Roma and Egyptians in Albania

315 Pages·2005·4.06 MB·English

by  World Bank Group

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From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion
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THE WORLD BANK

W O R L D B A N K W O R K I N G P A P E R N O . 5 3
Roma and Egyptians
in Albania
From Social Exclusion to
Social Inclusion
Hermine G. De Soto
Sabine Beddies
Ilir Gedeshi
THE WORLD BANK
Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2005
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Printing: March 2005
printed on recycled paper
1 2 3 4 5 07 06 05
World Bank Working Papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank’s work to
the development community with the least possible delay. The manuscript of this paper there-
fore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to formally-edited
texts. Some sources cited in this paper may be informal documents that are not readily available.
The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development/The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive
Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent.
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Fax: [phone], email: [email protected].
ISBN-10: 0-8213-6171-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6171-9
eISBN: 0-8213-6172-4
ISSN: 1726-5878
Hermine G. De Soto is a Senior Social Scientist in the Environmentally and Socially Sustain-
able Development Sector Unit of the Europe and Central Asia Region of the World Bank.
Sabine Beddies is a Social Scientist in the Social Development Department of the World Bank.
Ilir Gedeshi is an Economist at the Center for Economic and Social Studies.
Cover Photo: Roma children from Berat, Albania (by Hermine G. De Soto).
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been requested.
Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xi
Acronyms and Abbreviations xiii
Glossary of Terms xv
A Roma Folk-Tale: The Cup of Gold Coins xvii
Executive Summary xix
Objectives of the Study xix
Albanian Roma in a Regional Perspective xix
Historical Background xxi
Methodology xxiii
Findings xxv
Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations xli
1. Introduction 1
Objectives and Methodology. 2
2. Historical Background: The Diversity of Roma and Egyptians 7
The Origins of Roma and Egyptians 7
A Brief History of Albania 8
The Interwar Period 8
World War II 10
The Socialist Era 10
Transition 12
Conclusion 13
3. Culture 15
Language 15
Expressions of Culture and Identity 16
Family Ceremonies 18
The Roma Fis 21
Specific Roles of the FisLeader 23
Changes in the Social Organization of the Roma Fisover Time 24
Conclusion 24
iii
iv Contents
4. Marriage and Family Planning 27
Formal and Informal Family-Planning Education 30
Effects of Early Marriage and Childbearing 30
Increasing Divorce Rates 31
Conclusion 33
5. Income and Living Standards 35
Household Income 36
Household Expenditures 39
Living Conditions 41
Infrastructure 44
Health and Health Care 47
Conclusions 50
6. Education 53
Decreasing Education Levels 54
Barriers to Education 56
Parents’ Suggestions for Improving Education for Roma Children 60
Conclusions 61
7. The Labor Market 63
Traditional Socio-Occupational Identities 64
Forms of Formal Labor 68
Forms of Informal Labor 69
Conclusion 72
8. Migration and Remmittances 73
Origins of International Migration 74
Host Countries and Regions 79
Forms of International Migration 80
Effects of International Migration 84
Conclusion 85
9. Prostitution and Trafficking 87
Prostitution 87
Causes of Prostitution 89
The Effects of Prostitution: Remittances and Social and Economic Costs . . . . . . 91
Trafficking of Children 93
Contents v
Trafficking of Drugs 97
Conclusion 98
10. Social Capital 101
Definitions 102
Cognitive Social Capital: Trust and Solidarity 103
Structural Social Capital 109
Implications of Social Capital 111
Conclusion 113
11. Social Exclusion 115
Albanian Roma Within a Regional Perspective 116
Summary of Findings 118
Causes of Social Exclusion Identified by Roma and Egyptians 121
Definitions of Relative Poverty 122
Factors Contributing to Uncertainty and Vulnerability 125
Perceptions of Roma and Egyptians about Discrimination 129
Perceptions of Albanians about Roma and Egyptians 130
Ways of Addressing Social Exclusion According to
Roma and Egyptians 131
12. Social Inclusion: Recommendations and Policy Implications 133
Access to Public Goods and Services 134
Market Opportunities and Employment 137
Access to the Justice System 139
