United Nations Development Programme organized a training session for its staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina dedicated to understanding and strengthening the inclusion of the Roma community. This activity represents an important part of the implementation of the Country Programme Document 2026–2030, which emphasizes the need for full social participation of marginalized groups and equal access to opportunities across all segments of society.

Participants from various UN agencies and partner institutions had the opportunity to hear authentic testimonies and engage in conversation with members of the Roma community about their life experiences, challenges, and ways of overcoming obstacles. The training reaffirmed that the Leave No One Behind principle is not reflected only in projects and documents, but also in creating spaces where the voices of those often excluded are heard and respected.

Opening the training, UNDP Resident Representative in BiH, Renaud Meyer, reminded participants that Roma culture, music, and traditions form an inseparable part of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural heritage, something to be proud of collectively. “We all love Roma music, we are proud of its rhythm and energy,” said Meyer, “but when it comes to real opportunities to support Roma people, to open doors to employment and equal opportunities, we still don’t see enough progress.”

In line with the approach defined in the Country Programme Document 2026–2030, Meyer stressed that inclusion cannot be reduced to a principle but must become a practice lived daily through programmes, policies, and partnerships.

Dragana Seferović Pilav, a physical education teacher and single mother of three, shared her experience that intertwines personal resilience with artistic expression through painting and dance. Her life story began in a children’s home after her parents left her believing she would never be able to walk. They saw a limitation—she saw a challenge. She grew up in a home for children without parental care and in an SOS village, where she found warmth and support that shaped her outlook on life.

During the training, Dragana spoke about what it means to be Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, emphasizing that life remains difficult and that her greatest fear is that her children will face discrimination. Her work in the inclusive performance PULS, realized within the project The Body of Sound: Inclusive Performing Practices for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons, shows how art can become a bridge between worlds of different abilities and sensitivities, amplifying voices that society too often marginalizes.

The training also featured Leon I., a young transgender person of Roma origin, whose story of growing up in institutions and struggling for access to education revealed multiple layers of exclusion. “The system rejects you—whether because you’re Roma or because you’re trans? It’s hard to tell,” Leon said, highlighting the importance of recognizing the complexity of identity and the unique needs of each individual.

Additional contributions came from Dalibor Tanić, journalist and activist, who spoke about systemic barriers—from education to employment—and Begzada Jovanović from Bijeljina, who raised questions about the position of Roma women, youth, and persons with disabilities in local communities.

This training served as a reminder that inclusion is not an add-on to projects but their very essence. Stories like Dragana’s and Leon’s illustrated that social equality begins by recognizing every individual as an agent of change, while art, education, and solidarity remain key bridges toward genuine social cohesion.