A Turkish delegation comprising representatives from the Ministry of Family and Social Policies and of two NGOs working in the field of Roma rights visited a number of locations of ROMED2/ROMACT in Bulgaria in order to get acquainted with the different models of Roma social inclusion interventions.
 

via the Youth Department of the Council of Europe

The Youth Department of the Council of Europe is organising an evaluation of the first 3 years of its Roma Youth Action Plan.

The Roma Youth Action Plan (hereinafter the RYAP), was initiated in 2012 as a response of the Council of Europe to the challenges faced by Roma young people in Europe, particularly in relation to their empowerment, participation in policy and decision-making processes and structures at European level, and the realities of discrimination, particularly antigypsyism, with which they are confronted.

The Hungarian National Support Team organised together with Partners Hungary a meeting of mayors from  ROMACT/ROMED2 Hungarian municipalities.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma issues appreciates the message issued today by the Committee of Ministers to the government of the Czech Republic to fully execute the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in D.H. and Others vs The Czech Republic, so that the unjustified enrolment of Roma children in “special” (so-called now “practical”) schools and programmes intended for pupils with learning disabilities ends. We understand that fighting discrimination can be a complex challenge that requires both attitude changes, as well as changes in laws – and the full support of civil society. We welcome action plans that have been put forward by the Czech government to stop such discrimination.

The Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma issues rejects without reservation comments made earlier this month by Lega Nord MEP Gianluca Buonanno, during the Italian TV show Piazza pulita broadcasted on La7.

The Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma issues rejects without reservation comments made earlier this month by Lega Nord MEP Gianluca Buonanno, during the Italian TV show Piazza pulita broadcasted on La7.

MEP Buonanno indulged in hate speech against Roma and their representative during the programme, Ms Dijana Pavlovic, President of the Roma and Sinti Federation and National Project Officer for ROMED and ROMACT Joint Programmes of the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

Statements that he made including “Gypsies are the dregs of the society” hardly contribute to fostering useful dialogue in addressing Roma issues.

ROMACT is looking for consultants with expertise in the fields of European Structural Funds and local governance and experience of working with vulnerable groups (vulnerable Roma communities specifically).

The Joint Working Group established within the framework ROMED and ROMACT Joint Programmes finalized successfully the joint elaboration of the Municipal Action Plan for the Integration of Bulgarian citizens of Roma origin and other citizens in a vulnerable social situation.

The European Union Agency for fundamental rights had issued recently three new reports regarding the situation of employment among Roma communities, the situation of discrimination against and living conditions of Roma women and  the situation of education  of Roma in 11 EU Member States.

5^th November – International Romani Language Day/ 5-to Novèmbro – Maśkarthemutno Dives palal i Romani Ćhib

Every year on the 5^th of November, Roma in Europe celebrate the International Romani Language Day.

Spoken throughout the world, Romani is the language of Roma, a language preserved and sent on from generation to generation over the centuries mainly in its oral form.

During the first Romani Congress in 1971, Romani was officially recognised as the language of Roma in Europe. This led to its inclusion in various international regulations, including Council of Europe’s European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.