Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues The I-CARE UNIT.

Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary

General for Roma Issues

The I-CARE UNIT

WHAT ARE WE DOING?• The I-CARE Unit is one of the two Units of the SRSG Support

Team for Roma Issues.

• I-CARE stands for: Inter-governmental Co-operation, Anti-Gypsyism and Roma Equality.

• The I-CARE Unit deals with:– Intergovernmental cooperation (CAHROM)– Policy advice (e.g. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rep. Moldova, Ukraine)

– Exchanging good practices (online database / thematic work)

– Discrimination and racism/anti-Gypsyism (incl. awareness raising through the Dosta! campaign, training of legal professionals, law enforcement bodies, prison staff, media, school teachers, etc.) (in co-operation with relevant sectors)

– Roma women and youth empowerment, as well as Roma children’s education (in co-operation with relevant sectors)

– Gender mainstreaming (Roma women) inside/outside the CoE

The I-CARE UnitSRSG Support Team for Roma Issues

WHO ARE WE?

STAFF OF THE I-CARE UNIT

• Michaël GUET, Head of Unit & Secretary of CAHROM

• Riccardo MATTEI, National Seconded Official• Isabela MIHALACHE, Project manager (paid on VC)• Ljiljana STOJISAVLJEVIĆ, Assistant and webmaster• Administrator (A1 vacant) + Assistant (B2/B3 needed)


INTER-GOVERNMENTAL CO-OPERATION

• The Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Roma Issues (CAHROM)http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/cahrom

• Since 2011 as a successor Committee of MG-S-ROM (1995-2010 – 30 meetings; 27 MS)• 40 appointed experts in CAHROM + all main international partners as observers• 2 plenary meetings a year (Strasbourg/abroad) + 2 Bureau meetings (3 Bureau members);• 4 Rapporteurs: gender equality (FI); youth (HR); children (CZ); anti-Gypsyism/hate crime (UK)• Terms of Reference (adopted Feb.2011; renewed for 2014-2015):

• Study, analyse and evaluate the implementation of policies (national strategies, programmes and/or action plans);

• Exchange information, views and experience on member States’ policies, good practices and measures relating to Roma at national, regional and local level;

• Prepare recommendations, declarations and opinions for the CM;Link to Roma reference texts and tools: http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/roma-related-texts

• Draw-up guidelines for the development and/or implementation of policies which promote the rights of the Roma ;

• Keep under review the situation of Roma in member States ;• Prepare, review and evaluate its programme of activities & working methods and

report back to the CM via the GR-SOC (first evaluation conducted in 2012).


http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/cahrom



http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/roma-related-texts



CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 1/6• Reference documents

– CAHROM (2011)15 CAHROM working methods– CAHROM (2013)10 Revised Terms of Reference for 2014-2015– CAHROM (2013)26 Guidelines for thematic groups and visits

• Size and composition: A CAHROM thematic group is composed of 1 requesting and 3 to 4 partner countries (exceptionally 2 or 5). The CAHROM Bureau decides about the size and composition of each group.

– Requesting country: country interested to learn more from the proposed topic (e.g. a new legislation/policy under preparation; topic addressed but does not bring sufficient results; new area under the national Roma strategy/action plan, etc.). Requesting countries host of a 2.5 day visit of partner countries’ experts.

– Partner country has some experience to offer in this particular area or has learnt some lessons from previous experience addressing this topic.

• Budget: the CoE budget covers travel and subsistence costs of partner countries’ experts participating in the thematic visit. The hosting country shall provide a venue, local transportation to field visits if needed, and, where applicable, interpretation.

• Follow-up: one year after the thematic visit, requesting and partner countries report back about any developments in CAHROM plenary meetings.

