Gradska opstina Palilula

The President of Palilula Municipality, Nis, Bratislav Vuckovic, congratulated all members of the Roma national minority on the International Roma Day.

Thanks to numerous projects, the support of the Republic of Serbia, the City and active cooperation with the Roma population, the situation on the ground is changing. According to the last census from 2011, there are about 2,745 people living in the municipality of Palilula are the citizens of Roma national minorities, although the number is much higher. Still, most families of the Roma population live in unconditional spaces, on the outskirts and in unurbanized settlements, says President Vuckovic. Within the limits of our competencies, we eliminate numerous prejudices and discrimination on any grounds when employing, educating Roma children, providing health care and solving housing problems.

World Roma Day was established half a century ago, on April 8, at the First World Roma Congress in London. At this gathering, held from April 4 to 8, 1971, the name of the Roma people was adopted, which in the mother tongue means human. This is one of the rare days in the year when the citizens are reminded of the problems of a group, pointing out the difficult position of this population in the countries where they live. Somewhat later, the International Roma Union was founded, which decided that the Roma flag should be blue-green with a dot in the middle and the anthem “Djelem-Djelem”, and that all dialects of their language should be equal. Called the “last freemen”, the Roma historical and life path is marked by mass suffering, persecution and discrimination. (D. Vidojkovic)