Roma Settlements Research Articles

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Roma Settlements: A Comparison with the General Population in Slovakia.

Hepatitis E infection is one of the most frequent causes of acute hepatitis in the world. Currently five human genotypes with different geographical distributions and distinct epidemiologic patterns are identified. In Slovakia, only rare cases of hepatitis E have been reported in past years. Because the most important risk factors associated with HEV infection include consumption of contaminated pork meat and poor hygienic standards, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HEV total antibodies and the main risk factors for HEV in the population living in separated and segregated Roma settlements (n = 195), which represent places with increased risk of infection in Slovakia and to compare it with the prevalence in the general population (n = 69). Of 264 respondents included in the study, 47 (17.8%) showed positivity for anti-HEV antibodies, 42 of whom were Roma (21.5%, n = 195) and 5 (7.2%, n = 69) non-Roma. The population living in Roma settlements lives in poorer conditions and are at higher risk of HEV in comparison to the general population. However, differences in living conditions within the settlements do not contributed to lower risk of HEV antibody prevalence between Roma living in settlements.

Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in the Roma and Non-Roma Inhabitants of Slovakia: A Cross-Sectional Seroprevalence Study.

The lifestyle, health and social status of the Roma are generally below the standards characteristic for the non-Roma population. This study aimed to find out the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the population of Roma living in segregated settlements and to compare it with the prevalence of antibodies in the non-Roma population from the catchment area of eastern Slovakia. The seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was significantly higher in the Roma group (45.0%) than in non-Roma inhabitants (24.1%). A statistically significant difference was also recorded between the two non-Roma groups in the study, 30.4% of those from the catchment area and 19.7% from the non-catchment area were seropositive. Univariate logistic regression confirmed poverty and higher age to be significant risk factors influencing the seropositivity to T. gondii. Of the clinical symptoms analyzed in the study, only muscle and back pain were associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The close contact of Roma with an environment contaminated by different infectious agents and the insufficient hygiene, lower level of education, poverty, lack of water and household equipment and high number of domestic animals increase the risk of infectious diseases in the Roma settlements and subsequently the spread of communicable diseases at the national or even international level.

Impact of Infrastructure on Mortality in Marginalised and Segregated Communities in the Slovak Republic.

Poverty and social exclusion is measured through different criteria and one of them is the health sector. The relationship between Roma population and the health sector is on the edge of researchers' interest in the Slovak Republic. The purpose of this paper is a quantification of the regional disparities in the development of mortality which is causally linked with selected infrastructural determinants - namely access to water and sewerage. These determinants differently participate in the structure of mortality in marginalised and segregated communities and they deepen regional disparities in health. It is a spatial analysis of the districts of the Slovak Republic. The data from the Atlas of Roma communities in Slovakia 2013 is applied. Through the multiple linear regression model the relationship between mortality of the Roma population and water and sewerage availability in the Roma settlements is examined. Similarity between the districts is measured by the Euclidean metric system. The most appropriate district for representing the Slovak Republic average is the Dunajská Streda district in a field of arithmetic mean and the Veľký Krtíš district in a field of median value. The outermost district is represented by the Košice-okolie district, conversely, the Trnava district is the closest to the rest of the Slovak Republic. The highest statistically significant impacts on mortality are explored in public water supply extension plan and public sewerage supply extension plan. It seems that water play a greater role in determining health of Roma population. The highest number of inhabitants with supplied public water and public sewerage is kept by the Kežmarok district, the Košice district, and the Spišská Nová Ves district. Our results can be beneficial for health decision making, since in the Strategic Framework for Health of the Slovak Republic metrics for measuring and evaluating health aspects in Roma communities absent and that prevents them to be correlated with the planned interventions.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection and Its Association with Sexual Behaviour and Alcohol Use in the Population Living in Separated and Segregated Roma Settlements in Eastern Slovakia.

