Montenegro has recorded a worrying decline in the number of Roma who possess key documents - a certificate of citizenship, a valid ID card and a birth certificate, according to research by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM).
Project Coordinator at CEDEM Milena Kovačević, at the presentation of the report on the socio-economic position of Roma in Montenegro, said that they continuously face various obstacles, from poverty to social exclusion, as well as limited access to basic rights, especially in the areas of education, employment and healthcare.
She stated that CEDEM, in cooperation with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, conducted the fourth wave of research in May that monitors the socioeconomic position of the Roma population in Montenegro, and previous research was conducted in 2016, 2018, and 2023.
As Kovačević stated, the latest survey included 592 households.
She said that documentation and legal status are one of the problems faced by the Roma population in Montenegro.
"In quite a number of cases, Roma do not have a birth certificate, citizenship, ID card, health card and other documentation that they need to exercise all legally guaranteed rights, as citizens, but also as members of marginalized groups," said Kovačević.
As she said, of the total number of children identified in three surveys and living in surveyed households, in 2016, 93 percent of children were registered in birth registers, and in 2018, that percentage was 92,8 percent.
"After a significant increase in the percentage of children registered in birth registers in 2023, which amounted to as much as 97,9 percent, in this year's survey, that percentage returned to the levels recorded in 2016 and 2018 and amounts to 93 percent," the survey states.
Kovačević said that, when it comes to the adult population, measurements indicate that after a consistent increase in the percentage of respondents who possess a certificate of citizenship, a valid ID card and a birth certificate between 2016 and 2023, there has been a worrying decline in the extent to which Roma possess this documentation this year.
As she stated, regarding the percentage of newly settled Roma who possess a certificate of citizenship, an extremely pronounced decline was recorded between 2023 and this year, where in 2023, 62,2 percent of newly settled Roma possessed a certificate, while in 2025 that percentage fell to only 26,4 percent.
The research states that a slightly less pronounced decline in this category was recorded among domicile Roma, from 83,1 percent to 42,3 percent between 2023 and this year.
"Between 2023 and this year, there was a dramatic decline in the possession of key documents," said Kovačević.
The research states that, when it comes to documentation that includes possession of a valid ID card and birth certificate, no significant differences were recorded among newly settled Roma, while among domiciled Roma, these differences are very pronounced.
"Whereas between 2023 and this year, the percentage of domicile Roma who possess a valid ID card fell from 97,3 percent to 75,4 percent, and in the same period, the percentage of domicile Roma who possess a birth certificate fell from 86 percent to 64,4 percent," the research states.
Kovačević pointed out that such a decline represents a serious regression when it comes to the realization of basic human rights, because without basic documents, no right can be realized in Montenegro.
She said that one of the important aspects regarding Roma inclusion is cultural potential.
"Our research data indicates that after the improvement recorded between 2016 and 2018, then a significant decline between 2018 and 2023 in the number of respondents who speak Montenegrin without problems, the most significant percentage increase has been recorded so far, which indicates the strengthening of the capacities of Roma to integrate into Montenegrin society and the local community itself," said Kovačević.
She said that all comparative research in Europe shows that Roma children are less included in the education system, which is one of the key obstacles to further inclusion in the labor market and actually one of the key obstacles to effective inclusion in general.
"According to the research results, although we have recorded a decline in the number of children who dropped out of school between 2023 and this year, it is worrying that at the same time there has been a sharp increase in the number of children who are not included in the education system at all," said Kovačević.
This, she added, indicates deep obstacles in access to education for Roma children in Montenegro.
Kovačević said that this year's survey recorded a higher share of respondents who reported monthly incomes ranging from 700 to 1,5 thousand EUR, which indicates an increase in the share in higher income groups compared to the 2023 survey.
"So, compared to all previous research, we can say that this result showed that the material status of Roma in Montenegro is somewhat better," said Kovačević.
The data, as stated in the research, indicates that Roma today assess their own health as better than in 2023.
Kovačević said that 74 percent of respondents said they have access to health services, which is an important indicator of the availability of basic health care.
CEDEM Director Nevenka Vuksanović stated that positive trends include income growth, greater initiative for inclusion in the labor market, as well as the observed increase in the ability of the Roma community to speak the Montenegrin language, although on the other hand there is a somewhat smaller maneuver in terms of writing and reading.
"The increased receipt of child allowance and school supplies is also commendable, because it significantly eases the socioeconomic position of families with a large number of children, which is why it is a burden that falls heavily on the family," said Vuksanović.
She said that the more positive the perception of their own suffering among the Roma community, the better.
"The increase in the average age of deaths from the Roma community is also very significant, because it reduces this very large gap between the Roma and non-Roma communities, which is 20 years, which means that there is a lot of help for about 2,5 years," said Vuksanović, adding that greater attendance at additional training is also positive.
Speaking about areas where stagnation has been recorded, she stated that the material status remains unchanged compared to 2023, although a fairly large jump has been made compared to 2018.
"Permanent employment of Roma has not changed, the use of assistance from the Center for Social Work remains at the same level. The use of funds for self-employment and business start-ups is at the lowest possible level and almost non-existent," added Vuksanović.
She said that media promotion of Roma culture has remained almost at the same level compared to 2023.
Vuksanović said that they had recorded four negative trends, the most significant of which was a significant decline in possession of basic documentation.
As she said, among the negative trends are the increase in the number of children outside the school system - who have not yet enrolled in primary school or kindergarten, as well as the lower coverage of children with disabilities from the Roma community in state programs.
"One of the most important pieces of information is that direct material assistance provided by the state is decreasing," said Vuksanović.
Presenting the recommendations, she said that additional efforts should be made to enroll children in school and kindergarten, which the new strategy will definitely include.
Vuksanović stated that targeted literacy programs in the Romani language should also be launched.
"We need to develop as much informal education and programs as possible that are aimed at improving family literacy," added Vuksanović.
According to her, in terms of documentation, it is urgently necessary to intensify field activities for issuing documents, especially for newly settled Roma, and to establish mechanisms for regular verification of legal status in cooperation with municipalities and the NGO sector.
"Regarding the labor market and employment, it is of course necessary to stimulate the participation of women in the labor market and also to review the type of assistance provided for self-employment," Vuksanović pointed out.
As she said, in terms of social protection, a positive trend should be maintained in terms of child allowances, school supplies and school obligations.
"It is necessary to strengthen the program that applies to children with disabilities from the Roma community and revise the distribution of direct assistance to them or improve the system itself," said Vuksanović.
She stated that, when it comes to housing, it is necessary to include Roma in planning housing policies in order to avoid segregation of the Roma community.
"Public health programs in communities should continue, so that the progress achieved is not lost, and access to preventive services should be strengthened in cooperation with health mediators, who are also increasing in number, which is commendable," said Vuksanović.
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