The Gender Equality Committee traditionally marked International Roma Day by holding a thematic meeting “Domestic violence in the Roma and Egyptian community in Montenegro”, opened by the Committee Chairperson Ms Nada Drobnjak.

Members of NGO “Centre for Roma Initiative” from Nikšić organised a forum theatre performance titled “Arranged marriages stronger than law”, implemented in cooperation with the Gender Equality Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro, Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, International Police Association (IPA), and with the financial support of the OAK Foundation.

Seven Roma and Egyptian high school and college students participated in the performance, with the aim of indicating to importance of combating domestic violence and application of legal mechanisms in preventing child arranged marriages.

In addition to the Committee members, the meeting was also attended by: Mr Siniša Bjeković, Deputy Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, Mr Zoran Ulama, Head of the Office for Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings, Mr Leon Gjokaj, Director General of the Directorate for the promotion and protection of minority rights, Ms Sonja Šundić, Advisor to the President of Montenegro, Mr Dan Redford, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ms Ana Zec, UNICEF Programme Coordinator, Ms Aleksandra Čelar, EU Delegation representative as well as coordinators for gender equality issues in the ministries and institutions and representatives of non-governmental organisations addressing  the issue of position of Roma women in Montenegro.