The term
“women’s human rights” means rights that belong to women as a fact that they
are human beings. All forms of humiliation and violence that they are exposed
to just because they are women
are forms of human rights violations. Convention of Elimination of all forms of
violence against women, signed in 1979. by UN, was ratified by former
Yugoslavia together with other 120 countries, states: “Women’s Human Rights are
inalienable, untouchable, indivisible part of universal human rights”.
In women’s movement
the term “double discrimination” became clear with time, and especially was
applicable on marginalized groups of women, as additional violation of human
rights. The term “double discrimination” means discrimination on two levels,
firstly it is gender based since they belong to female sex and secondly, it is
nationality based because they belong to minority.
The
target group of this alternative report is Rroma women in Serbia. They, by this
definition, are suffering from double discrimination, as members of female
gender and as members of minority group – Rroma minority group.
Last population census was very ungrateful parameter
for any conclusion. During that year 1991 war had started on the territory of
ex-Yugoslavia, as a long lasting economical and political crisis. New official
population census from 2002 brings this fact: number of citizens that declare
themselves, as Rroma is 108.193, so it is less, compared to previous census.
Even then, the number of Rroma population that expressed themselves as Rroma
from 1991. census, was sensible questionable. According to unofficial data
every fourth (4) Rroma person in Serbia declared itself as member of that
national minority. Those are data of Rroma NGOs that were gathered during 90s.
Those are also unofficial data and even today and that are not a part of any
statistic. Several Rroma organization such as “Community Center – 8 April”
(Dragoljub Ackovic) and “Rroma Heart” (Zivojin Mitrovic) are dealing with that
problem in Serbia and in Vojvodina Stevan Nikolic. One of basic complaint of
Rroma about results of conducted census, is that Rroma were not adequately
involved in conducting census process and census forms were filled in by
graphite pencils. We found here violation of FCPNM, section I, article 3,
point 1.
Wars on territories of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Kosovo contributed to the fact that certain number of Rroma had left those
areas as refugees. In most of cases they continued their lives in Vojvodina and
Central Serbia, but most of them had found security in Western European
countries. Unfortunately when war was finished and when Serbian government
dropped, in October 2002, governments of Western European countries started
deportation of refugees back, despite of clear reports that they wont find
economical and social security here, and also basic human rights. So, wave of
returnees from Western European countries is making complicated situation more
complicated, especially its housing and economical aspects. Also displaced
people from Kosovo have same problems. They are living in camps with very bad
life conditions. Large number of refugees from Kosovo is living in settlements
that are not legalized, so they are not able to officially register their stay
- that is the basic condition to gain personal documents (ID or social security
card). Since those settlements are illegal, they do not exist officially, it is
justified assumption that they were not included in official population census.
Especially
endangered category is women. Traditionally in subordinated position compared
to men’s part of a family, they are in a much worse position that they were.
Psychological and physical violence escalate in refugee camps. Both women and
children are exposed to this kind of violence.
We
divided alternative report into categories:
WOMEN’S
HUMAN RIGHTS TO EDUCATION
WOMEN’S
HUMAN RIGHTS TO HEALTH CARE
WOMEN’S
HUMAN RIGHT TO LIFE WITHOUT VIOLENCE
WOMEN’S
HUMAN RIGHT TO SHARE AND TO ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Of those mentioned human rights mostly violated by
state are rights to education and social care.
ARTICLE 4,
Equality before the law and equal protection of the law, and
ARTICLE 6
Measures to Protect Persons who are subject to discrimination and violence
In section II, article 4, point 1 of the FCPNM
issues equality under the law, and equal legal protection what is not happening
in practice with Rroma women. Also article 3. of the Federal Law on
the Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities prohibits all
forms of discrimination toward persons belonging to national minorities based
on national, ethnic, linguistic and racial grounds. Our organization
“BIBIJA”-Rroma Women’s Center has contacts with different institutions, among
them with Ministry for Internal Affairs. It’s not secret that Rroma women are
treated differently. Their testimonies are suspicious and are rejected as less
valuable. Relation of police towards Rroma women is different and
discriminatory painted. Local police usually don’t want to help Rroma woman who
suffered violence in public or in her home. For our police those are “family
things”, “their things”, “and gypsy’s business”. All those characteristics are
insulting and so is their attitude towards them. Those information are coming
from our five years of field work. From 15000 women at least 70% were in the
same or similar, previously mentioned situations of violence and discrimination
from police and courts. Those data refers to Belgrade and its area but similar
situation is in other cities in Serbia. In Kragujevac, for example, according
to data of Rroma Information Center, at least 80% of Rroma who are, because of
different reasons coming in contacts with police and courts, discriminated and
their testimonies are treated as less valuable and “suspicious”. This is also violation of article 7 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Further more, section II, article 4; point 2 of the
FCPNM suggests measures for improvement of life and equality and that
signatories will take care of special conditions of members of national
minorities. None of those parts are not conducted in practice. Rroma woman in
this field is also exposed to double discrimination, as a woman and as a member
of national minority. Measures such as so-called “positive discrimination” are
not conducted towards Rroma women in areas of education and employment.
According to article 6, section II, point 1 of the
FCPNM points spirit of tolerance and intercultural dialogue what is not
happening in this case. Rroma women are molested on streets, in public
transportation, through public services. Using their own language, because they
do not know official language well, situation is becoming worse. Further more,
Rroma woman in the society is under threats, violent and unfriendly acts,
mostly from organized groups of young men that are gained by ideology of human
rights violation, for example skinheads group. That is direct violation of section
II; article 6 point 2 of the FCPNM, as also violation of article
12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article also
points mutual respect, understanding and co-operation what is not achieved in
the case of Rroma women.
