Centre for Civic Education (CCE) condemns the violence perpetrated by two men against a Roma boy in Podgorica, which was recorded and circulated via social networks during last couple of days. CCE urged competent institutions to identify and accordingly sanction the bullies by implementing the provisions on hate crime in order to convey a clear message that racist violence and discrimination are unacceptable in Montenegrin society.
Citizens’ standpoints on Roma population are still largely coloured with stereotypes, prejudices and hatred, and social distance towards Roma is alarming, which was confirmed by the research results on discrimination which the CCE conducted in the beginning of 2016. We fear that this act of violence is just a “tip of the iceberg”, because numerous other cases are left unreported out of the fear and lack of information of victims. Verbal and physical violence against Roma occurs on a daily basis – on the streets, in supermarkets, in schools among younger generations as peer violence. Many young Roma abandon schools precisely because of the constant pressure and discrimination they suffer from their peers, which contributes to vicious circle of isolation of Roma and hinders their integration into the society.
Violence which occurred is a wake-up call for the institutions of system, primarily for institutions dealing with education, in other words, they should move from plans, strategies and rhetoric to specific actions which would contribute in full integration and inclusion of Roma population in Montenegrin society. In addition, we need to work on further improvement of programmes which should supress violence as a model of behaviour and communication, advocated by broader social context.
Fight against racism and discrimination against Roma population requires more than sanctioning the violence. Racism is taught, because fear, as the basis of prejudice, violence and discrimination, reflects the process of education from the earliest stages of life. Unfortunately, rejection and lack of tolerance for Roma illustrates the lack of culture of human rights passed on generations. On the other hand, general education programmes and trainings of teachers do not focus on Roma as an integral part of history and culture of Montenegro.
Violence which occurred is a wake-up call for the institutions of system, primarily for institutions dealing with education, in other words, they should move from plans, strategies and rhetoric to specific actions which would contribute in full integration and inclusion of Roma population in Montenegrin society. In addition, we need to work on further improvement of programmes that should supress violence as a model of behaviour and communication, advocated by broader social context.
CCE will continue its work with young people in order to raise the awareness on social issues which Roma population faces in their pursuit of human rights, in order to strengthen the solidarity and tolerance as values of significance for general development of Montenegrin society which does not treat Roma population as second-class citizens.
Petar Đukanović, programme coordinator