• Visibility: Endorsed thematic reports by the CAHROM are accessible online at: http://hub.coe.int/web/coe-portal/cahrom1.


http://hub.coe.int/web/coe-portal/cahrom1

CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 2/6Education•CAHROM (2012)6 Thematic report on school drop out and absenteeism of Roma children

The Netherlands (requesting country) Hungary, Spain , Sweden (partner countries)

•CAHROM (2012)18 Thematic report on inclusive education for Roma children as opposed to special schools

Czech Republic & Slovak Republic (requesting countries) Hungary, Slovenia, United Kingdom (partners)

•CAHROM (2013)5 Thematic report on school attendance for Roma children, in particular Roma girls

Finland (requesting country) Latvia, Norway, Sweden (partner countries)

•CAHROM (2014)21 Thematic report on inclusive pre-school education for Roma children

Czech Republic (requesting country) Hungary, Latvia, Poland, “FYR. Macedonia” (partners)


http://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=09000016800890d4




CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 3/6Housing•CAHROM (2012)8 Thematic report on social housing for Roma

“FYR Macedonia” (requesting country) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Spain (partner countries)

• CAHROM (2013)6 Thematic report on encampment areas and other issues relating to Travellers

Belgium (requesting country) France, Switzerland, United Kingdom (partner countries)

•CAHROM (2013)18 Thematic report on social housing for Roma and legalisation of Roma settlements/houses

Albania (requesting country) Bosnia and Herzegovina, “FYR Macedonia” (partner countries)

•CAHROM (2014)4 Thematic report on (re-)housing solutions for Roma and alternative measures to (forced) evictions

Serbia (requesting country) Greece, Slovak Republic, Spain (partners)


CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 4/6Implementation of Roma inclusion strategies/action plans

•CAHROM (2012)7 Thematic report on the role of central, regional and local authorities in implementing Roma inclusion strategies

Republic of Moldova (requesting country) Finland, Romania, Slovenia (partners)

Anti-Gypsyism and hate speech/crime

•CAHROM (2013)21 Thematic report on combating anti-Gypsyism & hate speech against Roma Hungary (requesting country) Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom (partners)

Legal status and personal /identity documents

•CAHROM (2014)10 Thematic report on the legal status of Roma from ex-Yugoslavia and lack of ID Italy (requesting country) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “FYR. Macedonia” (partners)

Gender

•CAHROM (2014)11 Thematic report on Roma women empowerment and gender dimension of Roma inclusion strategies

Lithuania (requesting country) Finland, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Spain (partners)

Language

•CAHROM (2014)17 Thematic report on languages spoken by Roma Croatia (requesting country) Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic (partner countries)


CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 5/6No. of participation Member States concerned As requesting country As partner country

5 participations - Hungary 1 (anti-Gypsyism) 4 (3 x education, language)

4 participations - Czech Republic

- Slovak Republic

- Spain

- "The FYR. Macedonia"

2 (2 x education)

1 (education)

0

1 (housing)

2 (education; anti-Gypsyism)

3 (education; housing; language)

4 (education;2 x housing; women)

3 (education;housing; legal status)3 participations - Bosnia and Herzegovina

- Croatia

- Finland

- Italy

- Sweden

- United Kingdom

0

1 (language)

1 (education)

1 (legal status)

0

0

3 (2 x housing; legal status)

2 (housing; legal status)

2 (policy-making; women)

2 (anti-Gypsyism; women)

3 (anti-Gypsyism;2 x education)

3 (anti-Gypsyism; education; halting sites)

2 participations - Latvia

- Republic of Moldova

- Norway

- Romania

- Serbia

- Slovenia

0

1 (policy-making)

0

0

1 (housing)

0

2 (2 x education)

1 (women)

2 (anti-Gypsyism; education)

2 (language; policy-making)

1 (legal status)

2 (education; policy-making)

1 participation - Albania

- Austria

- Belgium

- France

- Greece

- Lithuania

- Montenegro

- The Netherlands

- Poland

- Switzerland

1 (housing)

0

1 (halting sites)

0

0

1 (women)

0

1 (education)

0

0

0

1 (language)

0

1 (halting sites)

1 (housing)

0

1 (legal status)

