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Quality policing service of Roma areas – Phase 2

Training of police officers in Vinica

Description

The proposed project falls into the OSCE Mission to Skopje priorities of promoting the development of a professional police force and developing effective Community Based Policing in areas with strong Roma minority presence through initiatives that will develop positive relations between Roma/Sinti communities and the police, promoting anti bias trainings and awareness among law enforcement officers on Roma history and culture.

Summary

While mechanism of investigation of incidents of alleged misconduct by the police are being addressed by the Police Standard Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) with the support of the Police Development Department of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, there is a need to address the root causes of the behaviour in terms of countering the negative prejudices and stereotypes.

The proposed project builds on the Community Policing work that has already taken place in the country and reflects the current priorities of the Ministry of Interior; it is developed following the recommendation of the “Action plan on improving the situation of Roma and Sinti within OSCE area” and stems from and fully supports the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.

The Action Plan is based on existing OSCE commitments and international and regional human rights law, especially the International Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Racial Discrimination, as well on existing practices in the area of Roma and Sinti-related policy. The Plan is to be implemented by participating States together with OSCE institutions.

The long-term aim of this initiative is to improve the quality of police services in the Roma areas by countering prejudices and stereotypes among the non-Roma police officers leading to police abuse and violence against the Roma communities.

The project has been developed following a participatory approach: the specific need for the proposed intervention has been highlighted and discussed at local level in the frame of several Thematic Citizens Advisory Groups (CAGs ) on Roma Issues and as a follow up to the 2006 OSCE Regional Workshop on policing in Roma/Sinti communities, where the existence of prejudices and stereotypes against Roma among police officers was acknowledged, as well the need to change this reality through concrete measures.

Lack of awareness of the specific problems the Roma population face such as social exclusion and lack of education, together with an insufficient knowledge of Roma culture and traditions, were addressed as main reasons for police officers to have difficulties in understanding the Roma communities they work with.

The Foundation Open Society Institute will be OSCE project implementing partner, providing technical expertise in the needs assessment and delivering trainings on Anti-bias and Roma history and culture. FOSIM has been involved in preparing curricula for in-service police trainings for the OSCE SMMS in the past and their roster of trainers includes professionals, academic and practitioners with the highest level of education and experience in the country. FOSIM has been involved in Human Rights Support projects in 2005/6 advocating for minority rights and Roma and delivering anti-bias trainings.

In 2007 the 1st phase of the project was implemented which was focused mainly on needs assessment. Our implementing partner developed a questionnaire which was distributed to the police officers. The questionnaires were collected and data obtained was analysed. Based on the analysis, training handbook was developed which will be used as reference material during the 2nd phase of the project i.e. will be distributed at the workshops.
The 2nd phase of the project focuses on organising and evaluating the workshops.

The MoI will be actively supporting the implementation of the project, providing training venues (where possible) and selecting and bringing the most representatives officers to receive the training.

Around 200 police officers will be trained in 10 2-day workshops, mainly from Uniformed Police and Alpha Units, as they most get in contact with Roma people during their operational work.

Participants will be selected from several areas according to the percentage of Roma minorities present, or recent history of misuse of force against Roma. After the completion of the needs assessment the places selected for the training are the following: Skopje (Suto Orizari and Bit Pazar), Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar, Prilep, Kumanovo, Kocani, Vinica and Bitola.

Roma community is deeply involved in the project. In the process of identification Roma NGOs were actively participating. During the implementation of the project is foreseen that every Roma CAGs’ Chairperson will participate in the workshop on anti bias training and Roma history and culture hold in his/her area. 

The OSCE will support and supervise all project activities in direct cooperation with the MoIA and the national implementing partner.