The Roma Youth Action Plan is a response of the Council of Europe to challenges faced by young Roma in Europe, particularly in relation to their empowerment, participation in policy decision-making processes and structures at European level, and multiple realities of discrimination.

The Roma Youth Action Plan gives priority to human rights and intercultural dialogue as responses to discrimination and anti-Gypsyism, together with the development and capacity building of Roma youth organisations and movements.

It is one of several initiatives encompassing the Council of Europe’s’ work on the rights of Roma and Travellers.

Hate speech targeting Roma is a recurring concern in the campaign. Through action days in 2016, 2014 and 2013, the annual commemoration of the Roma genocide (2 August), blog posts, a seminar and study sessions, the campaign has aimed to raise awareness of the persistence of hate speech and hate crime targeting Roma communities and has called for action.

Many national campaign committees have also campaigned against hate speech and hate crime targeting Roma.