THE SOCIALLY EXCLUDEDCHAPTER 3Table 4: Population of the Croat and Serb nationality according to the 1991 and 2001 censusesRegionsAreas of towns/municipalitiesCroatsSerbs1991 2001 1991 2001No % No % No % No %Banija – Kordun25 68535.230 01771.541 28356.59 33922.2Glina7 71834.06 71268.013 97161.52 82928.7Petrinja15 60044.319 28082.315 80244.82 80912.0Topusko2 25133.02 04563.54 14460.795429.6Vojnić1161.41 98036.07 36689.42 74750.0Lika2 09314.74 33060.011 22578.82 63322.2Plitvička Jezera1 60022.43 14167.34 97069.5142430.5Udbina4088.884151.03 99386.371143.1Vrhovine853.534838.02 26292.249855.0Dalmatia25 81336.231 74584.543 30560.84 98113.3Benkovac8 64536.28 84590.416 30163.87307.5Drniš10 45871.47 83591.23 86526.46567.6Knin2 37210.311 61376.519 65285.43 16420.8Skradin4 33854.03 45286.63 48743.443110.8Western Slavonija20 11741.528 39079.822 71046.74 87813.7Brestovac3 17658.63 57888.81 91935.43458.6Đulovac1 11824.22 89379.53 04365.958015.9Okučani4337.63 15374.64 77783.690721.5Pakrac6 02535.46 04868.37 85346.11 51417.1Slatina9 42559.512 71885.85 11832.31 53210.3Eastern Slavonija40 45045.837 48956.428 45432.220 44430.8Beli Manastir4 94537.76 08555.44 21732.22 92026.6Darda3 10435.73 66351.93 29337.92 00828.4Erdut3 49334.33 11737.05 16550.44 53853.9Ilok6 84870.36 42577.06726.95666.8Vukovar22 06047.418 19957.515 10732.510 41232.9Total114 21838.4131 97169.9146 97749.442 27522.4Source: SDF49
CHAPTER 3THE SOCIALLY EXCLUDEDThe CLNM provides a guarantee for the adequate participationof national minorities in all levels of publicservice, and the implementation of this guarantee isincluded in the <strong>Croatia</strong>n Road Map as part of the SarajevoProcess, which highlights its importance for Serbreturnees. However, no legal mechanism currentlyexists for enforcing minority employment rights, orfor encouraging minority applicants to invoke theirminority status during recruitment processes.In May 2006, the Central State Office for Administration(CSOA) verbally stated that national minoritiesconstitute approximately 4% of <strong>Croatia</strong>’s 52,000 civilservants, excluding those working in judicial bodies.National, regional and local government bodies arerequired to draft employment plans which reflect thenumber of minorities currently in their employ andspecify future recruitment targets. Some governmentunits are in the midst of this process, while othersare not, citing a lack of financial resources to hire additionalemployees. This would indicate that furtherprogress towards the inclusion of minorities in publicservice will require firm guidance at the central level.3.2.6 Access to TransportationThe availability of public transportation is also connectedwith access to employment, and the provisionof services for minority communities who live in settlementsseparate from the majority of the population,which is where most employers as well as providers ofservices and educational institutions are located. In thecase of the Roma, the absence of public transportationto and from pre-schools is one of the factors which,amongst others, supports the organisation of specialpre-school programmes. This is used as a justificationfor the concentration of Roma students in one shift,which results in the creation of Roma-exclusive classes(<strong>UNDP</strong>, 2006).Considering that a significant number of Serb returneeshave settled in the demographically devastated areasof the Knin and Glina, and frequently live in remotehamlets, transportation and connections with regionaland sub regional centres represent a huge problem.In such areas, it is practically impossible to organisepublic transportation for so few inhabitants, and theexisting system is slow, unavailable and expensive.3.2.7 Access to Information andCommunication TechnologyIn impoverished and poorly equipped Roma settlements,ICT is not accessible to most of the population.Initiatives launched by NGOs on the organisation ofcomputer literacy courses are sporadic and mostly locatedin larger urban areas. The exception is the mostrecent European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)course on basic computer literacy implemented bythe Association of Roma in Zagreb and the ECDLAcademy Elit-Trade. In an attempt to increase thelevel of employability among the Roma, a two-monthcourse has been organised, where participants receiveinternationally recognised diplomas.3.2.8 Access to Housing and BasicInfrastructure“<strong>Croatia</strong> wants to enter the European Union and Iagree with that, but how are we going to do thatwhen our village does not have electricity, and thisis the 21st Century. Normal living conditions are apriority. Our village does not have roads, sewage,garbage collection...”(Participant of the focus group, Sisak, <strong>UNDP</strong>, 2006b)There are three factors concerning the way the Romapopulation lives: (1) spatial marginalization and poordevelopment of Roma settlements, (2) access tobasic infrastructure, and (3) access to subsidies andloans to improve the conditions of housing. Parts ofsettlements, and sometimes even entire settlements,are built without permits. A lack of roads, inadequatehousing, and a poor quality of living conditions givethe impression of a temporary settlement, althoughthey have been around for decades. Seventy-ninepercent of people who live in such settlements pointout the need for a sewage system, 49% do not haverunning water, and 26% do not have electricity. 61The social infrastructure, such as the distance to kindergartens,primary schools and health centres, is aproblem for about 70% of inhabitants. 625061 Geran-Marko Miletić. (2006): Uvjeti stanovanja i stambene aspiracije Roma u Kako žive hrvatski Romi62 Ibid.