDA Sonce Project Team,

the Roma community mediator in the Municipality of

Berovo met with the Mayor of the Municipality of

Berovo, Mr. Zvonko Pekevski, Head of the Department

for Local Economic Development Mr. Gjorgji Peovski and

the Head of the Department for Education Mrs. Biljana

Markovska The meeting was an overview of the realized

activities from the past period. The Roma mediator

briefly presented ongoing challenges, as well as project

achievements during these three years. The meeting also

presented the opportunity to improve access to justice

and public services for vulnerable categories of citizens

by establishing a Center for Access to Justice. This

meeting was organized within the framework of the

European Union-funded project From action to equal

rights for Roma and co-financed by the Foundation Open

Society - Macedonia within the project Promoting Local

Policies to Improve Access to Justice.

On November 20, 2019, the RDDA Sonce Project Team and

the Roma community mediators met with the Secretary of

the Municipality of Vinica, Mr. Mitko Ilievski, and the

Officer for Minority Relations, Mr. Demir Osmanov. This

advocacy meeting discussed current education challenges

that mediators identified during their outreach work. The

secretary also shared future plans for project

implementation at the local level. The meeting also

presented the opportunity to improve access to justice

and public services for vulnerable categories of citizens by

establishing a Center for Access to Justice. This meeting

was organized within the framework of the European

Union-funded From action to equal rights for Roma and

co-financed by the Foundation Open Society - Macedonia

within the project Promoting Local Policies to Improve

Access to Justice. On November 21, 2019, the ADRR Sonce project team, the

Roma community mediator and representatives of the

Foundation Open Society-Macedonia in the Municipality

of Tetovo met with the Secretary of the Municipality of

Tetova, Ms. Slavica Serafimovska and the Roma Affairs

Officer, Ms. Czefa Che. At the meeting, the Roma mediator

mentioned the two most pressing problems that have

been lobbying for a long time, and possible ways of solving

these problems are being found, such as "29th November"

(Krasniqi) street and "146" street. This meeting was

organized within the framework of the European Union-

funded From action to equal rights for Roma and co-

financed by the Foundation Open Society - Macedonia

within the project Promoting Local Policies to Improve

Access to Justice.

On November 22, 2019, representatives of ADRR Sonce met in the

Municipality of Stip with Sonja Kitanova, Secretary of the

Municipality of Stip and Erol Ademov, Senior Officer for

Community Relations. EBRD representatives Sonce initiated the

opportunity to improve access to justice, improve public and legal

services for vulnerable categories of citizens by establishing a

Center for Access to Justice. This meeting was organized within

the framework of the European Union-funded project From action

to equal rights for Roma and co-financed by the Foundation Open

Society - Macedonia within the project Promoting Local Policies to

Improve Access to Justice.

The level of contribution and work that is

recognized by the general public is an indicator of

how successful we are in our work.

Today I had the honor to meet representatives of

the British Embassy, during which meeting we

exchanged information on the situation of the

Roma and opportunities for future strategic

cooperation!

The Roma Democratic Development Association

Sonce-Tetovo organized a National Roundtable held

on 03 December 2019 (Tuesday) at the Hotel Marriott

in Skopje.

On 05.12.19 a field visit was held with the Legal Clinic

(mobile clinic) in the Roma settlements in the

municipalities of Kicevo and Debar, where the students

together with the MRG Lawyer and the mediators had

the opportunity to talk directly with the persons who

were discriminated and victims of human rights

violations. This field visit was carried out as part of the

project From action to equal rights fror Roma funded by

the Europian Union.

On the 12 December we meet with the Chief of cabinet of Mayor in Municipalicity of Gostivar!

Part of the Community Action Group priorities will be included in the Local Development Plan and budgeted from the municipal budget for 2020 of Municipality of Gostivar. Many thanks for the contributions of the Community Action Group members including the support of the local authorities.

RDDA SONCE – Tetovo is supported by the following donors:

Аdress: St. Ivo Lola Ribar 381-3

Project office: Dimo Gavroski Kara no.3 1200 Tetovo Republic of North Macedonia

Telephone: + 389 (0) 44 35 23 90 e-mail: info@sonce.org.mk

Fax: + 389 (0) 44 35 23 91 web page: www.sonce.org.mk

On 19.12.2019, the representative of the London Minority

Rights Group (MRG) and a representative of the RDDA

Sonce held an advocacy meeting with the Deputy

Ombudsman. The purpose of the meeting was to advocate

for the problems faced by the Roma community, which are

in the field of interest of the work of the Ombudsman. It

was also agreed to jointly submit complaints to

international human rights bodies. This meeting was

organized within the framework of the European Union-

funded project From action to equal rights for Roma,

implemented by RDDA Sonce in partnership with MRG.