Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of Montenegro

Addendum

Information received from Montenegro on follow-up to the concluding observations *

[Date received: 7 July 2016]

Recalling its general recommendation No. 31 (2005) on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system, the Committee recommends that the State party:

a)Conduct broad awareness-raising campaigns at the local and national levels on how to report cases of racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred to the Ombudsman and other relevant authorities and how to bring them before courts;

1.The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights has implemented the Plan of promoting anti-discriminatory behaviour and practices, which included a media campaign on anti-discriminatory behaviour designed to create a more humane and tolerant environment, as well as introduce the general public to the rights that are guaranteed by the Law. It was realized during 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and in course is its implementation for 2015.

2.This year’s campaign that took place under the slogan: “Respect diversity, reject discrimination, accept human being!” included the prohibition of discrimination of the Roma and Egyptian population in Montenegro. Likewise, also for the future period it is planned this campaign to include this form of discrimination.

b)Strengthen initial and in-service training of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police officers on how to identify and sanction racially motivated offences;

3.The Ministry for Human and Minority Rights has implemented the “Plan for education in the field of protection from discrimination” by the way of providing training for representatives of the judiciary, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, non-governmental organizations dealing with the protection of human rights and freedoms, regional units and branches of police in Montenegro and local governments from all Montenegrin municipalities, which are in contact with discrimination. Education was implemented during 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and in course is its implementation for 2015. Attorneys were not included in these educational activities.

4.Next year, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights will implement training aimed at the protection from racial discrimination against Roma, Egyptians and other minority nations in Montenegro.

c)Provide training to judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police officers on the provisions in criminal legislation relating to racism, equal treatment and non-discrimination and provide an evaluation of such training in the next periodic report;

5.The training on providing protection from discrimination carried out by the Ministry does not cover the provisions of the criminal law, but it is related to the application of anti-discrimination legislation.

6.All the participants fill in evaluation questionnaires after each seminar/workshop, based on what the final report on implemented cycle of training for the respective year is drafted and published on the Ministry’s website.

d)Ensure that criminal acts relating to racial discrimination, incitement to racial hatred and racially motivated hate crimes are prosecuted at a level commensurate with their seriousness, and expedite such cases;

7.Regarding the proceedings relating to cases of racial discrimination before the Montenegrin courts, in 2011 there was one case with final judgement of acquittal. In 2012 and 2013 there were no cases before the Montenegrin courts. In 2014, there were four cases, two of which were resolved with convictions, to one person was pronounced a suspended sentence and to one was determined a prison and suspended sentence. In the period from 1 January 2015 to 1 December 2015 in the course were three cases, two of which were resolved. In one case was adjudicated a prison sentence, and in the second was imposed security measure.

8.Cases of criminal acts of racial discrimination, in accordance with the conclusions from the meeting of the presidents of all courts, are identified as cases having priority in dealing with cases.

9.Note: Pursuant to Article 42a of the Amendments to the Criminal Code of Montenegro, if the crime was committed out of hatred because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity of another person, the court will consider this circumstance as an aggravating one, except if it is not prescribed as a feature of the basic or a more serious form of the criminal act.

10.According to Article 9a of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, which was adopted on 26 March 2014, hate speech is any form of expression of ideas, statements, information and opinions which spreads, incites, promotes or justifies discrimination, hatred or violence against person or group of persons because of their personal characteristic, xenophobia, racial hatred, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance, including intolerance expressed in the form of nationalism, discrimination and hostility against minorities.

11.The most important amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, relate to the introduction of new, specific forms of discrimination, including the “racial discrimination”. By the introduction of the new Article (Article 17 that relates to racial discrimination, prescribes that any distinction, unequal treatment or bringing in unequal position of a person with a belief that race, color, language, nationality or national or ethnic origin justifies contempt for a person or group of persons, or justifies the notion of superiority of a person or group of persons to those who are not members of that group is racial discrimination). that highlights racial discrimination as a specific form of discrimination was respected the General Recommendation No. 7 of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the Racial Equality Directive (Council Directive 2000/43/EC), of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin. (The meaning of separation of certain forms of discrimination is, above all, to mark and qualify those illicit acts that are considered especially dangerous for the community and to complement cases of possible discrimination that are not contained in other legislation).

e)Establish a mechanism to recognize, record and analyse such cases and provide information on their incidence in the next periodic report.