The aim of the study was to explore sexual behaviour and the occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in the population living in Roma settlements compared to the majority population in Slovakia and to assess the association between alcohol use and sexual behaviour within both populations. A cross-sectional population-based Hepa-Meta study was conducted in Slovakia in 2011. The final sample comprised 452 Roma and 403 non-Roma respondents. The occurrence of CT was detected by direct proof of the pathogen by PCR. The association between alcohol use and the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour were assessed using a logistic regression. First intercourse at age 15 or younger was reported by 27.9% of Roma (vs. 4.5% of non-Roma); 93.4% of Roma (vs. 77.9% of non-Roma) used condom inconsistently, 22.8% of Roma (vs. 43.9% of non-Roma) used a condom for protection from unwanted pregnancies and only 8.8% of Roma (vs. 21.8% of non-Roma) due to protection against infectious diseases. However, Roma reported having had five or more sexual partners less often compared to the majority (11.5% of Roma vs. 20.6% of non-Roma). Binge drinking at least once a month was associated with a higher number of sexual partners in both groups, but not with condom non-use. The prevalence of CT infection in the Roma population was higher (3.8%) compared to non-Roma (2.7%); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Our study found no differences in the prevalence of CT infection between Roma and non-Roma despite differences in sexual behaviour. Roma begin their sexual life earlier and have unprotected sex more often, but on the other hand, they seem to be much more restrained in terms of the number of sexual partners compared to the majority population.

John Henryism, Gender and Self-reported Health Among Roma/Gypsies in Serbia.

We describe how self-reported health (SRH) varies with gender and John Henryism (a strong behavioral predisposition to engage in high-effort coping to overcome adversity) in a low income sample of Serbian Roma. Data were collected in 2016 in several Roma settlements around Belgrade, Serbia. The sample consisted of 90 men and 112 women. In addition to John Henryism (JH), measured by a Serbian version of the John Henryism Scale, demographic data and data on SRH and family relationships dynamics were collected. SRH was positively correlated with age and JH, and negatively correlated with a history of chronic disease. Roma males and females differed significantly on JH and a number of other variables. For Roma women, multiple regression analyses revealed that a history of chronic disease, unemployment, age and daily stress level were negatively associated with SRH, while JH, SES and harmonious relationships with one's family/children were positively associated with SRH. For Roma men, there was no association between JH and SRH, but older age, being on welfare, a diagnosis of hypertension and extended family disputes were associated with poorer SRH. Hence, despite economic disadvantage and social exclusion from mainstream society, some Roma report good health and the ability to cope actively with economic disadvantage and social exclusion. This study adds to the literature on the cross-cultural relevance of JH theory for understanding health variations within socially and economically marginalized populations.

No water for the poor: the Roma ethnic minority and local governance in Slovakia

ABSTRACTThis article contributes to the emerging critiques of inequalities in the access to water by focusing on three inter-related aspects: affordability, accessibility and quality of water. Based on extensive fieldwork, the paper explores the situation in segregated Roma settlements in Slovakia and highlights the critical role of power asymmetries at a local level. It builds a conceptual framework using Bourdieu’s notions of “social field”, “habitus”, “doxa”, and “capital”, highlighting the central role of power asymmetries at a local level. Insights are drawn on how dominantly positioned social actors command decision-making regarding water supply, and how social hierarchies, inequalities and the “positionality” of Roma as a marginalized group are functional to the lack of political will to address insufficient water access for Roma in any efficient manner.

Health-endangering everyday settings and practices in a rural segregated Roma settlement in Slovakia: A descriptive summary from an exploratory longitudinal case study

BackgroundResearch into social root-causes of poor health within segregated Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe, i.e. research into how, why and by whom high health-endangering settings and exposures are maintained here, is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the local setup of health-endangering everyday settings and practices over the long-term in one such community. It is the initial part of a larger longitudinal study qualitatively exploring the social root-causes of poor Roma health status through the case of a particular settlement in Slovakia.MethodsThe study, spanning 10 years, comprised four methodologically distinct phases combining ethnography and applied medical-anthropological surveying. The acquired data consisted of field notes on participant observations and records of elicitations focusing on both the setup and the social root-causes of local everyday health-endangering settings and practices. To create the here-presented descriptive summary of the local setup, we performed a qualitative content analysis based on the latest World Health Organization classification of health exposures.ResultsAcross all the examined dimensions – material circumstances, psychosocial factors, health-related behaviours, social cohesion and healthcare utilization – all the settlements’ residents faced a wide range of health-endangering settings and practices. How the residents engaged in some of these exposures and how these exposures affected residents’ health varied according to local social stratifications. Most of the patterns described prevailed over the 10-year period. Some local health-endangering settings and practices were praised by most inhabitants using racialized ethnic terms constructed in contrast or in direct opposition to alleged non-Roma norms and ways.ConclusionsOur summary provides a comprehensive and conveniently structured basis for grounded thinking about the intermediary social determinants of health within segregated Roma communities in Slovakia and beyond. It offers novel clues regarding how certain determinants might vary therein; how they might be contributing to health-deterioration; and how they might be causally inter-linked here. It also suggests racialized ethnically framed social counter-norms might be involved in the maintenance of analogous exposure setups.

