It was through this earlier extensive work promoting intercultural mediation, found in the 2010 "Strasbourg Declaration on Roma" with its article 46, which subsequently engaged the commitment of signatory states to support the first formalized training program of mediators.
The ROMED1 Programme was initiated in 2011 aiming for the training of mediators around Europe. Once established as a European Training Program, it was implemented in co-operation with national local authorities with the goal of improving the ability of Roma mediators in enhancing Roma access to local services.
With its aim to improve the effectiveness of the work of schools, health institutions, employment offices and community mediators through better communication with Roma communities, ROMED1 focused on three main objectives:
Promoting effective intercultural mediation, improving the communication and co-operation between Roma and public institutions;
Ensuring the integration of a rights-based approach in the mediation between Roma communities and public institutions;
Supporting the work of mediators by providing tools for planning and implementation of their activities which encourage democratic participation, while generating empowerment of Roma communities and increased accountability of public institutions.
Since its initiation, ROMED1 has trained 1,479 mediators from 500 municipalities in 22 countries. Around 90% of the mediators are Roma, and more than 50% are women. Local institutions and representatives of these with relevant responsibilities in Roma inclusion have also been present in some training sessions, including 700 different organizations.
Innovative solutions for the issues related to the inclusion of Roma at local level have been developed and promoted through the EU/CoE joint programme ROMED that promoted the active participation of citizens of Roma origin in local decision-making processes.