0

1 (education)

1 (halting sites)


For 2015, member States that have already expressed an interest to participate in one of the proposed thematic groups include as requesting countries Albania, France, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Spain; as partner countries Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

FUTURE CAHROM THEMATIC WORK 6/6

Thematic group on addressing and combating human trafficking within Roma communities with a focus on street children and prostitution

Abania (requesting country) Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania (partners)

Thematic group on school inclusion in favour of Roma (migrants) children and access to education and distance learning for Traveller children

France (requesting country) Albania, Belgium, Denmark (tbc), Italy (tbc), Norway (tbc), Switzerland (tbc) (partners)

Thematic group on the empowerment of Roma youth and youth dimension of Roma policies

Slovenia (requesting country) Belgium, Croatia, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovak Republic (partners)

Thematic group on on gender equality education, with a focus on early and/or forced marriages and domestic violence within Roma communities

Romania (requesting country) Italy, Republic of Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom (tbc) (partners)

Thematic group on vocational training/education Poland (requesting country) Finland, Turkey (partner countries)

Thematic group on Roma empowerment & participation in advisory bodies/decision-making process Ireland & Spain (requesting countries) Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden (partner countries)


Example: Education issues and obstacles

The I-CARE UnitSRSG Support Team for Roma

Issues

Roma families face multiple issues, (poverty, unemployment, debt, domestic violence, etc.) which leads to more attention being paid by the family on solving socio-economic issues rather than on children’s education.

School drop-outs, absenteeism and lack of school enrollment (due to tendency for overprotection; low education of Roma parents; lack of dialogue between schools and parents; fear of assimilation; travelling way of life; early marriage...)A lower expectation from teachers

concerning Roma children, lower quality education provided to Roma children and a lack of knowledge of Roma culture and history.

Language barriers (many children speak Romani at home and have little knowledge of national language). Other barriers include lack of ID, ghettoisation/housing segregation, constant evictions, health problems...

Negative attitude and perception from non-Roma parents, and sometimes school professionals based on prejudice and stereotypes. Refusal from schools/local authorities to accept Roma or Traveller children.

School segregation, special classes and enrolment in schools for mentally disabled.

Example: Housing issues (sedentary Roma)

• Access to social housing and criteria for beneficiaries• Availability, affordability & quality of housing• Access to property• Security of tenure• Definition of temporary housing• Legalization of illegal buildings/settlements• Financial means for re-/construction• Re-housing programmes• Conditions & alternatives to forced evictions• Segregation (voluntary or de facto)• Mapping of Roma settlements• Participation of Roma in decision-making/implementation• Micro-credits for reconstruction


Issues

Example: Housing issues addressed (Travellers)

• Recognition of the caravan as a house• Sufficient provision of halting sites• Configuration and localisation of halting sites• Criteria for accessing halting sites• Infrastructure for both short or long stays• Land property• Charges and/or fees for halting areas• Administrative attachment to a municipality• Relationship with the neighbourhood• Fleet insurance policy• Practical handbook/online info for Travellers• Financial assistance from the state/local authorities• Consultation mechanisms for Travellers


Issues

IMPACT & RESULTS OF THE CAHROM 1/3Is a unique inter-governmental forum in Europe and gathers most relevant international partners

-Includes 40 out of 41 member States with Roma population (except Armenia) + Holy See + international partners (EC-various DGs; FRA; OSCE-ODIHR; UNHCR; UNDP; IOM; World Bank, etc.) + international NGOS (ERTF; FERYP; Amnesty International; REF; OSF; ERRC; Roma Decade Secretariat, EEA & Norway Grants, etc.)

