An Intercultural Artisans Fair organized in Murat Toptani Street brought together Roma artists across the country.
TIRANA, April 8 – Tirana citizens celebrated on Monday the International Roma Day and joined other activities organized as part of the “Roma Values Week”. The activities organized by UNDP in cooperation with other partners highlighted the challenges faced by Roma and Egyptian communities and urged for their greater inclusion in the development mainstream. The events also conveyed a key message: Roma have great values and they should be promoted.
An Intercultural Artisans Fair organized in Murat Toptani Street brought together Roma artists across the country. An extensive collection of craft pieces and handmade products displayed by talented Roma artists and artisans attracted many visitors.
Deputy Mayor of Tirana Jorida Tabaku noted that the Municipality of Tirana has a major plan to support Roma youth who want to attend school and those looking for a job.
“The Municipality of Tirana will take concrete policies to support Roma enterprises in the future. We will implement these policies through the office of Anti-Discrimination Commissioner in the Municipality of Tirana and they will be followed at the same time with civil registration, education, and housing initiatives.”
Zineb Toumi-Benjelloun, UNDP Resident Representative, amongst others highlighted: “On the occasion of International Roma Day, we call upon all relevant parties to strengthen the social and political climate wherein the rights and the culture of Roma are further respected and celebrated at all times. We would also like to call upon Roma and Egyptian communities to continue to strive for effective inclusion in the development drive”.
A Roma craftsman, who was displaying his hand made pieces amongst others said: “This is such an excellent opportunity for me to be here and display my works. Thanks to this fair, many people ordered a number of products. This will generate some income for me and my family who are faced with so many difficulties. I was touched by the respect people showed towards my works and I am full of hope”.
To promote the values of the Roma and Egyptian culture, Roma Values Week will continue with a series of activities such as the presentation of Cultural Diversity Goodwill Ambassadors, staging of the “Les Miserables” drama by Roma youth and University of Arts students, a photo exhibition portraying Roma culture as well as screening of documentaries highlighting Roma spirit and values.
United Nations Development Programme is working in seven regions of Albania (Tirana, Durr쳬 Elbasan, Fier, Vlore, Korce, Berat) to promote social inclusion and empower Roma and Egyptian communities through encouraging participatory planning for infrastructure development; strengthening capacities of Roma and Egyptian civil society organizations; promoting employability and entrepreneurship; assisting the implementation and monitoring of the National Decade Action Plan for Roma, as well as fostering respect for human rights and cultural diversity.
Goodwill Ambassadors of Roma communities
UNDP Albania announced on Monday eight prominent personalities form the world of art, literature, academia and media as Roma and Egyptian Goodwill Ambassadors. The selected personalities will use their popularity, status to reach diverse audiences and help influence decision makers, political leaders, and development partners to support the social inclusion agenda of the Roma and Egyptian communities. Ambassadors together with Roma Role models came together in a festive evening to convey a great message: Respect for Roma values, respect for cultural diversity and greater inclusion in the development mainstream.
Ambassadors were selected among a wide range of personalities based on their contributions stance and demonstrated commitment towards social inclusion of Roma and Egyptian communities.
The well known Maestro Xhani Ciko, Director of the Albanian Opera House, selected as one of the Good Will Ambassadors amongst others said: ” I am very honoured to have been selected as one of the Good Will Ambassadors to give voice to the voiceless. This community needs all our support, needs all our attention, and needs all our encouragement. It’s a community who faces many challenges, but bear excellent values which should be promoted. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to contribute to such a great cause. There will be no integration of Albania without the social inclusion of this community”.
UNDP also selected 15 Roma Role Models, successful individuals from the Roma community, to serve as models to be followed by the community members, but also to the society as a whole.
Xhesika Korra, one of them said: “I’m a Roma, a proud one. I have had to fight stigma against myself and my friends, I have had to work hard, study hard to show everyone that we can, we can be equal members of our society”.
In attendance was also Ambassador Ettore Sequi, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Albania, who amongst others said that the Roma community lives in extremely difficult condition that contributes to them being still often excluded from social life. Ambassador Sequi added that the Roma community will win this battle only when the state institutions and the society will increase their efforts to respect their human rights. He stressed that the human rights of the Roma community are a very important issue on the EU agenda and that they are being constantly supported with funding to be integrated in social life and to improve their education and opportunities.