12.By the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms is established as institutional mechanism for protection against discrimination, with precisely defined responsibilities (in 10 items).

13.Also, this law obliges police, prosecution, courts, misdemeanor organs and all inspection services to submit to the Protector precise record of all reported and processed cases of discrimination (according to the Regulation and the Form prescribed by the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights) which thus become a sort of database of cases of discrimination.

14.(Pursuant to Article 33 of the Amendments to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, the courts, public prosecutors, misdemeanour organs, administrative organ responsible for police affairs and inspection organs are obliged to keep separate records on submitted reports, initiated procedures and decisions made within their respective competencies in connection to discrimination.

15.Data from separate records are to be submitted to the Protector, no later than 31 January of the current year for the previous year, and at the request of the Protector, mentioned organs are obliged to submit the data from this record even for a specific shorter period during the year.

16.According to the data of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms in 2014, before the courts in Montenegro were conducted 19 civil proceedings. Out of this number one proceeding has been initiated before the Basic Court in Bar due to discrimination on the basis of national affiliation. Given that the database into which The Protector might have an insight is not created, keeping records is not fully taken by the competent authorities (we are still missing the information on the outcome of the proceeding.

17.Before the regional misdemeanour organs (in this case MO Podgorica) in Montenegro, in 2014 were filed two requests for initiating misdemeanour proceedings because of discrimination based on national affiliation. At the time of submission of this information on 28 January 2015 these proceedings were in progress.

18.In the Protector’s institution in 2014 there were 54 cases pertaining to discrimination, of which eight complaints were based on national affiliation. In two cases the Protector has found no violation of law; in one case after filing a complaint, the applicant initiated court proceeding; in one case the complaint was not amended within the prescribed deadline, nor after the deadline; in one case the applicant withdrew the complaint; in one case the Protector submitted the complaint to the High State Prosecutor in Podgorica for competent processing; in one case the investigation procedure is ongoing. Please note that one recommendation was delivered in 2015.

Legal status of “displaced” and “internally displaced” persons

19.12.While taking note of the strategies and action plans adopted by the State party to find a durable solution to the uncertain legal status of “displaced” persons (from the former Yugoslav republics) and “internally displaced” persons (from Kosovo) in Montenegro, the Committee is concerned that many such persons are at risk of becoming stateless. It is concerned that a number of “internally displaced” persons of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin have difficulty obtaining certain personal documents required to apply for the status of foreigner under the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners (arts. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7).

Recalling its general recommendation No. 30 on discrimination against non-citizens, the Committee recommends that the State party:

a)Simplify the procedure for “displaced” and “internally displaced” persons to qualify for the status of foreigner under the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners;

20.Permanent resolving of the legal status of displaced persons from former Yugoslav republics and internally displaced persons from Kosovo residing in Montenegro is enabled by the recognition of the right to permanent residence or temporary residence, through the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners, which entered into force on 7 November 2009.

21.As a reminder, the deadline for submitting requests for regulation of the status, prescribed by this Law, was two years from its adoption, i.e. until 7 November 2011. After that, the deadline for submission of requests for regulation of the status of these persons has been extended three times in a row, so by the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro, number 61/13), the final deadline in which the internally displaced persons from Kosovo might file a request for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years, was extended until 31 December 2014.

