Europe is home to 10–12 million Roma and Travellers. They comprise the largest set of minority groups in Europe, yet many of us are unable to answer the basic question: Who are the Roma? The term “Roma and Travellers” encompasses on the one hand the wide diversity of the groups: a) Roma, Sinti/Manush, Calé, Kaale, Romanichals, Boyash/Rudari; b) Balkan Egyptians (Egyptians and Ashkali) and c) Eastern groups (Dom, Lom and Abdal); and, on the other hand, groups such as Travellers, Yenish, and the populations designated under the administrative term “Gens du voyage”, as well as persons who identify themselves as Gypsies.

In simple terms, Roma do enjoy the same rights as everyone else in your town, city or region. In practice, however, the implementation of this is not as simple as it may seem, as Roma are more vulnerable to exploitation, marginalisation and stigmatisation than other citizens. Furthermore, in many cases Roma are themselves unaware of their rights, let alone of the way to exercise them, because of a decade, if not centuries, of exclusion.

It is for this reason that Roma, together with other groups vulnerable to discrimination mentioned in this handbook, enjoy additional protection, in order to improve their living conditions and their access to health care, education and employment.

Most importantly, Roma enjoy the right to non-discrimination. The aim of the principle of non-discrimination is to allow all individuals an equal and fair chance to access opportunities available in a society, irrespective of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The right to equality and non-discrimination is recognised in Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is a cross-cutting issue of concern in different UN and other international human rights instruments and treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter.

The history of European repression against the Roma dates back to their arrival from India several hundred years ago. Ever since there has been a tendency, especially during difficult times, to make Roma scapegoats for frustration through methods such as enslavement, mass killings, marginalisation or expulsion.

For this reason, and in view of the use of anti- Roma rhetoric by politicians today, Roma are still often rather hesitant to approach authorities, or they even see them as a threat. This fact, combined with their life-style, which is often incompatible with the particularities of globalised societies, including borders, bureaucracies or formalised institutions such as schools, public services, etc., renders the integration of Roma more complex and difficult.

This complex situation will not improve as long as anti-Gypsyism remains deeply rooted in our societies. What is anti-Gypsism in practice? When a mayor does not want to access funds for the improvement of roads or sanitation systems in a Roma neighbourhood because of fear of political backlash; or when authorities do not make an effort to register newborn babies, who then grow up without identification documents and can never register for education, social welfare or employment assistance.

The only solution therefore is the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination and the equal treatment of all citizens by local authorities irrespective of their backgrounds. At the same time, it should be stressed that your job, the job of local and regional authorities, is far from simple. Because of the differences in lifestyle, culture, traditions and structure of the community and due to the low health and education standards in Roma communities, it can be very challenging for a mayor to host and effectively integrate Roma populations. For instance, when it comes to housing, discrimination is at the root of all housing-related problems, such as denial of access to public and private rental housing on an equal footing

The Congress gathered a set of good practices that have been successfully implemented by local and regional authorities that have actively advocate for the inclusion of their Roma and Traveller communities including:

• Facilitating integration into the community
• Providing adequate housing
• Enhancing integration in the labour market and economy
• Protecting vulnerable groups (women, unaccompanied minors)
• Providing better access to education
• Countering hate speech and acts of violent extremism

• Facilitating Integration in local community life
• Protecting and integration Roma children
• Providing better access to educations
• Improving access to basic health services
• Enhancing integration into the labour market and the economy
• Fighting anti-Gypsyism and raising awareness