Media that promote stereotype image of Rroma woman
they are contributing to opposite – intolerance and disrespect. Federal Law
on the Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities issues
in its article 17 rule that members of national minority have that rights
to be fully and impartially informed in their own language. Her right to be
informed and to inform others Rroma woman is not able to use. In Serbia there
is no magazine that in any ways is dealing with problems and interests of Rroma
women, as also none of radio stations or TV show that would be dealing with
topics of interests for Rroma woman. We are pointing that in Serbia there is
about 15 magazines that are dealing with “female” issues. None of them is
dedicating their intention to Rroma women’s problems.
We see here several
problems: First is that women’s magazines are not interested for Rroma woman
who is integral part of our reality and her life conditions, they do not
understand her traditional position in a family and her way of thinking and
also there is no Rroma women’s journalists in redactions of magazines, TVs or
radio stations.
Second problem that we see, is segregation which would happen with
division on “women’s magazines” and “Rroma women’s magazines”, what is not in
the spirit of human right to equal treatment. “BIBIJA” – Rroma Women` s Center
is not supporting idea of “getoization”. Also we don`t have any magazine that
is dealing only with Rroma women’s issues, because founders are not interested
for such project.
Third problem is that women’s magazines are financially unreachable for
Rroma women because they are expensive, but also do not include issues that
could attract Rroma women’s riders. Those facts are collected during our five
years long field work with Rroma women trough workshops.
Recommendations: “BIBIJA”- Rroma Women’s Center see
possibility to reduce problem if one women`s magazine could be financed. It
would be dealing with Rroma women’s issues and problems and it would be
translated into Rroma language, even thou it is not right way to solve this
problem. Problem would be solved with much more efficiency if other, existing
magazines, would include topics that are interesting for Rroma women. If that
happens it would change stereotype image of Rroma woman and her traditional
family role because medias are important part in eradication of stereotypes and
discriminations.
That
includes television and radio stations.
Educational system is not suitable for Rroma girls.
Rroma girl at young age takes responsibilities of family helper. At the time
she starts her education she usually knows only her own language while
pre-school activities are not reachable for her. Rroma girl is not accepted in
state’s kindergartens and into pre-school groups. Also educational program, in
its part that contains national content, should cover in certain level topics
that deal with history, art and culture of national minorities. Practice till
now shows no efforts made towards changing that situation. Usual excuses are
that Rroma language is not standardized, to be in official use. However, we
have to question what the state had done to standardize Rroma language. Also we don’t notice any steps made forward
in educational programs, national issues are low developed. According to those
facts Rroma girl is condemned to unequal start compared to majority children of
her age.
Unfinished standardization of Rroma language is
problem but this language has its grammar and it is used as standardized
language. Marcel Courtiade is dealing with standardization and holds department
of Rroma language in Paris. Also he supports advanced study of young Rroma
linguists from Europe in a form of 3 moths vocational training that deals with
problems of Rroma language. Expenses for that are very high and large number of
interested persons cannot pay since organizer is not covering 100% of expenses.
Some of the countries such as: Italy, German and France enable young Rroma
interested to participate in department and advanced study. Our Government and recently formed Ministry for Human Rights
and minority Rights till now didn’t gave such support to anyone.
“BIBIJA” – Rroma Women’s Center thinks that educating
at least several interested women and men would develop higher interest of
Rroma families to educate their children (especially girls). With this,
educational system in our country would be enriched, and Rroma girl would much
easier enter educational process since her mother tong would be a part of that
system. Unfortunately, there is a small number of educated teachers that know
Rroma language and that is also one of reasons why State refuse to form “Rroma
language and national culture” as optional subject in primary schools.
“BIBIJA- -Rroma Women’s Center working with young
Rroma women and developing projects “Teaching Illiterate Rroma Women to Read
and Write” and “Economical Strengthen of Rroma Women” (providing money for
courses of their choice as additional education or continuation of their
education), concluded that with some form of fast course and additional
education could form educational staff that would fill in a lack of teachers for Rroma language in
primary schools. Also we think that NGOs work in the field of education helps
making this goal - reality. Especially we are pointing two types of work: with
parents and with women.
According to the same article, section II, article
12, point 1 and point 3 of the FCPNM. Rroma girls` parents usually don’t
have enough money for books and school materials. Also another way of violation
is discrimination from teachers and school staff. In classes where are more
Rroma children, teachers are showing resistance to work in them and openly
express attitude that they don’t want to work with Rroma children. They are
afraid of low-grade marks and that they will be called “Gypsy teacher”, and
tha,t because of many Rroma children, quality of education will be low for
other children. This article presume one form of integration into society, but that is not
possible because of discriminatory attitude towards Rroma girl.
Special segment of our interest is woman’s human right
to health and adequate health care. Problems that we noticed trough our five
years long field work with Rroma women, are related with regulation free of
charge health protection. Here we are pointing to violation of article 15 of
the Framework Convention and also article 22 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. This problem mostly has refugees form Kosovo who don’t
have papers because of justified reasons (they are living in illegal
settlements and they cannot have address to gain ID and other necessary documents,
some of them have documents but running away during bombing they did not bring
them and because of violence they cannot go back to take those documents).
However, most of Rroma women are not included into system of health care. Under
constant pressure, without financial safety and without health protection, risk
from spreading dangerous diseases is justified and danger is constantly
present. The other part is attitude of medical stuff and doctors towards Rroma
women. This part is absolutely discriminatory.
Every women, of 1500 of our clients, have at least several unpleasant
experiences visiting medical institutions. They are defying problem as
inadequate medical treatments, discriminatory behavior of medical staff and
doctors. Also every women knows other women from their community who met with
same problems. According to that number of Rroma women who were discriminated
by medical staff and doctors is very high. Holding, trough project, health
tribunes with experts in Rroma settlements, those problems are clearly coming
into surface.