Bosnian Roma Human Rights project

Project Description

    The Bosnian Roma Human Rights (BRHR) project, funded by the European Union, has started in January 2006 and its aim is to strengthen democratisation and good governance as well as to combat racism and discrimination against most vulnerable ethnic minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Roma.

Two locally registered organizations “Budi Moj Prijatelj” (Be My Friend) in Sarajevo and “Omladinska Romska Inicijativa” (Roma Youth Initiative) in Kakanj are CARE’s partners on implementation of the BRHR project. These two local associations were selected at the beginning of the project design phase and actively participated and contributed to data collection, strategy development and selection of target region, activity identification, management modality and review of the proposal. The reason CARE has chosen “Budi Moj Prijatelj” was its proven work in capacity building of local Roma NGOs in the target region and throughout BiH and therefore they have lead responsibility for the training and capacity building component. Our second partner “Omladinska Romska Inicijativa” from Kakanj is the leading Roma NGO in the region which manages the Resource Centre, the network of 12 local Roma associations – beneficiaries of BRHR project. The “Omladinska Romska Inicijativa” is responsible for networking, linkages and facilitation of engagement of community groups.

The regions of project implementation, Sarajevo , Zenica-Doboj and Central Bosnia cantons, which together account for 15 000 Roma, were selected because of high concentration of Roma settlements and potential to get support by the local authorities, as declared during the project design phase. 

Considering the objectives of the project, the overall objective is to increase realization of human rights on the part of Roma communities in BiH but, more specifically, it is improving the capacity of Roma in the areas of project implementation.

The results achieved during the so far period have influenced local governments’ readiness to support the project in incoming period through provision of funds for the activities, as agreed with representatives of these respectable institutions and CARE. The amount allocated for this purpose will be defined very soon.

Location

Sarajevo , Zenica-Doboj and Central Bosnia cantons

Partner Organizations

“Budi Moj Prijatelj” (Be My Friend), Sarajevo
“Omladinska Romska Inicijativa” (Roma Youth Initiative), Kakanj

Donor

European Union

Duration:

24 months (incl. 6 months of non cost extension)