КУЛЬТУРНО-ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ТЕОРИЯ И ЯЗЫКОВОЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ ЦЫГАНСКИХ ДЕТЕЙ

The paper presents results from language testing of 70 Roma children from Bulgaria - pupils of grade 1, studying in one of the biggest Roma settlement’s schools in Sofia, “Fakulteta” district. The children were tested using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. The test measures language comprehension and language production of the children at the beginning and end of the school year. Between the first and second testing, the teaching methodology in instruction for the children was changed - a Roma assistant teacher whose task was to use the mother tongue of the children as a communicative tool was introduced to the classes. The results of the children during the second testing were substantially better and they are discussed in the light of the theory of the American anthropologist J. Ogbu, who developed his cultural-ecological theory (CE) in the 1980s. The results of the children are analyzed via dispersion analysis using ANOVA. According to Ogbu’s CE theory, the school success of minority children depends on the attitudes of the society at large and the level of community support. The paper also briefly discusses the reason why the de-segregation of the Roma children and their integration into mainstream schools in Bulgaria has largely proved to be a failure.

Predictors of prenatal smoking and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy: a community-based study of Romani women in Southeastern Europe.

The objective of this study was to examine predictors of prenatal smoking, and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy among Romani women. A community-based, cross-sectional study (November 2012 to February 2013) of 410 Romani women in Roma settlements in Serbia and Macedonia was conducted. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of prenatal smoking and attempted smoking cessation during pregnancy. Romani women older than 30 years and those who were living with a man were over twice as likely (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-5.46; aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.27-3.43) to smoke during pregnancy, compared to women<20 and married women, respectively. An inverse relationship between education and prenatal smoking was observed (for primary education versus no education, aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.98; for secondary or higher education versus no education, aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.90). Having a husband/partner who smokes was associated with significantly increased likelihood of prenatal smoking (aOR 3.71, 95% CI 2.20-6.25) and decreased likelihood of attempting to quit (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.24-1.06). Culturally sensitive and comprehensive prevention strategies and intervention programs are needed to reduce smoking during pregnancy among Romani women, including interventions targeting male partners.

Youth living in Roma communities and their beliefs related to intimate partner violence

Background Intimate partner violence attracts the attention of public health professionals who are looking to explore its predictors such as economic situation and life satisfaction. Particularly, the focus is on young people who represent the target population for community interventions so this study examined to what extent judgmental beliefs and attitudes related to intimate partner violence are present among young women and men (15-24 years old) living in Serbian Roma settlements. Methods Data came from the 2010 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Serbia. Associations of judgmental attitudes with a wide range of socio-demographic factors and life satisfaction were tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results One third of men and one quarter of women believed that under certain circumstances men are justified to be violent towards wives.... © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved. Language: en

Low vaccination coverage of Greek Roma children amid economic crisis: national survey using stratified cluster sampling.

