After the meeting that Praxis, the Regional Centre for Minorities and the European Roma Rights Center held with representatives of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, the Commissioner addressed the Belgrade City Administration pointing out that in determining locations for Roma housing, the creation of segregated settlements should be avoided.

The Commissioner specified the ratified international treaties that guarantee human rights, constitutional and legal principles, as well as the programme and strategic commitments of the Republic of Serbia in the field of minority protection and prevention of segregation and discrimination. Furthermore, the Commissioner pointed out that permanent housing for Roma should not lead to further social exclusion of this group of people, because the Republic of Serbia, as well as the City of Belgrade, was bound by international conventions and national regulations.

Bearing in mind that the 2021 Master Plan of Belgrade and special records and lists attached to this plan include 58 locations in Belgrade intended for social housing and other forms of low-cost residential buildings, the Commissioner expressed the opinion that the construction of social housing in these locations constituted a solid basis for the housing of Roma family and beginning of their future integration. Since the determination of social housing locations is a precondition for the exercise of the rights of Roma to adequate housing, the Commissioner pointed to the City Administration that the aforementioned way of solving housing problems would differ greatly from the previous bad practices that often resulted in the creation of settlements inhabited only by Roma and the segregation of Roma.

Finally, the Commissioner expressed the hope that the Mayor would use all his powers to ensure a sufficient number of adequate locations for the construction of social housing, in accordance with international standards and regulations governing this area.

Download: Letter of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality sent to the Belgrade City Administration