22.Bearing in mind that a number of these persons, for objective reasons were unable to obtain all the necessary documents for the regulation of their status from the country of origin, and taking into account the commitment of Montenegro to within the limits of its capabilities provide to these persons easier access in the exercise of their rights, in which way the legal deadline would be respected, the Ministry of Internal Affairs went a step further by making possible for internally displaced persons from Kosovo to submit the request with just IDP’s ID card, which means that on 31 December 2014, the legal deadline for submission of requests for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years elapsed. Also, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, in cooperation with UNHCR, OSCE and the European Commission made a Public Call to displaced persons and internally displaced persons to not later than 31 December 2014 submit the request for regulating the status of foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. Also, to DP’s and IDP’s were distributed bilingual leaflet with detailed information on the possibilities for resolving the legal status in Montenegro. All persons who did not exercise the right to submit the request for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years are illegally residing in Montenegro from 1 January 2015. Also, in order to finally resolve the legal status of refugees and internally displaced persons in Montenegro, on 6 March 2014 was signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In accordance with the signed memorandum was formed the Operational team with the aim of analysing the information and taking appropriate measures to address the identified barriers. If these persons subsequently obtain and submit an ID card of the state of origin, they will in accordance with the Law on Foreigners achieve the temporary stay of up to three years, and those who obtain a travel document of the country of origin will achieve permanent residence in Montenegro. In this way, are rounded up all measures and activities of support and assistance to displaced and internally displaced persons for regulating their legal status in Montenegro. The efforts on providing the support they need to obtain the necessary documents will continue also in this year.

23.In March 2014 was formed the Operational Team to analyse the situation regarding the procedures for submitting requests for regulation of the legal status of displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro and work on resolving the identified obstacles in this process. Based on the recommendations of the Operational Team, from September 2014, the procedure for applying for foreigner status was simplified what allowed all I/DP to submit the request for the status of foreigners only on the basis of I/DP identification document and certificate on I/DP status.

24.As a result of activities undertaken during the period from 7 November 2009 (the date of entry into force of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners), until 30 April 2015, displaced persons and internally displaced persons have filed a total of 14,022 requests for permit for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years. Out of this number, 11,289 requests have been resolved, while the procedure for 2,733 requests is underway.

25.Precise statistics on the number of refugees and internally displaced persons who still live in Montenegro cannot be provided, bearing in mind the data from earlier pre-registrations that show that they was about 16,000. If we consider the fact that 14,022 persons applied for permanent residence or temporary residence up to three years, and that so far 1,045 persons received the citizenship of Montenegro and that were issued 58 guarantees to displaced persons that they will acquire Montenegrin citizenship if they bring release from nationality of the State whose nationality they possess, it can be concluded that about 800 of these individuals no longer lives in Montenegro, or did not want to use their right to regulate permanent or temporary residence in accordance with the law.

26.By the Amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding, with which its validity will be extended until 31 December 2016, will be created conditions for the continuation of the activities of the Operational Team and mobile teams of Kosovo, in order to assist internally displaced persons who have applied until 31 December 2014 in obtaining the necessary documents. The Parliament of Montenegro, on 16 December 2014, adopted the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro, number 56/14), which entered into force on 1 January 2015, and the implementation of which began on 1 April 2015. In order for the children born in Montenegro to follow the fate of parents regarding their legal status, Article 82, paragraph 6 of the Law on Foreigners stipulates that the permanent residence permit may be issued to a child whose both parents at the time of his birth have permanent residence permit, whose one parent, at his birth, is Montenegrin citizen and is residing in Montenegro or a foreigner who has been granted permanent residence, with the consent of the other parent and whose one parent, at his birth, has permanent residence permit, and the other parent is unknown or died. In this way, the children born in Montenegro whose parents have solved the status are enabled to go through the simplified procedure of acquiring permanent residence, because, let us recall, according to the previous legal solutions, these children were able to exercise the right to temporary residence for up to a year.

