Romani People Nation without a State IN THE WORLD OF DIPLOMACY By Gabriela Hrabanova Athinganoi, April 200 6

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 ROMA IN EUROPE  In total 7 to 9 mil. Roma (WB) - 12 – 25 mil. Roma (EU parliament)  Czech 150,000 – 300,000  Romania 1 – 2 mil. People  Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Turkey, and Serbia and Monte Negro 400,000 – 1 million  Spain 630,000, France 310,000, Germany 70,000, Italy 130,000

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006

Cigáni and gypsies… Constantinopolis „ATHINGANOI“  „Cikán“, „Zigeuner“, „Cygan“ EGYPT  Gypsies, gitanos … Rom, Romňi, Romanies

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006

IMPORTANT STEPS - revision  Recomendation of the Concil of Europe no. 1203, 1993 about Gypsies in Europe  OSCE – Contact point for Roma and Sinti issues– ODHIR „action plan“  1995– CoE - Group of Experts on Roma/Gypsies „MG-S-ROM“  2004 – European Roma and Travellers Forum

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 ROMANI POLICIES  NOT RECOGNIZING MINORITIES  France, Greece, partly Spain  RECOGNIZING MINORITIES x NO ROMA  Some other states of EU  FORMAL RECOGNITION  Ie.: Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovinia  Also: Austria, partly Germany, Nederland

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 The Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 – 2015 Official lounch 2 Feb, 2005 Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Monte Negro, Croatia

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 MAIN PRIORITIES  Education  Housing  Employment  Health Core priorities  Income poverty  gender equality  discrimination

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 Roma Women’s Forum, (29 of June, 2003) first time Roma women presented their own comprehensive policy agenda to high-level officials from regional governments and international agencies” - from the final report

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006

Roma Women's Forum Education early marriages, cultural obligations, lack of female teachers as role models, segregation, discrimination etc. Economic Empowerment Lower life expectancy rates, educational levels, higher rates of fertility, mortality, unemployment, poverty, extensive social exclusion and gender-based discrimination, prostitution; Sexual and Reproductive Rights Combat Coerced Sterilization, Sexual Taboos, Arranged Marriages and Domestic Violence Grassroots Leadership and Political Participation Minority women, Roma women’s human rights, political participation, challenges, Roma women’s leadership and solidarity

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 ROMA WOMEN & NWP, RWI Started in 1999, the Roma Women’s Initiative (RWI) is a partnership between Roma women activists and OSI’s Network Women’s Program (NWP). The RWI promotes the human rights of Roma women by empowering Roma women activists in Central and Eastern Europe, placing special emphasis on the participation and leadership development of young Roma women.

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 European Roma and Travellers Forum  Since 1993 dialogs with CoE  Estabilished 2004  1st meeting 13. – Strasburg  42 of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 European Roma and Travellers Forum The Roma and Traveller’s Forum is consisting of a body of community leaders and policy experts elected by Roma and Traveller institustions across Europe. It is the largest and most inclusive Roma and Traveller’s organisation, bringing together legitimate voices of Roma, Sinti and Traveller communities.

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 Roma Diplomacy Program  European Roma Information Office (ERIO) and DiploFoundation  25 Roma from Europe  Personal meetings and online program  Bucharest  Brussels  Geneva 

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006

CR - ROMA NGO SECTOR  non-profit romani organizations  human and minority rights,  education,  employment,  and media promotion;  others are mostly focused on Roma culture..

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 Some interesting projects Athinganoi Roma Information Center Roma Political Leadership Program Gender Equality Campaign Slovo 21 Preparation to University entrance exams Khamoro – World Romani Music Festival Romea Training of Journalists News web server, magazine Romano Vodi

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 Drom Bratislavská street – community living Vzájemné soužití The village of co-living The Concil of Roma – Chomutov Advisory umbrella organization IQ Roma Servis Social work, community center

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 MANUSHE NGO Slovo 21 founded the Roma women’s group Manushe in the year 2000.

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 …where to find more ROMA MEDIA   

Gabriela Hrabanova, Athinganoi April 2006 THANK YOU ???? QUESTIONS ????