the Protector of Citizens conducted in the reporting period the survey on the operation of national councils so that on the basis of the analysis of the collected data he could be able to issue recommendations and perceive the needs and possibilities for the improvement of the operation of these mechanisms. The conducted survey refers to the previous convocation of national councils of national minorities, i.e. to the period 2014-2018 and shows that national councils in the previous period most frequently executed the authorizations in the field of education and official use of languages and scripts. The result of this survey will be “Special Report of the Protector of Citizens on the Operation of National Councils of National Minorities with Recommendations” which will be published in 2020. During 2019, the Protector of Citizens collected also the data on famous members of national minorities who contributed to the affirmation and promotion of the national minority rights in wider public, and this activity will be continued also in 2020. Special attention was dedicated also in this reporting period by the Protector of Citizens to members of Roma national minority. Apart from the regular practice of visits to Roma residential areas all around Serbia and reception of complaints during the last year, the survey on the application of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma in 20 local self-government units was conducted. The survey was conducted with the assistance of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissariat for Refugees) and non-governmental organization A 11 Initiative for economic and social rights. During the survey the data were collected by measure-bearers at the local level: city/municipal administrations, school administrations, affiliates/offices of the National Employment Service, centers for social work and health care centers. Apart from competent bodies, during the survey the data were also collected from 19 Roma residential areas and observations that the associates of the Protector of Citizens had during the conversations with members of Roma community. Taking into account that the Protector of Citizens was designated by the Strategy as one of independent bodies to monitor the implementation of measures, on the basis of collected data the special report was executed with the aim of the improvement of the implementation of measures stipulated in the Strategy and Action Plan and to indicate to shortcomings identified in the implementation which measure-bearers face. The Special Report of the Protector of Citizens on the Implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma with recommendations104 was published on 11th December 2019 and after the publication it was issued to competent bodies with regards to the actions upon recommendations. If the collected data are connected with the results of the previous Report of the Protector of Citizens on the Implementation of Strategy for the Improvement of the Status of Roma, what is noticeable is evident, but insufficient progress to which measures of public policies with regards to the improvement of the position of the Roma contributed. The special focus of the Special Report are the topics of employment, education, housing, status of local mechanisms such as female health mediators and Roma coordinators, capacities of competent authorities as well as the position of internally displaced Roma from Kosovo and Metohija. The capacities of local self-governments as well as the awareness of the role which they have in the process of inclusion of Roma are empowered but insufficiently for efficient implementation of measures. Labor-legal status of female Roma coordinators and criteria for their engagement are still not organized. Even though the legislative framework in the field of housing was significantly improved by passing of the Law on Housing and Building Maintenance105, special support to local self-governments is necessary in the field of 104 105 Available at: https://pravamanjina.rs/attachments/article/705/Poseban%20izvestaj.pdf. “Official Gazette of RS“, no. 104/16. - 64 -