27.As a result of activities undertaken during the period from 7 November 2009 (the date of entry into force of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners), until 30 September 2015, displaced persons and internally displaced persons have filed a total of 14,022 requests for permit for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years. Out of this number, 11,721 requests have been resolved, while the procedure for 2,302 requests is underway.

b)Raise the awareness of the persons concerned in a simple, accessible and well-publicized manner about the importance of registering, having proof of registration orhaving documents for themselves and their children;

28.In order to increase the number of requests for registration in the registers and achieving the planned level of implementation of the Action Plan for resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons, were implemented following activities: field visits, preparation and distribution of promotional materials (multilingual leaflets on Montenegrin, Albanian and Romani language), media campaigns (with the public invitation to I/DPs in the print and electronic media to submit the request for the status of foreigner in Montenegro before the expiry of the term prescribed by the law) and the provision of legal assistance in the process of submission of requests (in operation was put a mobile team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for taking biometric data in order to issue the documents, beside it, there was operating also the mobile team of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Montenegro). Activities are continuously carried out with the UNHCR and partner NGOs.

c)Enhance assistance to persons facing problems with the payment of administration fees and continue to organize bus visits in order to help them obtain the documents required to apply for foreigner status in Montenegro;

29.In the period from 1 June to15 July 2014 was organized a field visit for 3,481 IDPs from Kosovo (78% of the population, which at that time was not yet applied for the regulation of legal status). During this activity were identified 1,494 persons who were still in need of regulation of legal status. From February 2014 to April 2015, UNHCR has prepared a list of 1,083 IDPs living in Montenegro, and have the need for documents from Kosovo. In cooperation between the ministries of internal affairs of Montenegro and Kosovo, of this number, 973 persons were interviewed, and subsequently were issued 216 identity cards and 313 passports. At the meeting in Pec, which was held from 1 to 3 April 2015, two ministries, with the support of the UNHCR, analyzed the cases of 228 persons from the list whose requests for registration in the register of births in Kosovo were considered particularly complex. At the meeting were agreed concrete steps which are expected to lead to entry of these persons in the register of births.

30.During the period from 7 November 2009 until 30 April 2015, displaced persons and internally displaced persons have filed a total of 14,022 requests for permit for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years. Out of this number, 11,289 requests have been resolved, while the procedure for 2,733 requests is underway.

31.During this period, displaced persons have submitted a total of 4,674 requests for permanent residence permit. Out of this number were resolved 4,374 requests, while for 300 requests the procedure is underway. Also, displaced persons filed 300 requests for temporary residence up to three years, of which were resolved 221 requests, while for 79 requests the procedure is underway.

32.During this period, internally displaced persons have submitted a total of 7,905 requests for permanent residence permit, out of which were resolved 6,437 requests, while for 1,468 requests the procedure is underway. Also, internally displaced persons submitted a total of 1,143 requests for temporary residence up to three years, of which were solved 257 requests, while for 886 requests the procedure is underway. In addition, since the beginning of the application of the new Law on Montenegrin Citizenship i.e. from 1 January 2008 to and including 30 April 2015, a total of 1,048 displaced persons from the area of former SFR Yugoslavia have obtained citizenship of Montenegro.

33.The validity of the Regulation on the manner of exercising the rights of displaced persons from former Yugoslav republics and internally displaced persons from Kosovo residing in Montenegro is extended until the end of June 2015, in order to enable these persons to access the rights until the regulation of their legal status in Montenegro. Field activities of the UNHCR showed that the Regulation is applied unevenly in some municipalities in Montenegro, which will be the subject of further additional attention.

34.Permanent resolving of the legal status of displaced persons from former Yugoslav republics and internally displaced persons from Kosovo residing in Montenegro is enabled by the recognition of the right to permanent residence or temporary residence, through the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners, which entered into force on 7 November 2009.

35.As a reminder, the deadline for submitting requests for regulation of the status, prescribed by this Law, was two years from its adoption, i.e. until 7 November 2011. After that, the deadline for submission of requests for regulation of the status of these persons has been extended three times in a row, so by the adoption of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette of Montenegro, number 61/13), the final deadline in which the internally displaced persons from Kosovo might file a request for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years, was extended until 31 December 2014.

