Roma and Travellers comprise the largest set of minority groups in Europe. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is working against this discrimination and towards the full integration of more than 12 million Roma and Travellers in its member states.

The Congress has launched several initiatives to combat prejudice against Roma. It has published the Human Rights Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities, which includes a chapter on Roma rights with a reminder of the legal framework and the role that local and regional authorities can play, as well as good practices implemented in several countries. The Congress also launched the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion, which aims to create national networks of mayors, as well as a Declaration against Anti-Gypsyism to give all local and regional elected representatives from the 47 Council of Europe member states the opportunity to take a public stand against discrimination towards Roma. Every two years, the Congress also awards the Dosta! Prize to municipalities that have implemented innovative initiatives for Roma integration.

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HUMAN RIGHTS HANDBOOK

The Congress published in 2019 "Human rights handbook for local and regional authorities". One of its three chapters aims to combat discrimination against Roma and Travellers. Examples presented include actions conducted by various local and regional authorities, councils and organisations. Some of the issues addressed in the Handbook are presented below. To view the whole content, download the Handbook in PDF format.

 Download : Human Rights Handbook Vol. I (Pdf)

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European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion
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Back Inclusion of Roma youth through education, employment and political participation

Inclusion of Roma youth through education, employment and political participation

The activities of the Congress in the field of inclusion of Roma youth were presented at an International Expert Seminar held in Brijuni, Croatia, on 26 September 2018. Speaking during the debate on "Policy initiatives at local, national and international levels to sustain Roma employability and labour market insertion", Tobias MAYR, a member of the Congress Secretariat, described the Congress’s initiatives to support the education, employment and political participation of Roma youth.

One of the Congress’s flagship projects is the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion, launched in 2013, which aims to establish national networks among mayors. The networks are genuine discussion platforms where mayors can meet and exchange their points of view and good practice models. In 2017 the Congress contributed to the establishment of a national network in Ukraine and the reinforcement of the Greek network. On 11 October 2018 the Alliance will hold a meeting in Tirana with Albanian mayors with a view to setting up an Albanian network for Roma inclusion.  

Every two years the Congress awards the Dosta! Congress Prize to three municipalities from Council of Europe member states that have put in place innovative and creative initiatives to efficiently integrate Roma in the long term within their borders.

The Ukrainian network is a good example of this initiative's effectiveness: 10 cities and regions  participating in the network have already launched 12 projects meeting the needs of local Roma communities. Four of these projects focus on education and employment. In the regions of Transcarpathia and Odessa, projects aiming to enhance preschool education of Roma children are being developed in order to provide support from the very beginning and prevent early school leaving.

The Congress relies on local and regional elected representatives, as they are closest to citizens, whether Roma or non-Roma. This key position enables them to be better aware of people's needs and to implement national and international strategies efficiently. In addition, local and regional elected representatives, in particular mayors, can take tangible action to combat anti-Gypsyism and break the entire vicious circle. Municipalities and regions can, for example, launch or finance programmes to support Roma children in school, provide scholarships for Roma students or internships within the municipal administration, or propose vocational training, in particular to young adults and women.  

In 2017, the Congress issued a Declaration against anti-Gypsyism, which gives mayors and regional representatives the possibility of taking a stance against the discrimination of Roma. To date it has been signed by 100 local and regional elected representatives. 

Roma Brijuni, Croatia 26 September 2018
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