Background: Research on Roma health is fragmentary as major methodological obstacles often exist. Reliable estimates on vaccination coverage of Roma children at a national level and identification of risk factors for low coverage could play an instrumental role in developing evidence-based policies to promote vaccination in this marginalized population group. Methods: We carried out a national vaccination coverage survey of Roma children. Thirty Roma settlements, stratified by geographical region and settlement type, were included; 7–10 children aged 24–77 months were selected from each settlement using systematic sampling. Information on children’s vaccination coverage was collected from multiple sources. In the analysis we applied weights for each stratum, identified through a consensus process. Results: A total of 251 Roma children participated in the study. A vaccination document was presented for the large majority (86%). We found very low vaccination coverage for all vaccines. In 35–39% of children ‘minimum vaccination’ (DTP3 and IPV2 and MMR1) was administered, while 34–38% had received HepB3 and 31–35% Hib3; no child was vaccinated against tuberculosis in the first year of life. Better living conditions and primary care services close to Roma settlements were associated with higher vaccination indices. Conclusions: Our study showed inadequate vaccination coverage of Roma children in Greece, much lower than that of the non-minority child population. This serious public health challenge should be systematically addressed, or, amid continuing economic recession, the gap may widen. Valid national estimates on important characteristics of the Roma population can contribute to planning inclusion policies.

Přerušovaná spojení. Budování infrastrukturního zázemí v jedné východoslovenské romské osadě

The article deals with the implementation of the basic infrastructure into the area of an Eastern Slovakian Roma settlement. The infrastructure is conceptualized as an assemblages of material objects, practices and knowledge organizing the existing social relationships, and contributing to the exclusion and marginalization of Roma people. Based on the fieldwork, author discusses the consequences of the infrastructural building (public water supply system, public lighting and electric network) and how do they contribute to the forms of disconnections creating the differences between local majority and people who live in the described Roma settlement.

Change of Daily Life Practices in Disadvantages Groups Settlement through Urban Regeneration

This paper looks into how daily life and identity of Roma people in Turkey are faced of altering by the urban regeneration projects. As a disadvantage group, Roma communities have been faced with urban development projects due to economical, social and physical deformation in their neighborhoods. Consequently, Roma neighborhoods get into subject of urban development plans which are aim to transform existing neighborhood into improved standards of life in the name of generating a decent and healthy social and physical environment for residents, to overcome problems of unemployment and social exclusion. None of projects achieved thoroughly to its aims. Therefore, this paper will focus on two urban regeneration projects on Roma settlements in Turkey which are located in Izmir and Istanbul. While analyzing the completed project in Istanbul, its experience will guide to evaluate ongoing urban regeneration project in Izmir. In so doing, we will voice the demands’ of Roma people in Ege district by an in depth analysis of field work which is consist of interviews, authors’ observations and surveys. Lefebvre's notion of right to the city movement will stimulate framework for analyzing fieldwork findings. The paper ends with a discussion on how the project cause altering Ege neighborhood's culture and how we can contribute to protect existing daily life of Roma citizens.

Positive parenting attitudes and practices in three transitional Eastern European countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia.

To identify potential predictors of using only non-violent forms of discipline for children aged 2-14years and of being against physical punishment among Roma and non-Roma parents/caregivers in Eastern European countries with similar cultural-historical backgrounds. UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data collected in 2010-2011 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia (total of 9973 respondents) were analysed using multivariate logistic regression modelling with receiver operating characteristic analysis. Approximately 27% of the respondents practiced only non-violent child discipline. Roma children experienced only non-violent discipline less than half as often as their non-Roma counterparts. Household wealth index and child sex were significant predictors of positive parenting attitudes and practice. For Roma respondents, rural residence also contributed to being against physical punishment. Parents\caregivers from more affluent households are more likely than those who are less affluent to be against physical punishment of children and are more likely to practice only non-violent discipline. Evidence-based interventions are required to support existing positive forms of child rearing. These should target less affluent households from Roma settlements in the studied countries.

The role of mother's education in the nutritional status of children in Serbia.

The present study aimed to identify the role of mother's education in the nutritional status of children aged 2-5 years in Serbia. Nationally representative population-based study. Age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles of children were analysed. In accordance with the WHO growth reference, children with BMI less than the 5th percentile were considered undernourished. Logistic regression was used to calculate the association between mother's education and other socio-economic determinants as possible confounders. UNICEF's fourth Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted in both Roma and non-Roma settlements in Serbia. Children (n 2603) aged 2-5 years (mean age 3·05 years). Less than 5 % of children aged 2-5 years were undernourished. There were significantly more undernourished children among the Roma population, in the capital of Serbia and among those whose mothers were less educated. There were statistically significant differences according to mother's education in all socio-economic characteristics (ethnicity, area, region of living and wealth index). Mother's level of education proved to be the most important factor for child's nutritional status; place of living (region) was also associated. Mother's education is the most significant predictor of children's undernutrition. It confirms that investment in females' education will bring benefits and progress not only for women and their children, but also for society as a whole.

