On 21 October 2013, Praxis participated in the roundtable held in Belgrade on the issue News in the Field of Birth Registration and Obtaining of Documents. The roundtable was organized as a part of the activities implemented on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between UNHCR, Ombudsperson and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration. On this occasion, representatives of Roma associations, civil society organizations, Roma activists, health mediators, pedagogical assistants and Roma coordinators from Belgrade and more than 30 other cities throughout Serbia were presented the novelties in the field of birth registration, registration of residence at the address of the social welfare centres and obtaining of personal documents.

Apart from Praxis, representatives of UNHCR, Ombudsperson’s Office, and the Department for Administrative Affairs of the Serbian MoI gave their introductory speeches. An inspector working on the ID cards and permanent residence affairs also took part in the discussion.

During the discussion, roundtable participants provided the information they possess about the problems faced by members of Roma population in accessing personal documents, but also in accessing health care and social welfare benefits.

Majority of roundtable participants emphasised that paying administrative fees for obtaining birth and citizenship certificates and obtaining ID cards represented a problem for many Roma in their local communities. That was the reason for which many do not possess a valid ID card. The participants believe that the poorest, i.e. beneficiaries of cash social assistance should be exempt from paying all costs related to obtaining ID cards. A number of participants from Belgrade also pointed to the difficulties encountered by the Roma who wish to register permanent residence at the address of a social welfare centre.

During the discussion, the participant also presented individual problems and cases from the field in which the citizens of Roma nationality needed legal assistance of Praxis.

See: Closing the Cycle of Legal Invisibility