Council of Europe helps Roma community in Albania

TIRANA, Sept. 18 – The Council of Europe started Monday a project in Albania on raising public awareness and human rights of the Roma community. That is part of a project held in several southeastern European countries. In Albania the Council will train authorities “to improve monitoring and evaluation to raise awareness of Roma culture and combat prejudices” in a two-year project, according to a statement. The project plans to open Internet sites, hold regional workshops on Roma culture and media, arts festivals and produce advertising spots. The Roma, estimated as 80,000 to 100,000 out of Albania’s 3.2 million population, are officially recognized as a linguistic minority. They are part of a group of about 10 million people found in almost all Council of Europe member states. The project, “Equal Rights and Treatment for Roma,” from the Council of Europe and European Commission, applies to Roma communities in Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Although the Roma communities have been in Europe since the 14th century, very often they are not recognized by the majority society as a fully fledged European people, suffering from rejection and persecution, the Council said.