On 26 September 2013, Praxis participated in the roundtable organized in Subotica within the campaign News in the Field of Birth of Registration and Obtaining of Personal Documents. The roundtable was organized as a part of activities carried out on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia. On that occasion, the news in the field of birth registration, registration of residence at the address of social welfare centre and obtaining of personal documents were presented to the representatives of civil society organizations, Roma activists, health mediators, pedagogical assistants and Roma coordinators from the municipalities of Backa District.

In addition to Praxis’ representatives, the keynote speakers were also UNHCR representatives, Office of the Ombudsman of Serbia and Department for Administrative Affairs of the Ministry of Interior. The inspector working of the issues of ID cards and residence also participated in the discussion.

During the discussion, the participants of the roundtable presented the information they had about the problems faced by the members of Roma population in accessing personal documents. Almost all participants emphasised that Roma from their local communities are facing the problem of payment of administrative fees for obtaining ID cards, which is the reason why they do not have valid ID cards and are consequently without the access to rights. They were advocating for the changes so that obtaining of ID cards would be free for the poorest.

Also, the participants of the roundtable presented their remarks to the requests of state bodies to enclose the birth certificates to the request for issuance of ID card or the application for cash social assistance and other social welfare benefits, since the poorest citizens are thus exposed to unnecessary costs.

Some participants presented individual problems and cases from the field in which the citizens of Roma nationality needed Praxis’ legal assistance.

See the video clip.
See:Closing the Cycle of Legal Invisibility