From 04 to 05 April 2018, the joint European Union/Council of Europe Regional Programme “Promoting Good Governance and Roma Empowerment at Local Level” organised local launching events in the municipalities of Vlora, Roskovec and Fier.

These events aimed at celebrating and promoting the Romani culture and the artistic skills of Roma ahead of the 8th of April, International Roma Day, as well as at raising awareness on issues and problems that Roma face in the Albanian context.

The artistic team of the support organisation, Institute of Romani Culture in Albania (IRCA) performed the drama “Wooden Dish” authored by Edmund Morris, and directed by Marjus Veizi, which addresses the social dynamics and the generational gap in a post-modern society. The team, composed and directed by Roma, demonstrated their talents and recalled for a better treatment and non-discrimination of Roma through art and culture.

The events were addressed by Claus Neukirch, Head of the Council of Europe in Tirana, Dritan Leli, Mayor of Municipality of Vlora, Majlinda Bufi, Mayor of Municipality of Roskovec, Gentjana Cakrani, Deputy Mayor of Municipality of Fier, as well as Alessandro Angius, Human Rights Task Manager at European Union Delegation to Albania, Merita Xhafaj, General Director at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and Bekim Murati, General Director of the Agency for the Support of Local Self-Government, who reiterated on the importance of the empowerment of the Roma communities with a view to mainstreaming Roma inclusion within each of the participating municipalities of the ROMACTED Programme in Albania.