36.Bearing in mind that a number of these persons, for objective reasons were unable to obtain all the necessary documents for the regulation of their status from the country of origin, and taking into account the commitment of Montenegro to within the limits of its capabilities provide to these persons easier access in the exercise of their rights, in which way the legal deadline would be respected, the Ministry of Internal Affairs went a step further by making possible for internally displaced persons from Kosovo to submit the request with just IDP’s ID card, which means that on 31 December 2014, the statutory deadline for submission of requests for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years elapsed. Also, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, in cooperation with UNHCR, OSCE and the European Commission made a public call to displaced persons and internally displaced persons to not later than 31 December 2014 submit the request for regulating the status of foreigners with permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. Also, to DP’s and IDP’s were distributed bilingual leaflet with detailed information on the possibilities for resolving the legal status in Montenegro. All persons who did not exercise the right to submit the request for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years are illegally residing in Montenegro from 1 January 2015. Also, in order to finally resolve the legal status of refugees and internally displaced persons in Montenegro, on 6 March 2014 was signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In accordance with the signed memorandum was formed the Operational team with the aim of analysing the information and taking appropriate measures to address the identified barriers. If these persons subsequently obtain and submit an ID card of the state of origin, they will in accordance with the Law on Foreigners achieve the temporary stay of up to three years, and those who obtain a travel document of the country of origin will achieve permanent residence in Montenegro. In this way, are rounded up all measures and activities of support and assistance to displaced and internally displaced persons for regulating their legal status in Montenegro. The efforts on providing the support they need to obtain the necessary documents will continue also in this year.

37.Please note that all these procedures for internally displaced persons are free of charge, since the competent authorities of the Republic of Kosovo issued all documents, except passports, free of fees and other expenses, and the cost of issuing passports to all persons was covered by the UNHCR.

d)Establish a simplified birth registration procedure and issue documents to all persons born in the territory of the State party;

38.Measures have been taken to identify extremely vulnerable families and families of persons with special needs who cannot obtain the documents, in order to assist these persons, including legal assistance.

39.The Law on Amendments to the Law on Extrajudicial Proceeding introduced the court proceeding for determining the time and place of birth of a person who was born in Montenegro outside a health institution. Application of the Law began on 2 May 2015. The Draft Law has been prepared with the support of UNHCR and UNICEF. The novelties in this Law effectively regulate the procedure for the registration of birth of persons born outside a health institution, while persons who were born within the health system will continue to initiate the subsequent registration procedures, if necessary, before the regional offices and branches of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

40.During 2014 began the implementation of the agreement between Montenegro and the Republic of Kosovo on subsequent registration in birth registries of Kosovo for IDPs living in Montenegro. On the basis of this agreement, mobile teams of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo have been five times in Montenegro to interview interested parties and assist them in obtaining the necessary documentation from Kosovo.

41.The Ministry of Internal Affairs as of 1 January 2010 keeps data on civil state including entries in registers of births and citizens. The Ministry of Internal Affairs in cooperation with the Association of Parents and UNHCR has prepared updated information with the aim of a simple and efficient way to explain to the parents about the procedure for entering of their new-born children in the register

42.The leaflet “Entering a new-born in the register of birth in four steps” is the fruit of the efforts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be a good service to citizens, and to this goal simplify procedures and make all relevant information easily accessible. This initiative was supported by the Association of Parents, an organization that is publicly recognized for exceptional care about the rights of children and parents, which is another indicator of good cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the civil sector. The idea to in a simple way explain to the parents about the procedure to enter a new-born in the register of birth, which in the existing circumstances may seem complicated and be very stressful, was supported by the UNHCR, which allocated funds for its translation into Albanian and Roma language, as well as its additional printing. This guide contributes significantly to the awareness of citizens, especially new parents, on the procedure of registration of children in birth registries, and it also contributes to the efforts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNHCR to offset the statelessness.

e)Devise a strategy and take administrative and judicial measures to register or retroactively register children born outside of established health institutions.

