PWPP News: Serbia Urged to Stop Evictions of Roma

Serbia Urged to Stop Evictions of Roma
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Amnesty International on April, 10, 2011 10:37:00

Must halt forced evictions in Belgrade

7 April 2011
The Serbian authorities must halt a series of forced evictions  of Roma in the
capital Belgrade and to provide them with adequate  housing, Amnesty
International said on the eve of International Roma  Day.
A new report, Home is more than a roof over your head: Roma denied adequate
housing in Serbia,  documents an increasing series of forced evictions of Roma
since April  2009 that has left some housed in metal containers in segregated 
settlements and others returned to living in poverty in southern Serbia,  often
to inadequate housing.
"Instead of halting forced  evictions the Serbian authorities in Belgrade are
carrying out more and  more, driving Roma communities from their homes and
forcing them to live  in inadequate housing," said Sian Jones, Amnesty
International's Serbia  researcher.
"They must stop this practice if they are to abide  by their international
obligations. This includes guaranteeing Roma the  right to housing provided with
sanitation, within reach of public  facilities and employment and secure from
future forced evictions."
Since April 2009 at least seven forced evictions of informal settlements have
taken place.
At the end of March 2010, 20-25 families were evicted from an informal
settlement in the Èukarica area of the capital.
The  following month, about 38 Romani families were evicted from an informal 
settlement in the same area, and then subsequently sent back to  southern
Serbia.
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