Event “Strengthening capacity and involvement of Roma and pro-Roma civil society in policy monitoring and review: Roma Civil Monitoring’s selected findings on Roma participation and access to housing”
We are happy to share with you the recording of the RCM event at the Roma Week 2023 held on 27 April 2023 in the European Parliament:
Event details:
Time: 27 April 2023, 9:00 – 11:00 CET
Venue: European Parliament, room A5G1, Brussels
Language: English
Hosting MEP: Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová
Format: Panel presentations followed by Q&A and discussion
Focus of the RCM event:
Following consultation with the partners implementing the RCM and agreement with the EC, the event will focus on two topics:
- Participation of Roma civil society in the development of the new NRSF and its potential impact on systematically improving Roma civil society’s participation in policymaking.
- Improving the access of Roma to housing with a particular focus on desegregation is one of the areas where the RCM’s ex-ante assessment of new NRSFs identified several weaknesses, including a failure to eliminate residential segregation in isolated rural settlements or urban ghettos. Without tackling such problems, successful Roma inclusion is not realistic. Yet, despite the gravity of this problem, only a few Member States have tackled these issues in their NRSFs.
Agenda:
9:00 – 9:15 Opening
Moderator: Szabolcs Schmidt, Head of Non discrimination: Anti-racism and Roma coordination Unit, European Commission
- Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová, MEP (5’)
- Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality (video message 5’)
- Ana Gallego Torres, Director-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission (5’)
9:15 – 9:55 Panel presentations and discussion
Theme 1: Participation of Roma CSOs in the development of NRSFs and the latter’s long-term impact on CSO participation in policymaking
Moderator: Szabolcs Schmidt, Head of Non discrimination: Anti-racism and Roma coordination Unit, European Commission
- Presentation of the synthesis report and its main findings – Isabela Mihalache, RCM (5’)
- Case presentations by RCM national coordinators:
- FR: Saimir Mile, La Voix des Rroms (5’, in person)
- IE: Lynsey Kavanagh, Pavee Point (5’, in person)
- PL: Elzbieta Mirga-Wójtowicz, Jaw Dikh Foundation (5’, in person)
- EL: Georgios Tsiakalos, Roma Women Association (5’, in person)
- Q&A/discussion (15’)
10:00 – 10:40 Panel presentations and discussion (continuation)
Theme 2: Access of Roma to housing with a particular focus on desegregation
Moderator: Dan Pavel Doghi, Team Leader, Non discrimination: Anti-racism and Roma coordination Unit, European Commission
- Presentation of the synthesis report and its main findings – Roland Ferkovics, RCM (5’)
- Case presentations by RCM national coordinators:
- CZ: Katarína Kubičtova, Romodom (5’, in person)
- ES: Rafael Saavedra Rodríguez, Fundation Secretariado Gitano (5’, in person)
- RO: Florin Moisa, Resource Center for Roma Communities Foundation (5’, online)
- IT: Marco Zanne, Association 21 Iuglio (5’, online)
- Q&A/discussion (15’)
10:50 – 11:00 Closing (10 Min)
Moderator: Dan Pavel Doghi, Team Leader, Non discrimination: Anti-racism and Roma coordination Unit, European Commission
- MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, MEP (5’)
- Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms (video message 5’)
SHORT PROFILES OF PRESENTERS’ ORGANISATIONS:
Theme 1: Participation of Roma CSOs
La Voix des Rroms (FR): The organisation was founded in 2005 at the initiative of Rromani students from different countries who meet in Paris. Its objective is to contribute to building a society based on equity and respect for all individuals and groups. The methodical fight against antigypsyism, a specific form of racism, is at the heart of the organisation’s activity, as this represents an indispensable prerequisite for equality and participation.
Pavee Point (IE): Established in 1985, the organisation aims to improve the quality of life and living circumstances of Irish Travellers and Roma by working for social justice, solidarity and human rights. The organisation seeks to promote Traveller and Roma human rights within Ireland and in international arenas through research, local action, national resourcing and policy advocacy. The organisation applies a community work approach based on the principles of human rights, equality, cultural diversity and interculturalism.
Jaw Dikh Foundation (PL): This was established in 2015 to promote Roma culture and identity and foster greater understanding between Roma and non-Roma using art and education. It also aims to support artistic, educational, cultural research and scientific activities and to build cohesion and integrate society around cultural, educational and artistic values. The Foundation participated in the first RCM project and acts as a national coordinator in the current RCM. Furthermore, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the organisation has been involved in helping Ukrainian Roma in Poland.
Roma Women’s Association of Dendropotamos (EL): The association was founded in 2002 by 20 visionary Roma women. The association is a leader in Roma inclusion and has partnered with organisations like the Council of Europe and has received substantial support from OSF, generating societal impact through various initiatives. Recently, it launched the AMALIN non-profit Romani restaurant in the centre of Thessaloniki, aiming to promote positive narratives and employment for vulnerable Roma women.
Theme 2: Access of Roma to housing with a particular focus on desegregation
Romodom (CZ): The organisation is based in Prague and operates in 14 regions with more than 150 employees. It provides social services with a focus on housing and employment and runs projects that target marginalised communities. Additionally, the organisation also implements projects on culture and education. In 2022 Romodrom set up an international branch to help individuals fleeing Ukraine.
Fundation Secretariado Gitano (ES): The FSG is an intercultural social non-profit organisation that provides services for the development of the Roma community in Spain and Europe. The FSG develops all kinds of activities that contribute to supporting the full citizenship of Roma, improving their living conditions, fostering equal treatment and preventing all forms of discrimination, as well as promoting the recognition of the cultural identity of the Roma community.
Resource Center for Roma Communities Foundation (RO): The organisation aims to improve the living conditions of the Roma communities in Romania. Since 2000, it has been actively engaged in Roma civil society development, training, community development, Romani culture and language, antidiscrimination, the development of the young Roma elite, education, employment, and the public participation of Roma.
Association 21 Iuglio (IT): An organisation that supports groups and individuals that experience extreme segregation and discrimination by protecting their rights and promoting child welfare.