Across Europe the Roma Community remain social and economically marginalized. In Albania, where estimates of the Roma population vary from 80,000 to 150,000, the community has particularly suffered in the years following the Albanian democratic transition after 1990. Although benefiting from social services provisions during the communist era the Roma community has taken a step backwards in their development, having been largely excluded from the benefit of recent economic growth and denied the access to services that they once enjoyed.

The lack of integration has resulted in as much as 80% of the Roma community living below the poverty line. A 2006 UNDP study on the social vulnerability of the Roma revealed that 55% of children under 15 are illiterate. As many as 20% of Roma households reside in slum areas living in makeshift shacks as compared to less than one percent of non-Roma households. Many live in abandoned buildings previously owned by State factories, while there is limited access to water and sanitation services.

Working in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator I have been, amougst other tasks, acting as the communications focal point for Joint Programmes under Delivering as One UN initiative. This includes the Joint Programme 'Empowering the Vulnerable Minority Communities of Albania'. This has involved documenting programme implementation in three regions of Albania where the programme is facilitating civil registration, improved access to health and education services and developing community level infrastructure. In addition, I have produced a documentary film and advocacy materials, while coordinating activities to mark International Roma Day that promotes Roma culture and the development concerns the community face on April 8th.

International Roma Day Promotional Poster download