Roma Settlement Formation in a Small Romanian Town – Instances of Ghettoization and Reduction to Bare Life

Based on findings from a comparative qualitative contextual inquiry carried out between 2012 and 2014, the article analyses the formation of two Roma settlements in the larger context of a small sized town in Romania. The article aims at understanding the constitution of these areas as reflected through people’s narratives, while also accounting for the influence of economic and political developments on where and how they were and are placed on the social and geographic map of the city. Altogether, the article illustrates the similarities and differences between how the two settlements were founded under different political regimes and how are they nowadays subjected to ghettoization and reduction to bare life, understood as processes characteristic for contemporary global capitalism. At the same time, the analysis highlights the limits of the approaches informed by these conceptual frames and ends up by pinpointing the need to complete them with a perspective that links the politics of spatial marginalization to the understanding of how the latter is part of a political economy that exploits the spatially marginalized.

Risk factors associated with the practice of child marriage among Roma girls in Serbia.

BackgroundRelatively little research on the issue of child marriage has been conducted in European countries where the overall prevalence of child marriage is relatively low, but relatively high among marginalized ethnic sub-groups. The purpose of this study is to assess the risk factors associated with the practice of child marriage among females living in Roma settlements in Serbia and among the general population and to explore the inter-relationship between child marriage and school enrollment decisions.MethodsThe study is based on data from a nationally representative household survey in Serbia conducted in 2010 – and a separate survey of households living in Roma settlements in the same year. For each survey, we estimated a bivariate probit model of risk factors associated with being currently married and currently enrolled in school based on girls 15 to 17 years of age in the nationally representative and Roma settlements samples.ResultsThe practice of child marriage among the Roma was found to be most common among girls who lived in poorer households, who had less education, and who lived in rural locations. The results of the bivariate probit analysis suggest that, among girls in the general population, decisions about child marriage school attendance are inter-dependent in that common unobserved factors were found to influence both decisions. However, among girls living in Roma settlements, there is only weak evidence of simultaneous decision making.ConclusionThe study finds evidence of the interdependence between marriage and school enrollment decisions among the general population and, to a lesser extent, among the Roma. Further research is needed on child marriage among the Roma and other marginalized sub-groups in Europe, and should be based on panel data, combined with qualitative data, to assess the role of community-level factors and the characteristics of households where girls grow up on child marriage and education decisions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12914-016-0081-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Health and sanitary habits of the Roma population in the municipality of Knjazevac

