ERIAC Serbia Responds to Minister Demo Beriša’s Remarks on the Roma Community

ERIAC Serbia expresses its deep concern over the recent statement made by Serbia’s Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Mr. Demo Beriša, regarding the Roma community. Public remarks by state officials that rely on paternalism perpetuate harmful stereotypes rooted in anti-Roma racism. These not only contribute to the stigmatization of Roma but also reinforce institutional racism, a systemic problem that continues to severely impact the Roma community across Europe. These statements further erode social cohesion at a time when democratic values across the globe are facing significant strain.

During an official visit to Čačak on 22 July 2025, Minister Beriša made the following statement:

“ Roma, as our neighbors, must understand that neither the state, nor the municipalities, nor local self-governments are ATMs. We must guide them to finish school, to engage in work, and to become useful members of society”

 

Such language is especially troubling coming from a minister tasked with protecting human and minority rights and fostering social dialogue. When officials resort to exclusionary and demeaning narratives, they fail to fulfill their mandate and risk legitimizing public discrimination.

Mensur Haliti, Chair of ERIAC’s PAKIV Board, reflected on the implications of this statement:

“ When a minister uses the metaphor of an ATM, he is not speaking about public responsibility, he is projecting an image in which the rights of Roma are portrayed as withdrawing money without coverage. But Roma did not come to take; for decades, they have been inserting their card into a system that often rejects their PIN. This statement is not a private opinion. It was not made as a comment, but as a message from a minister of the Republic of Serbia, delivered in an official capacity, at an event organized by a state body. It was not directed at an individual, but at an entire people. Its message was not dialogue, it was a verdict. And its consequences are not rhetorical, but constitutional. At a time when Serbia is facing its deepest social crisis since the democratic transition, such a statement is extremely dangerous. It is destabilizing. It is politically harmful. And it stands in opposition to every pillar of the official policy of the Republic of Serbia.”

ERIAC Serbia remains fully committed to addressing institutional racism through education, training, and public engagement. Earlier this year, we trained more than 150 public servants across the region to recognize and counter discrimination against Roma. Statements like this do not just undermine the hard work of civil society, state institutions, and citizens who are striving to build a more just and cohesive society in Serbia. They weaken trust, obstruct constructive dialogue, and send a troubling message of ambivalence from state authorities when it comes to addressing anti-Roma racism.

We call on all public officials to act responsibly, and to uphold the standards of respectful and inclusive speech in line with Serbia’s constitutional values and international human rights obligations. We, Roma deserve equal treatment, dignity, and recognition as full members of society, and we will continue to assert our rights.

ERIAC Serbia stands ready to support institutions in rebuilding trust with Roma communities and advancing a Serbia where equality is not merely a promise, but a practice. Given that the remarks by Minister Beriša were made in an official capacity, we expect a response from state authorities that reflects their constitutional and moral obligations to all citizens of the Republic of Serbia, including the Roma.

ERIAC Srbija izražava duboku zabrinutost povodom nedavne izjave ministra za ljudska i manjinska prava i društveni dijalog Republike Srbije, gospodina Dema Beriše, koja se odnosi na romsku zajednicu. Javne izjave državnih zvaničnika koje se oslanjaju na paternalistički pristup doprinose učvršćivanju štetnih stereotipa zasnovanih na antiromskom rasizmu. One ne samo da dodatno stigmatizuju Rome, već i jačaju institucionalni rasizam, sistemski problem koji i dalje ozbiljno pogađa romsku zajednicu širom Evrope. Takve izjave dodatno urušavaju društvenu koheziju u trenutku kada su demokratske vrednosti širom sveta pod značajnim pritiskom.

Tokom zvanične posete Čačku, 22. jula 2025. godine, ministar Beriša izjavio je sledeće:

„Romi, kao naše komšije moraju da shvate da ni država ni opštine ni lokalne samouprave nisu bankomati. Moramo ih uvesti u to da završavaju škole, da budu radno angažovani i da stvaramo korisne članove društva.”

Ovakav govor je posebno zabrinjavajući kada dolazi od ministra čiji je zadatak da štiti ljudska i manjinska prava i podstiče društveni dijalog. Kada zvaničnici pribegavaju isključujućim i omalovažavajućim narativima, oni ne samo da ne ispunjavaju svoju zakonsku dužnost, već i rizikuju da legitimizuju diskriminaciju u javnoj sferi.

Mensur Haliti, predsednik PAKIV odbora ERIAC-a, osvrnuo na ovu izjavu:

„ Kada ministar upotrebi metaforu bankomata, on ne govori o javnoj odgovornosti, već projektuje sliku u kojoj se prava Roma predstavljaju kao podizanje novca bez pokrića. Ali Romi nisu došli da uzimaju, oni su decenijama ubacivali karticu u sistem koji im često odbija šifru. Ova izjava nije privatno mišljenje. Nije izrečena kao komentar, već kao poruka ministra Republike Srbije, izrečena u zvaničnom kapacitetu, na događaju koji je vodio državni organ. Nije bila upućena pojedincu, već čitavom narodu. Njena poruka nije bila dijalog, već presuda. A njene posledice nisu retoričke, već ustavne. U trenutku kada se Srbija suočava sa najdubljom društvenom krizom od demokratske tranzicije, takva izjava je veoma opasna. Ona je destabilizujuća. Ona je politički štetna. I dolazi u suprotnosti sa svakim stubom zvanične politike Republike Srbije.”

ERIAC Srbija ostaje u potpunosti posvećen borbi protiv institucionalnog rasizma putem obrazovanja, obuka i javnog angažovanja. Ranije ove godine, obučili smo više od 150 državnih službenika širom regiona da prepoznaju i odgovore na diskriminaciju prema Romima. Izjave poput ove ne samo da potkopavaju rad civilnog društva, državnih institucija i građana koji se zalažu za pravednije i kohezivnije društvo u Srbiji, one narušavaju poverenje, onemogućavaju konstruktivan dijalog i šalju zabrinjavajuću poruku ambivalentnosti državnih vlasti kada je u pitanju suočavanje sa antiromskim rasizmom.

Pozivamo sve javne funkcionere da postupaju odgovorno i da poštuju standarde dostojanstvene i inkluzivne javne komunikacije, u skladu sa ustavnim vrednostima Srbije i međunarodnim obavezama u oblasti ljudskih prava. Mi, Romi, zaslužujemo jednako postupanje, dostojanstvo i priznanje kao punopravni članovi društva i nastavićemo da se borimo za svoja prava.

ERIAC Srbija izražava spremnost da podrži državne institucije u obnovi poverenja sa romskom zajednicom i u izgradnji Srbije u kojoj jednakost nije samo obećanje, već praksa. S obzirom na to da je izjava Ministra Beriše izrečena u zvaničnom svojstvu, očekujemo reakciju državnih organa koja će odražavati njihove ustavne i etičke obaveze prema svim građanima Republike Srbije, uključujući Rome.