PAIRS Project – Programmes for the Active Integration/Inclusion of the Roma in the South-East Europe and Decade Intelligence held a Joint Conference in Shkodra, Albania, on March 20, 2014. Its objective was to present and discuss the work done by PAIRS and DECADE INTELLIGENCE about Roma Inclusion in SEE.
This Joint Conference, previously planned by PAIRS to be held in Shkodra, was organized by its two partners, Malteser and Teuleda, since they have their headquarters in Shkodra and their hold their activities in Shkodra and Northern Albania.There were 90 participants in all, underlining 55 participants from Europe: PAIRS partners, Roma Decade, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth of Albania, Ministry for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro, Albanian National Organizations about Roma and guests.
The conference was welcomed by the President of the Region of Shkodra Council, Mr. Maxhid Cungu. Mrs. Bardhylka Kospiri, Vice Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Albania greeted the initiative of PAIRS and the event organization by PAIRS and Roma Decade and she promised on the continuity of collaboration and support by the Albanian government and Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth about Roma Integration; Mr. Leon Gjokaj, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Montenegro, briefly presented the Roma situation in his country and he evaluated this event highlighting the importance of sharing information, practices, and recommendations among partners which are to be a challenge to adopt them in their own countries; and Daniel Skobla, Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Officer, United Nations Development Program, presented the UNDP activity on Roma Inclusion.
The whole conference was moderated by Mr. Skender Veliu, Executive Director of Amaro Drom Union.
“Factors for success and failure of Decade projects: Research findings”, was the first presentation by Mrs. Aleksandra Bojadjieva, Research and Policy Officer, Decade of Roma inclusion Secretariat Foundation. Roma Decade is a Program supported by the European Commission and Mrs. Bojadjieva also presented the work Roma Decade done for the Roma Inclusion. “What did we learn so far from the PAIRS project bringing together partners from 8 countries and from civil society as well as governments?”, was the speech by Mr. Adam Kulmann, Thematic Expert of PAIRS Project, who also presented the work of PAIRS from its beginning (October 2012) until now. In the afternoon the Conference program continued with the Working Groups in two sessions, who discussed about Roma Inclusion Succors and Roma Inclusion Challenges and their work was presented to all the Conference participants.
The Conference came to its end with the concluding remarks by Mrs. Aleksandra Bojadjieva and Mr. Adam Kulmann.
This event was commented by local and national TVs and VOA Tv (the Voice of America)