43.We note that in the process of acquiring Montenegrin citizenship by admission, according to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship and the Law on General Administrative Procedure, it is determined whether a person has or does not have a citizenship. If the person is not entered in the documents according to origin, i.e. citizenship of its parents, in this process is sought the evidence about that (the certificate of a competent organ). If that person meets the other conditions stipulated in the Law, then it acquires Montenegrin citizenship by admission or by origin. There were no cases of refusal of the request for the admission of persons without citizenship, who were born and legally and continuously live in Montenegro. However, in order to solve each and every case of persons without citizenship they must submit the request. Also, we believe that these persons are not stateless persons, but persons who did not exercise their right to enter themselves by the citizenship of their parents and acquire the citizenship of the state by the origin of the parents.

44.As a result of activities undertaken during the period from 7 November 2009 (the date of entry into force of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners), until 30 September 2015, displaced persons and internally displaced persons have filed a total of 14,022 requests for permit for permanent residence and temporary residence up to three years. Out of this number, 11,721 requests have been resolved, while the procedure for 2,302 requests is underway.

Children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin in the educational system

45.The Committee is concerned about the low rate of enrolment, low school attendance and high drop-out rate among children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin, especially after the age of 11, including for reasons of child labour, child marriage and forced marriage in the case of girls. The Committee is also concerned at the high number of Roma children living and working in the streets, which makes them vulnerable to trafficking and economic and sexual exploitation. In addition, the Committee is concerned at the lack of instruction in the Roma language and the de facto segregation of children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin studying at the Konik branch of the Božidar Vuković Podgoričanin school (arts. 2, 3, 5 and 7).

In the light of its general recommendations No. 19 (1995) on racial segregation and apartheid and No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma, the Committee recommends that the State party: (b) Ensure that children of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin without birth registration or identity documents do not suffer discrimination in accessing education and in the school environment.

46.All children of the Roma and Egyptian population have access to education in the school education system of Montenegro, regardless of whether they have personal documents or not (temporarily, parents can use just refugee identity card for registration of their child to school or kindergarten), while the parents of these children are in obligation to get involved in resolving the issue of the documents, so to provide personal documents for their children who need it and rightfully belong to them. In the process of acquiring Montenegrin citizenship by admission, according to the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship and the Law on General Administrative Procedure, it is determined whether a person has or does not have a citizenship. If the person is not entered in the documents according to origin, i.e. citizenship of its parents, in this process is sought the evidence about that (the certificate of a competent organ). If that person meets the other conditions stipulated in the Law, then it acquires Montenegrin citizenship by admission or by origin. There were no cases of refusal of the request for the admission of persons without citizenship, who were born and legally and continuously live in Montenegro. However, in order to solve each and every case of persons without citizenship they must submit the request. Also, we believe that these persons are not stateless persons, but persons who did not exercise their right to enter themselves by the citizenship of their parents and acquire the citizenship of the state by the origin of the parents.

47.Work on the implementation and expansion of the model of desegregated education of Roma and Egyptian children is continued. Currently, more than 200 students are transported daily to other city schools, so now all the children of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian origin are studying in city schools, while the regional unit closed

48.In order to increase awareness about the necessity and importance of education of Roma children, there are ongoing programs of regular pre-school learning, programs of half-day care and activities of preparatory kindergartens for Roma and Egyptian children. Project activities (contact with the families, RE community, local authorities, municipal organisations of the Red Cross, centers for social work, schools in which children will enroll) for preparatory kindergarten are implemented for already three years and included 8 public preschool institutions. Children at risk of dropping out are regularly monitored, measures to overcome the problems are proposed, families are visited and a direct contact with them is established (teachers, professional associates of city schools). Six RE mediators ensure that children attend school regularly, collaborate with teachers and professional services in schools with the goal to obtain success. Regularly are provided funds for the procurement of textbooks which children of RAE population are receiving for free and funds for scholarships for all Roma secondary school and university students.