Announcement concerning the state of emergency and the dramatic situation in informal settlements
With its action of solidarity with the poorest, who are living in the most difficult conditions at the moment, Women in Black wishes to remind of the meaning of solidarity as providing the minimum of social justice and human compassion, which is by no means to be understood as mercy.
As peace activists, we do not expect such an act of solidarity from the state itself, but we demand that the state, fulfill the obligations it has undertaken and account for the money it has received within the Decade of Roma People. Let us remind of the fact that at this moment, in extremely harsh weather, it is the Roma population in informal settlements throughout Belgrade and all over Serbia that is the most poverty stricken and endangered.
Once again we demand, convinced that this is a minimum of duties of the state of Serbia, that the final articles of the obligations undertaken in relation to the Decade of Roma People be entirely fulfilled, i.e. those concerning the basic right to a shelter and a home.
Once again, Women in Black and the civil society of Serbia will inform international human rights networks and relevant factors in the international community about the state’s unfulfilled obligations toward the Roma population.
On Sunday, 12th February 2002 at 13:00, Women in Black will once again express solidarity with and support to the Roma population in the informal settlement Belvil in Belgrade.
Women in Black
Belgrade, 11th February 2012
