Women and girls from the Albanian Roma community have published an open letter detailing the discrimination they face and calling for inclusion in society and politics.
The authors of the letter explained how they are constantly discriminated against by society, institutions, and are in a constant battle to avoid the Municipal police. They said that as a community and as women they are full of potential and deserve recognition from policymakers.
The requested the following:
- That Roma issues be included in political parties programmes;
- That serious solutions and alternatives be presented for their problems, based on the requests they have sent to the responsible institutions;
- That institutions are responsible for guaranteeing suitable and long-term jobs in the employment sector and that schemes for job searchers align with their skill sets and employment history.
A spokeswoman from the Center for Social Advocacy Romina Sefa told Citizens Channel that Albania’s burgeoning feminist movement isn’t complete without including women from marginalized backgrounds, such as Roma.
She continued that female candidates for MP have ignored Roma women and girls during the campaign prior to the April 25 election.
“They’ve met with other women door to door to talk about their problems. But with women from the Roma minority, there is no public discourse and no parliamentary candidates who have sat down to talk and understand the reality which these women live in.
Roma and Egyptian communities are Europe’s most marginalized and discriminated against minority. Across the continent, they are routinely and systemically excused from participation in society including education, healthcare, employment, welfare, politics, social matters, and even basic human rights such as being able to register births.
Albania has been ranked as one of the worst in the region for its treatment of these communities. Slurs and derogatory comments from politicians against members of the community are not uncommon.
