Back Roma Youth Equal Participation Matters - First meeting of the Task Force

Roma Youth Equal Participation Matters - First meeting of the Task Force

As a follow to the results of the Roma Youth Action Plan, the Joint Council on Youth set up a Task Force to prepare proposals for the continuation of the work on Roma youth participation in the 2020-2021 biennium and within the 2030 Youth Strategy. The first meeting is held online on 18 and 19 June with the participation Roma youth representatives and youth policy experts.

The Task Force

In October 2019 the Joint Council on Youth took note of the findings and conclusions of the evaluation of the Roma Youth Action Plan and decided to set up a Task Force on Roma Youth Participation to follow-up them up.

The Task Force is expected to:

  • Prepare a proposal for the continuation of the work on Roma youth participation in the 2020-2021 biennium and within the 2030 Youth Strategy;
  • Identify priorities and specific missions of the youth sector, in articulation with the Roma and Travellers Division and safeguard the necessary role of Roma and non-Roma youth civil society;
  • Assess the opportunity and feasibility of preparing a recommendation by the Committee of Ministers on Roma youth participation, notably by identifying the possible substance of the recommendations and their relevance for youth (and Roma) policy stakeholders in Member states.

The Task Force brings together experts from:

  • Roma youth organisations and networks
  • Advisory Council on Youth
  • European Steering Committee on Youth
  • The Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM)
  • The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
  • The Education Department of the Council of Europe
  • The European Youth Forum.

 Role and purpose of the Task Force / Agenda of the first meeting

online meeting 18-19 June 2020
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Supporting and promoting participation and inclusion of Roma young people is central to the response of the Council of Europe to challenges faced by Roma youth across Europe, particularly in relation to their empowerment, participation in policy decision-making processes and structures at European level, and multiple realities of discrimination.

The work on Roma youth participation is currently based on two main types of intervention:

  • Developing policies and programmes in support of Roma youth participation, including the preparation of a Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states, based on a double mainstreaming between Roma and Youth policy areas;
  • Capacity-building of and with Roma youth-led organisations and networks, including education and training activities at the European Youth Centres.

The work of the youth sector with Roma youth supports the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2022-2025). It is run in close cooperation with Roma Youth organisations and network and with the Council of Europe Roma and Travellers Team. These activities follow on the experiences and results achieved with the Roma Youth Action Plan (2011-2019).