La Strada Documentation Center

Minority Rights in Practice in South-East Europe 2004-2008 - Final Review Report Fostering minority participation and integration in the Balkans (2009)

Document number
2402
Date
2009
Title
Minority Rights in Practice in South-East Europe 2004-2008 - Final Review Report Fostering minority participation and integration in the Balkans (2009)
Author/publisher
King Baudouin Foundation, Florian Bieber, University of Kent, Canterbury, Mariana Milosheva-Krushe, consultant
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Economy in transition, Youth employment, State socialism, Socio-Economic transition, Discrimination, Unemployment, Poverty, Community development, Health care, Social security, Social exclusion, Drugs abuse, Health, HIV/AIDS, Globalisation;
Summary
In recent years, the general legal and political environment for the harmonious development of interethnic relations has improved substantially in most parts of South-East Europe. However, the reality of interethnic relations and minority rights varies greatly. Overall, despite major efforts made by the governments of this region to adapt their legislation to international standards, one has to acknowledge that minorities continue to be exposed to varying levels of discrimination, segregation and marginalisation. Moreover, real participation of ethnic minorities in decision-making processes remains limited and lags behind political rhetoric. This is due to a lack of effective implementation of legal provisions, inadequate policy commitments and insufficient public understanding, especially at local level.
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