On 7 March 2024, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in partnership with the European Union and the Council of Europe hosted the conference “Mapping the Challenges faced by Ukrainian Roma in a War Time and Overcoming the Obstacles through Policy, Advocacy and Empowerment”.

This conference was organised with the aim to engage civil society and the Ukrainian Government in a constructive dialogue to address issues reported by Roma over the past two years of conflict. The event was attended by state and regional authorities, Ukrainian Roma CSOs, and intergovernmental organisations.

In his opening remarks, Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Kyiv, stressed the importance of ensuring that the National Roma Strategy meets the specific needs of different groups, such as Roma women, youth, children, stateless people, IDPs and older Roma, as well as those living with disabilities. 

“This conference is a well-suited and timely platform provided by ODIHR to take stock of the human rights situation of Ukrainian Roma affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine,” said Ihor Lossovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience. “The challenges are extremely complex and in order to address them, we need to join efforts with civil society and partners for co-operation and work together to find solutions.” 

At of the start of the war, Roma experienced forced displacement, increased prejudice and socio-economic difficulties, Participants agreed that protecting human rights of Roma must be treated as a priority. State efforts should be supported by civil society as well as local and international partners to develop policies that help improve the lives of Roma.

The Council of Europe has a mandate to facilitate dialogue among member states and civil society to ensure the protection of Roma communities in line with its Strategic Action Plan on Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020-2025) which translates the strategic objectives of the Council regarding the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law into a policy framework for the social and intercultural inclusion of Roma and Travellers in Europe. The Plan provides a framework that is flexible and adaptable to country-specific conditions, serving as a roadmap and practical tool for the design, implementation, and adjustment of programs and actions.

The event was supported by the joint European Union and Council of Europe project "Supporting the Implementation of European Standards on Combating Discrimination and the Rights of National Minorities in Ukraine" in close partnership with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience and the Ombudsperson Office of Ukraine.