On November 26 and 27, the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization organized the Roma Activism Forum 2025 in Belgrade at the "Parobrod Cultural Institution". Over the course of two days, participants had the opportunity to discuss topics important for improving the position of Roma in Serbia – from youth identity, housing and employment, to political participation and the role of the media. The forum opened with introductory speeches by Igor Jovanović, Deputy President of the Belgrade City Assembly, Slađana Jovanović, Project Coordinator of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization, and Stefan Srbljanović, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.

The first panel was dedicated to the topic “Antigypsyism – from reaction to prevention”, and the panelists spoke about the challenges and mechanisms of combating discrimination, as well as the need for a systemic approach to preventing antigypsyism. The panel "Who Tells Our Story" discussed who and how shapes narratives about Roma in Serbia, emphasizing the importance of responsible media representation and a stronger presence of the Roma voice in public space. The panel "New Power of Voice" brought together young activists who spoke about the identity of young Roma, their role in contemporary activism and the importance of empowering a new generation of leaders. The panel "Roma in the Decision-Making Process" raised issues of Roma political participation and the importance of including representatives of the Roma community in decision-making processes. The first day of the forum ended with a performance by young Mihajlo Šargić, who was proclaimed the first accordion of Serbia 2025 in Soko Banja.

The forum continued on the second day with the important topic "Life in Settlements", where the legalization of buildings, access to infrastructure and improvement of housing conditions in settlements where Roma families live were discussed. The panel "Work as Freedom" focused on the topic of access to the labor market, self-employment and the development of small businesses, as well as the promotion of successful business operations by Roma entrepreneurs. The panel "Work that Cleans the City" discussed the position of collectors of secondary raw materials, their contribution to environmental protection and improvement of working conditions. The final panel "How social networks are changing activism" opened the important issue of modern digital tools and the ways in which social networks contribute to the visibility, networking and social engagement of Roma activists. The end of the Forum was marked by the performance of violin virtuoso Mihajlo Balinović.

The Forum represented much more than an event, it was a space of solidarity, understanding and joint reflection. It made it possible to hear the voice of those who contribute to social change and the fight for equality on a daily basis, but also to strengthen cooperation between institutions, civil society organizations and activists. The messages and conclusions from the forum will serve as important guidelines for further work on improving the position of the Roma community.

The ecumenical humanitarian organization extends its sincere gratitude to all participants, panelists, partners and guests who contributed to the success of this event with their presence, knowledge and energy. Thank you for your commitment, open dialogue and shared vision of a society in which every person lives with dignity, equality and inclusion.

The forum was implemented within the project "Social Inclusion for a Dignified Life of Roma and Other Vulnerable Persons in Serbia 2023–2026", supported by the Swiss organization HEKS EPER.

Link to the show: https://www.rts.rs/radio/radio-beograd-1/5835164/forum-romskog-aktivizma.html