Ahead of this year’s International Roma Day (8 April), Mélanie Lepoultier (France, ILDG), Deputy Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, has made the following statement:

“With around 6 million people, Roma and Travellers are Europe's largest, youngest and fastest-growing minority. They come from diverse backgrounds, are multilingual, and resilient. Yet, they continue to be subject to systematic and structural discrimination. Currently, more than 50% of Roma youth are not in education, employment, or training, remain “locked-out” of equal opportunities and  have their economic potential limited. As a result, across Europe, 80% of Roma remain at risk of poverty.

“As we celebrate International Roma Day, we need to remember that local and regional authorities play a vital role in ensuring full socio-economic inclusion of Roma and Travellers and addressing the adversities that they face.

"Political participation, public health, employment, housing, and education are all within the remit of local and regional government. More can and should be done here to ensure inclusion and opportunity. Today, we must reaffirm our commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of the Roma and Travellers community.”