Access to Information 140
Safety and Security of Livelihoods 140
Social Capital, Voice, and Participation 141
Roma Cultural Centers as a Means for Social Inclusion 141
Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations 142
APPENDIXES
A. Working Definitions 147
B. Questionnaire on Needs Assessment of Roma and
Egyptian Communities in Albania 153
C. Focus Group Discussions 177
D. Statistical Data, Tables, Graphs, and Flowcharts 187
E. More Voices of Albania 199
vi Contents
F. Selected Albanian Roma and Egyptian NGOs and Contact Information 219
G. The Patrilineal Kinship Structure of One Roma Fis 221
H. National Minorities in Albania 223
I. “The List” 225
J. Community Profiles 227
K. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion 237
L. Analytical Framework 247
M. Conference Agenda 249
N. Dissemination Conference Material 257
Bibliography 261
Materials Used in Desk Review 263
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 000
LISTOFFIGURES
1. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion—Analytical Framework xxvi
2. Distribution of Identified Poverty Categories among Roma,
Egyptians, and Albanians xxvii
3.1. Characteristics that Distinguish Roma or Egyptian Culture from
Albanian Culture 16
6.1. Illiteracy Rates for Roma and Egyptians, by Gender and Age Group 54
7.1. Employment Sectors during Socialism for Roma, By Gender 65
7.2. Employment Sectors during Socialism for Egyptians, By Gender 65
8.1. Host Countries to Which Roma and Egyptians Migrate 79
8.2. Informal Labor Sectors for Roma and Egyptians Migrating Abroad 82
10.1. Trust of Roma and Egyptians in Their Neighbors 104
10.2. Trust of the Roma and Egyptian Communities in Roma and
Egyptian Associations 110
11.1. Distribution of Identified Poverty Categories among Roma,
Egyptians, and Albanians 123
11.2. Levels of Discrimination Experienced by Roma, According to District 129
11.3. Levels of Discrimination Experienced by Egyptians, According to District 130
D.1. Education Structure for Roma, by Gender and Age Group 190
D.2. Education Structure for Egyptians, by Gender and Age Group 190
D.3. Reasons Why Children Do Not Go to School 191
D.4. Main Employment Sectors for Roma and Egyptians During Transition 192
D.5. International Migration of Egyptians by District 193
D.6. International Migration of Roma by District 194
Contents vii
D.7. Informal Labor Sectors for International Migrating Roma Fise 195
D.8. Migration and Remittances as Poverty Trap 196
D.9. Prostitution as a Downward Spiral into Poverty 197
D.10. Children Are Obligated to Beg for Their Family, Roma, and
Egyptians by District 197
LISTOFTABLES
1. Distribution of Roma Population 1991–94 (thousands) xx
2. Estimated Population of Albanian Roma and Egyptians, by District xxiv
3. From Social Exclusion to Social Inclusion Matrix of
Exclusion Manifestations and Recommendations for
Inclusion Policies and Actions xxxiii
4. Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations xli
4.1. Marriage Ages for Roma, Egyptians, and Total Albanian Population
during Transition 28
4.2. Ages of Roma and Egyptians at Birth of Their First Child 28
4.3. Average Roma and Egyptian Family Sizes, by Zone 30
5.1. Average Income through State Assistance for Roma and
Egyptian Households (in percentages) 37
5.2. Average Monthly Household Expenditures for Roma and
Egyptians (in US$) 40
5.3. Surface Area of Homes, by Ethnicity 44
5.4. Type of Appliance/Furnishing Available to Roma and Egyptians,
by Amount (quantity), and Ownership (percentage) 45
6.1. Illiteracy Rates and School Years Completed for Roma and
Egyptians Ages 7–20, by District 55
8.1. Length and Cost for Initial Travel 76
8.2. The Role of Financial and Social Capital in the Different Stages of
International Migration 78
9.1. Daily Income of Trafficked Children 93
11.1. Distribution of Roma Population 1991–94 (thousands) 116
11.2. Self-Assessment of Family’s Socioeconomic Conditions 122
11.3. Albanian Perceptions of Roma/Egyptians 131
12.1. Summary of Short-Term and Most Urgent Policy Recommendations 143
D.1. Monthly Income for Roma and Egyptian Households (US$), by Source 188
D.2. Surface Area of Homes, Total and Per Capita for Roma and Egyptians 188
D.3. Illiteracy Rate and School Years Completed, by Age Group and Roma Fis 189
viii Contents
D.4. Unemployment Rate Among Roma, Egyptians, and Total Population of
Albania By Districts 192
D.5. Structural Changes, Effects on Employment, and Impacts on Roma and
Egyptians Over Time 193
D.6. International Migration Rates per Districts 194
D.7. Methods of Sending Earnings Home from Abroad 195