The Poverty Reduction Committee sitting held on 10 June focused on the presentation of the campaign Roma Women Equally - into the Gender Equality Council. The sitting was chaired by Snezana Stojanovic-Plavsic, Committee Chairperson.

Slavica Vasic, President of Roma Women’s Centre Bibija, presented the activities of this organisation which strives to achieve Roma women’s rights and improve their economic and social position. She stated that women make up 52% of the Roma population and that their average life expectancy is 48, emphasising that they are “the most endangered in the most endangered minority group”. Even though in 2009 Serbia drafted a National Strategy for the Improvement of the Position of Roma and an Action plan for its implementation, no funds have been secured for the achievement of the set goals, stressed Slavica Vasic.

The participants also presented the activities of organisation Romano Alav aimed at increasing the influence of Roma women in decision-making and creating the conditions for their increased participation in human rights mechanisms in Serbia. They listed examples of good practice in Krusevac and Belgrade municipalities of Zvezdara, Barajevo and Palilula which have local action plans for the improvement of Roma women’s position.

It was pointed out that Roma women’s associations are organising actions aimed at improving the living conditions and quality of life in Roma settlements, better health care and protection against violence, raising functional literacy, educating a larger number of children and changing the Roma woman stereotype.

The Committee members endorsed the activities of the Roma women’s centre and the inclusion of Roma women in the work of the Serbian Government’s National Gender Equality Council and local gender equality office.