On July 11, 2025, as part of the Fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, the international event "Ensuring the Inclusion of Roma and National Minorities in Ukraine’s Post-War Recovery — A Contribution to Social Cohesion and Progress" was held in Rome, Italy. The event brought together representatives of government bodies, international organisations, and civil society from both Italy and Ukraine to strengthen the active participation of Roma communities in shaping policies for a fair and inclusive recovery of Ukraine.
The event marked another step toward a deeper understanding of the challenges and potential of Roma communities in the context of Ukraine’s reconstruction, while strengthening interstate cooperation. It was organised in the framework of the implementation of the Action Plan on the Protection of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Minorities and the Strategy Promoting the Realisation of the Rights and Opportunities of Persons Belonging to the Roma National Minority in Ukrainian Society for the Period up to 2030. The event also reaffirmed the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation to ensure inclusive and sustainable development of Ukraine.
Organised by the Council of Europe in partnership with the National Office Against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the event created a platform for multi-level dialogue and cooperation.
The opening session featured high-level interventions by Mattia Peradotto, Director General of UNAR, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as representatives of parliaments and civil society organizations. Speakers emphasized the importance of involving minority communities in the processes of reconciliation, stabilization, and recovery.
Two key bilateral meetings were also held during the event: Mattia Peradotto and Dmytro Lubinets, discussed joint strategies to prevent discrimination and explored opportunities for institutional cooperation between Italy and Ukraine in the field of minority rights protection.
Another meeting was also held between Roma civil society organizations from Italy and Ukraine, during which representatives exchanged experiences in integration, youth engagement, local initiatives, and advocacy for Roma rights at the national level.
A dedicated panel of the event focused on the role of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in promoting minority inclusion, featuring Members of Parliament Arsenii Pushkarenko and Nelli Yakovleva. Meanwhile, Roma community leaders from Italy and Ukraine — G. Spinelli (UCRI), V. Dranhoi (Roma Human Rights Center), and D. Hromyko (“Chirikli”) shared valuable insights and perspectives on the role of Roma communities in strengthening social cohesion in both countries.
The event contributed significantly to building a shared vision of inclusive recovery and reinforcing the international commitment to supporting Roma communities as active agents of Ukraine’s reconstruction.
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