~ROMA~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania Valentina Mara Social Policy Fall 2003

Who are the Roma? Historical background No historical homeland No historical homeland Migratory population, coming through Persia and Caucasus, Byzantine Empire Migratory population, coming through Persia and Caucasus, Byzantine Empire Settle in Central and Easter Europe, during: Settle in Central and Easter Europe, during: Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Communist period Communist period Estimated 7-9 mill. Roma cross Europe Estimated 7-9 mill. Roma cross Europe Diversity - traditions (clothes, religion), - languages (vary between groups), - profession (metalworkers, armaments, music) Diversity - traditions (clothes, religion), - languages (vary between groups), - profession (metalworkers, armaments, music) Prejudice and persecution XV century – slaves on Romanian territory XV century – slaves on Romanian territory Late XVIII century - Habsburg policies- eliminate Roma lifestyle, encourage assimilation Late XVIII century - Habsburg policies- eliminate Roma lifestyle, encourage assimilation Ottoman Empire – more relaxed policies, free movement across border Ottoman Empire – more relaxed policies, free movement across border Nazi period – extermination – treatment similar with the Jews Nazi period – extermination – treatment similar with the Jews Socialist period – policies of socio-economic integration Socialist period – policies of socio-economic integration Transition – increase in poverty and discrimination Transition – increase in poverty and discrimination ROMA ~ Disadvantaged Minority in Transitional Romania

Roma History in Romania Before communism Policies of Exclusion Communism All equal, all poor Policies of assimilation After Revolution present Discrimination and mass poverty Policies of Exclusion, followed by Policies of Integration

Map of Romania

Roma present life in Romania Demography Demography Romania (535,250 Roma~ 2.5% according to 2002 Census) is believed to have about ~10%( ) Romania (535,250 Roma~ 2.5% according to 2002 Census) is believed to have about ~10%( )

Roma present life in Romania Education and Socio Economic Status Education and Socio Economic Status

Roma present life in Romania Labor market Labor market - Work more in informal economy; High Unemployment in formal economy, because of lake of skills They generally report that are the last hired, and first fired; - Work more in informal economy; High Unemployment in formal economy, because of lake of skills They generally report that are the last hired, and first fired; - Difficulties in finding a job Ethnic ground 53% Economic depression in the country 61% Insufficient qualifications 40.3% Lake of luck 36.5%

Roma present life in Romania Health Health - low or no access to education - low or no access to education Sources of income Sources of income

Roma present life in Romania Social Protection Programs Social Protection Programs Overall, 87% of the population is covered by on of the social protection transfers, directly or indirectly Overall, 87% of the population is covered by on of the social protection transfers, directly or indirectly Social Insurance System Social Insurance System Social Assistance System Social Assistance System

Interest Groups that Demanded Policy Implementation Increase in poverty Increase in poverty Human Rights International Organizations Human Rights International Organizations World Bank World Bank UN UN European Union European Union

Labor Market Employment Employment Unemployment Unemployment

Social Protection Benefits Social insurance/contrubutory benefits pension - length of service pension - disability pension - survivor pension - farmer pension - war veterans pension - social assistance unemployment benefit child care leave Social assistance/non-contrubutory benefits child allowance scholarship support for people with disabilities Social Aid (MIG in 2002) other social assistance benefits(MIG 95, 96) Other non-contrubutory benefits allowance for war veterans allowance for victims with political persecution Total Social Protection

Conclusions and Policy implication Measures to increasing the educational attainment reduce barriers for keeping children from starting school reduce barriers for keeping children from starting school addressing the language constraint – exp. Programs as Head Start addressing the language constraint – exp. Programs as Head Start training the teachers (including Roma teachers) training the teachers (including Roma teachers) frequent non-announced evaluation of the teachers frequent non-announced evaluation of the teachers increasing pre-school attendance increasing pre-school attendance facilitating secondary school attendance facilitating secondary school attendance encourage superior education - exp. Programs as Affirmative Action encourage superior education - exp. Programs as Affirmative Action The shape of Social Reaction reduce barriers for keeping children from starting school reduce barriers for keeping children from starting school

Government Education Initiative Targeting Roma “Affirmative Action” program “Affirmative Action” program Initiated in 2000 by Ministry of Education - provides limited number of places for Roma in high school, vocational school, teacher training programs and universities - provides limited number of places for Roma in high school, vocational school, teacher training programs and universities Second Chance Project Second Chance Project Initiated in 2001 by Ministry of Education and Research and Center for Education provides opportunities for education and additional vocational training for drop-outs, age 14 to years program Access to Education for All Disadvantaged Groups, with special focus on Roma Communities Access to Education for All Disadvantaged Groups, with special focus on Roma Communities Initiated in 2002 by Ministry of Education and PHARE Program (for a period until 2004)