As part of the “Month of Women’s Roma Activism” initiative led by the Center for Roma Initiatives (CRI), a session was conducted in Nikšić focusing on violence against Roma and Egyptian women, alongside a workshop aimed at elementary and high school students.

“According to the Nikšić Security Center, 14 Roma and Egyptian women filed reports of violence last year. This figure is noteworthy given that Roma women typically hesitate to report the ongoing violence they experience. The Nikšić SOS Shelter for Women and Children Victims of Violence informed us that ten women were provided care last year, 11 the previous year, while 2022 saw 13 cases. Notably, in 2021, there were 18 reports from Roma women,” stated Fana Delija, the executive coordinator of the Center for Roma Initiatives.

Thanks to the dedication of local activists, it has been increasingly observed that members of the Roma-Egyptian (RE) community are starting to report incidents of domestic violence and actively seek protection and shelter.

The session in Nikšić was attended by representatives from the Municipality, the Nikšić Security Center, the Center for Social Work, educational institutions, and the non-profit sector. The lecture was presented not only by Fana Delija but also by Slavko Milić, MA, from the Nikšić Security Center. Similar workshops are scheduled for Bijelo Polje and Podgorica, with plans to formulate recommendations for coordinated actions by all essential stakeholders.

Regarding the workshops for elementary and high school students, which are organized in partnership with the Center for Security, Sociological and Criminological Research of Montenegro “Defendologija,” four psychological and four educational workshops will take place.

“We are also initiating the Mini Action Plan for the municipalities of Nikšić and Berane, which involves distributing promotional materials and engaging in door-to-door discussions with the community regarding legal norms on reporting violence, arranged marriages, and begging,” Delija mentioned.

The “Month of Women’s Roma Activism” campaign kicked off on March 8th with the release of a video titled “A Suit and Apron Are Gender Neutral,” created by high school students, which emphasized the importance of gender equality.

“As a continuation of the campaign, we will showcase a video entitled ‘If I Can, So Can You,’ which shares positive examples of education within the RE community and will be promoted in Roma and Egyptian communities across various Montenegrin cities, aiming to inspire children and their families and highlight the significance of education,” added the executive coordinator of the Center for Roma Initiatives.

In February, CRI announced an essay competition themed “Paths to Equality” for students from six secondary schools: “Stojan Cerović” Gymnasium in Nikšić, “Niko Rolović” in Bar, “Panto Mališić” in Berane, “Slobodan Škerović” in Podgorica, Bijelo Polje Vocational High School, and “Mladost” Mixed High School in Tivat. The jury has selected the competition winners, who will be awarded during the campaign. The first prize was awarded to Darinka Račić from the Berane Gymnasium, while the second and third prizes went to students Milena Velicković and Nikolina Barać from the Bijelo Polje Vocational High School.

“Throughout the campaign, activities designed to promote equality and raise awareness about the crucial issues facing Roma and Egyptian women will be organized,” Delija emphasized.

This campaign will conclude on April 8th, coinciding with International Roma Day in Podgorica, where the focus will be on the challenges and rights of Roma women.

As part of this initiative, which the Center for Roma Initiatives is executing for the second time, various activities are being implemented across several active projects handled by CRI.

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