Romani people in Serbia

Romani people, or Roma (Serbian: Роми, romanized: Romi), are the fourth largest ethnic group in Serbia, numbering 131,936 (1.98%) according to the 2022 census.

Another name used for the community is Cigani (Serbian Cyrillic: Цигани), although the term is today considered pejorative and is not officially used in public documents.

In October 2005 the first text on the grammar of the Romani language in Serbia was published by linguist Rajko Đurić, titled Gramatika e Rromane čhibaki - Граматика ромског језика.

[6][7] A large number of Serbian Roma people live in segregated areas, often in slums with houses of different quality,[18][19] some in so-called "cardboard cities" without electricity or water or provision of public services.

On 3 April 2009, a group of Romani people who had been living in an unlawful settlement in Novi Beograd were evicted on the orders of the mayor of Belgrade.

According to the press, bulldozers accompanied by police officers arrived to clear the site early in the morning before the formal eviction notice was presented to the community.

[22] Due to a record of discrimination, human rights reporting mechanisms have consistently drawn attention to the treatment of the Romani people in Serbia.

[23][24] The United Nations have reported persistent discrimination and social exclusion as a concern, particularly stemming from poor birth registration and identity documentation for citizens, and inequitable access to education, housing, employment, and legal protections.

[23] The UN has expressed concerns that the state of Serbia has failed to ensure accountability measures that continually monitor and implement these rights.