The Roma are a marginal group, insufficiently included in various segments of the social life. The life of the Roma after arriving to Europe was accompanied by various difficulties. Because of physical and cultural differences, the entire nation was subjected to stigmatization and discrimination. The aim of this study was to show health and sanitary habits of the Roma population in the municipality of Knjaževac. Materials and methods: the survey was carried out during March 2016 and it was anonymous. The research was conducted by Dr Dragan Mitrovic and Mrs. Ljubinka Simic (coordinator for the Roma population). The survey, consisting of 11 questions, was created by Dr Dragana Mitrovic, a resident at the Pediatrics. It covered 95 Romas from the Roma settlement in Knjazevac, aging 15-65. Random sampling was used. Results and Discussion: 95 Romas were surveyed, 49 (51.6%) were female and 46 (48.4%) were male. The respondents mostly had primary education, 49 of them (51.6%), followed by the illiterate, 34 (35.8%). 7 respondents (7.4%) had finished secondary school and 4 (4.2%) had finished vocational school, while one respondent finished faculty. 62 of the respondents (65.3%) were cigarette smokers while 70 (73.7%) responded that in their family there was at least one smoker. From bronchitis and/or asthma suffered 39 respondents (41.1%) and/or their family members. 66 respondents (69.5%) had indoor plumbing in their homes. 31 respondents (32.6%) answered that they have a shower once a week and other 31 (32.6%) answered that they have a shower once in two days, 28 of them (29.5%) took a bath every day, and 5 respondents (5.3%) answered that they take a bath 2-3 times per month. 56 (58.9%) of the surveyed Roma wash their hands after using the toilet, while 47 (49.5%) clean their teeth regularly using a toothpaste and a brush twice a day. Bad or extracted teeth had 76 Romas (80%). 53 of them (55.8%) were able to explain the meaning of the term 'contraception. A respondent with finished faculty education answered that he bathes every day, washes hands after using the toilet, brushes teeth regulary and has healthy teeth. Of all respondents with vocational education, 5 (71.4%) responded that they bathe every day, wash the hands after using the toilet and 2 of them (28.6%) responded that they bathe once a week. They all wash the teeth regularly, but 4 (57.1%) have bad or extracted teeth. The term 'contraception' was known to 5 respondents (71.4%). In population with primary education, 14 (28.6%) responded that they bathe every day, 15 (30.6%) every other day, 17 (34.7%) once a week, and 3 (6.1 %) 2-3 times a month. 27 of them (55.1%) wash hands regularly after using the toilet, 27 (55.1%) regularly and properly clean teeth, and 42 (85.7%) have bad or extracted teeth. The term ,,contraception' properly explained 31 respondent (36.7%) with primary education. 5 of the respondents with no education, illiterates (14.7%), responded that they bathe every day, 14 (41.2%) bathe every other day, 13 (38.2%) bathe once a week, while 2 (5.9%) bathe 2-3 times a month. 21 of them (61.8%) regularly wash hands after using the toilet, 8 respondents (23.5%) brush teeth regularly and properly, 29 (85.3%) have bad and extracted teeth, while 13 (28.2%) were able to explain the term 'contraception'.The largest number of respondents had elementary and the smallest number had higher education. From the obtained results we can see that the level of education influences the implementation of health and hygiene habits. With the increase of the levels of education, the frequency of implementation of the hygiene increases as well. Determining the health status of the Roma population, improving the realization of the their health care rights by monitoring the implementation of the health care laws, improving access to health care establishments for the Roma population, improvement of living conditions in Roma communities, involvement of Roma health mediators in health centers, improvement of sanitary and epidemiological conditions in Roma settlements, increasing mandatory immunization coverage, improving reproductive health and preventing chronic non-communicable diseases, as well as the sensitization and training of health workers to work with the Roma population, eradication of illiteracy, education encouragement, training and employment, the inclusion of Roma in all spheres of social life as equal members of communities should be the task of health care providers, educational and social institutions, local governments and state bodies.

A Critical Analysis of Urban Regeneration Projects in Turkey: Displacement of Romani Settlement Case

This paper looks into urban regeneration practices targeting Roma people who generally live in city centers’ valuable areas in Turkey. First it analyzes Sulukule urban regeneration project through the conceptual framework of housing rights. Then, drawing from the experiences of Sulukule, it focuses on Ege neighborhood urban regeneration project, which will also be applied in a Roma settlement. The data for Ege neighborhood draws from the questionnaires and the interviews conducted with 102 people in the region. The findings show that voices of habitants of Ege neighborhood have been little addressed and that gentrification process in the neighborhood puts people's housing rights at stake.

The legalization of informal Roma settlements in the Republic of Serbia: A necessary step prior to legitimation

There have been several attempts of the Government of the Republic of Serbia to legalize structures that have been constructed contrary to its building and land use laws. In spite of all expectations, the results achieved have been insignificant. In order to legalize the highest number of illegally constructed structures and to undertake preventive action against the emergence of new illegal construction, the new Law on the Legitimation of Buildings was adopted in November, 2015. However, the author argues that this act, despite its newly simplified and inexpensive procedure, will not enable the legalization of buildings within informal Roma settlements due to the substandard nature of these settlements (most of which are built on land in public ownership or on land that is of an unregulated or unclear legal status). Therefore, the author advocates a need for the enactment of special Law on the Legalization of Sustainable Informal Roma Settlements as a necessary prerequisite for the subsequent legitimation of individual structures within such settlements.