SUMMIT OF MAYORS ON ROMA - BUILDING MUTUAL TRUST AT THE GRASSROOTS

To address the situation in the field of the Roma and Travelers, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities organized, in co-operation with the Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General for Roma issues, a Summit of Mayors on Roma, in Strasbourg (France) on 22 September 2011. The Summit brought together representatives of municipalities and regions as well as networks, European institutions and Roma organizations in order to share information, experiences and practices, and to identify concrete solutions.

Debates focused on relations between local and regional authorities and Roma communities. They underlined that to fight exclusion and discrimination; the local representatives must be proactive in implementing policies at the local level. Solutions discussed included ending barriers to education that are created through lack of documentation, bringing communities together in order to overcome prejudice, and creating inclusive and flexible services so that the Roma can have equal access to housing, healthcare and employment.

Local and Regional Authorities must lead by example and protect the rights of all their citizens. Hatred speeches in particular must be denounced without ambiguity. In the final Declaration, they recognized the need for cooperation at all levels and supported the launching of a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion, aimed at providing an interactive and peer-to-peer co-operation network.


Opening speeches
Keith Whitmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of EuropeKeith Whitmore, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
 
Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of EuropeMessage by Thorbjorn JAGLAND, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

 
Olga ROMANYUK, Vice-Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services for the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of MinistersOlga ROMANYUK, Vice-Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services for the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
 
Alan Meale, President of the Sub-Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeAlan MEALE, President of the Sub-Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on behalf of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly
 
Roland Ries, Senator-Mayor of StrasbourgRoland RIES, Senator-Mayor of Strasbourg (french version only)
 
Panel discussion: Roma inclusion: what obstacles?
 
Thomas Hammarberg, Commissaire aux droits de l'homme du Conseil de l'EuropeThomas HAMMARBERG, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
 
Jeroen SCHOKKENBROEK, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma IssuesJeroen SCHOKKENBROEK, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues
 
Guadalupe FERNANDEZ, Former adviser for the Regional Parliament of Extremadura on Roma issues, Merida (Spain)Guadalupe FERNANDEZ, Former adviser for the Regional Parliament of Extremadura on Roma issues, Merida (Spain)
 
Els de GROEN, Former Member of the European Parliament,President of the Global Network of Artists “Khetanes”Els de GROEN, Former Member of the European Parliament,President of the Global Network of Artists “Khetanes”

FOLLOW-UP TO THE SUMMIT

The first meeting of the Core Group of Cities and Regions took place on Friday 9 December 2011 in Strasbourg (France). The Group prepared the structure, the mandate and the launching of the Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion which was decided during the Summit.
FINAL DECLARATION

In the final declaration, adopted on 22 September 2011, the Summit of Mayors launched kick-off group for European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion  (more...)

Text of the final declaration
[available in english, french, german, russian, italian and romani]
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Jose Manuel FRESNO

General Rapporteur of the Summit
President of the Council for the Promotion of Equal Treatment and Against Discrimination, Spain



John Warmisham, Congress Rapporteur on Roma issues Jeroen SCHOKKENBROEK, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues
   
Roland Ries, Senator-Mayor of Strasbourg (France) Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
   
Jacques Salvator, Mayor of Aubervilliers (France) Ioannis N. DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Head of Department, Equality & Citizen's Rights, Fundamental Rights Agency, EU

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The Congress thanks its partners in the organisation of the Summit of Mayors on Roma.
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Dmitri Marchenkov, Secrétaire de la Commission des questions d'actualité Dmitri Marchenkov
Current Affairs Committee
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Sabine Zimmer, AdviserSabine Zimmer
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+33 (0)3 88 41 25 97
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Renate Zikmund, Chef de la Division de la CommunicationRenate Zikmund
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