Roma women had participated in preparations for the Decade for Roma Inclusion, and Government policy sought to help the Roma participate in political decision making through a comprehensive support system.

The number of Roma is difficult to ascertain because many of them still live a nomadic life, even though many are integrated into majority communities.

While noting the ongoing efforts to improve the living conditions of the Roma community under the Programme for the Integration of the Roma into Lithuanian Society 2000 2004, the Committee remains concerned that the Roma community continues to suffer from problems of integration and discriminatory practices in the fields of housing, health, employment and education.

Six years ago, the Open Society Foundation, the World Bank, and nine national governments addressed the issue by elaborating a step by step plan to integrate the Roma into European society. Known as the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 15, the program prioritized four areas health, housing, education, and employment.

While acknowledging the State party's efforts to promote the social integration of Greek Roma, the Committee remains deeply concerned about the persistent discrimination against Roma people in the fields of housing, health and education.

The Government had adopted the National Programme for the Roma in 2003 and had joined in the Decade for Roma Inclusion initiative, whose action plan focused on four key areas education, health, employment and housing.

The Committee recommends that the State party ensure the participation of Roma representatives in the assessment of the Integrated Action Plan for the Social Integration of Greek Roma and that it include, in its second periodic report, information on the practical effects of the implementation of the Plan, as well as its applicability to non Greek Roma legally residing within the State party's territory.

In March 2004, the Government adopted a new midterm package of measures to promote the integration of the Roma.

Recommendations made included the implementation of the Framework Programme for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian society and a national programme for desegregation in schools, and the establishment of a public fund in support of Roma students.

(15) While acknowledging the State party's efforts to enable the Roma minority to preserve its language and culture and to integrate fully into society, the Committee again notes with concern that Roma still face discrimination in housing, education, employment and access to public places.

The Committee requests the State party to provide it, in its second periodic report, with detailed information on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights of the Roma, including an assessment, with the participation of representatives of the Roma community, of the impact of the Programme for the Integration of the Roma into Lithuanian Society 2000 2004, as well as with information on measures taken under the second phase of the programme for the period 2005 2010.

It was of paramount importance that the State party mainstream its policies.

Such measures encourage individuals to get involved in activities that will foster social integration, their integration into the working world and their participation in society.

Concerning the segregated classes for Roma children, she asked whether they were taught in Romany or in Croatian, and asked how the Government intended to integrate the Roma pupils back into the broader educational system.

(c) The Office of Representation for the Promotion and Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities .

IV. Reintegration

The Committee is concerned that low income persons, the Roma, and documented and undocumented immigrants and their families may not have access to social services.

Also, paid Roma teaching assistants drawn from their communities had been incorporated into the school system.

ΙΙΙ.

Government institutions in charge of enhancing the social integration of the Roma population have been reinforced, including a new Ministry for Youth, Family and Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (2004) and a Governmental Office for Equal Opportunities (2004).

Country initiatives for the integration of persons with disabilities in society

(a) Rehabilitation reintegration assistance to demobilized military forces

C. Reintegration of Nicaraguans in exile

Recovery and social reintegration

(d) To assist in the reintegration of victims of trafficking into society

With regard to the number of racially motivated incidents, three or four serious incidents involving criminal acts directed against the Roma community had taken place near Rome and two others near Bologna in which two members of the Roma community had died a Roma encampment near Caseta had also been destroyed in a fire which had been deliberately set, resulting in charges being brought against 29 persons.

(a) Rehabilitation reintegration assistance to demobilized military forces 303 000

For The Disability Commission read the Office of Representation for the Promotion and Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities .

The Roma

(17) While noting measures taken to improve the conditions of the Roma community, the Committee is concerned that the Roma continue to suffer prejudice and discrimination, in particular with regard to access to health services, social assistance, education and employment.

Concern is also expressed that Roma encounter difficulties in applying for social benefits and that rural Roma are discouraged from claiming land to which they are entitled under the law disbanding agricultural collectives.

The Committee is deeply concerned that, despite the State party's efforts to improve the economic and social situation of Roma through National Plans of Action for the implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005 2015) in both Republics, widespread discrimination against Roma persists with regard to employment, social security, housing, health care and education.

The Plan pays utmost attention to active employment policies in promoting employment, thus supporting the personal initiative of the unemployed in changing their status in the labour market.

The European Commission has played a very helpful role through its structural funds, which cover up to 80 of the additional costs involved in integrating the Roma. Unfortunately, the remaining 20 is difficult to mobilize, owing to widespread anti Roma sentiment throughout Europe.

(a) Roma

The revised document has specific social protection and social inclusion goals that will directly benefit older persons.

(c) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society

My foundations have been active in educating Roma for more than 25 years. Over that period, we have educated a small cohort of young Roma who retain their identity and yet can break the hostile stereotypes held by those with whom they interact.

Although it is not possible to determine with certainty the number of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina (assessments of Roma associations vary from 17,000 to nearly 80,000), it is quite certain that they represent the major ethnic minority.

One of the reasons for the difficulty of defining their numbers lies with the fact that many of them declare themselves members of other, majority peoples, in an attempt to improve somewhat their unenviable social position.

They had been particularly important for the Roma, who, until 2000, had had no local council representatives.

In accordance with the above reform a social assistance system is to be developed that guarantees the integration of persons into social and economic life.

Repatriation and reintegration of Malian refugees

According to the research of the Roma association Our future from Sarajevo, in the school year 1995 1996, 582 Roma children of school age lived in the Sarajevo canton, out of which only 13 (2 ) were enrolled in high school, and only 4 (1 ) in university.

Education is the only way out of the ghetto for many Roma. But in societies like Bulgaria, where racism is rampant, Roma have to fight for equal schooling.