-Heterogeneous profile of members (Roma and non Roma; various ministries; anti-discrimination bodies; parliamentarians, local authorities, NGOs) - Romani language as 3rd working language

-gender balanced (20 men / 20 women)

Set new standards and provided guidelines for implementation:

- The CM adopted Rec(2012)9 on Mediation providing guidelines for MS on effective mediation

Raised awareness at highest level:

-The CM adopted a Declaration on the Rise of Anti-Gypsyism and racist violence against Roma

but failed to have the CM adopt a Declaration on the genocide of Roma during WWII

Provided its opinion to the CM:

- The CAHROM transmitted its Opinion on PACE Rec 2003(2012) on Roma migrants and on Congress Rec. 354(2014) on Roma youth participation

Developed innovative and more efficient working methods:

-Increasing number of requests for thematic groups & topics

-The GR-SOC/CM encouraged other CoE committees to use similar thematic working methods

-Appointed 4 Committee rapporteurs and encouraged other Commmittee to appoint a rapporteur for Roma issues/anti-Gypsyism (CDDH, CDPPE, CDDECS, DECS-ENF, etc.)


IMPACT & RESULTS OF THE CAHROM 2/3Addresses topical issues for both member States and Roma communities / has a rich agenda:

- The CAHROM not only addresses discrimination and violations of the human rights of Roma (school segregation; anti-Gypsyism; hate speech; negative portrayal; freedom to leave one’s country, etc.) but also challenging issues within certain Roma communities (early marriage; trafficking in human beings; domestic violence, school drop-out and absenteeism, etc.).

- Peer-to-peer exchanges of experience and practices are more effective and results-oriented (it is a response to specific needs; only countries having a similar interest are involved)

Ensures coordination/synergies with other CoE sectors and international partners:

- International partners are given a possibility to update the CAHROM with recent developments and/or raise the attention of the Committee about topical issues.

- Exchanges of views with the Congress/Alliance, PACE, Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office, GRETA, Children’s Rights Division, ECRI, Language Charter, Bioethics Division, etc.;

- Possibility for other CoE sectors to join thematic visits (Children’s Rights Division on pre-school education and Youth Sector on Roma youth empowerment and youth mainstreaming);

- The European Commission (DG Justice) started taking part in CAHROM thematic visits; was asked to avoid duplication with CAHROM in NRCP context and to use CAHROM thematic reports.

Gives the possibility for Roma to raise their concerns and express themselves in Romani:

- The ERTF has a representative covered by the CAHROM budget;

- Main documents (recommendations, agenda, reports, etc.) are translated into Romani;

- The CAHROM helped creating a pool of interpreters an translators in Romani language.


IMPACT & RESULTS OF THE CAHROM 3/3

Effectiveness of small-size peer-to-peer underlined by requesting countries.Some examples of results from CAHROM thematic visits/reports:•Pilot project for inclusive education in several Slovak municipalities•Institutionalisation of mediators (Rep. Moldova – jointly with ROMED)•Inclusion of good/innovative practices in new Roma strategy (Latvia)•New studies to assess Roma girls and boys’ school attendance (Finland)•Announcement of lifting the reservation under the ECRML which will benefit the languages spoken by Roma (Croatia)•Inclusion of gender (Roma women) in new Roma strategy (Lithuania)•Pressure exercised on educational reform (Czech Republic)•Inclusion of Italy in UNHCR & Western Balkan meetings on solving the legal status and lack of ID documents•New legislation to legalize informal settlements (Serbia, Slovakia), etc.


NEW PRIORITIES & QUESTIONS RAISED• Ensure that all member States are regularly present and active in

CAHROM (with less turnover of members)• Leave more space for debate (incl. thematic reports) & less

presentations• Define indicators to assess implementation of CoE standards/Rec…• Reconsider Roma civil society participation in CAHROM pending

discussion between SG and CM• Ensure synergies and avoid duplication with EU National Roma

Contact Point (NRCP) meetings and Roma Decade ISC meetings• Ensure that all member states get involved in thematic groups• Limited thematic focus (e.g. education & housing) v. broaden

approach• Transform CAHROM in a Steering Committee instead of an Ad hoc

Committee• Reintroduce the terminology « Roma and Travellers » v. just « Roma »


TRANSVERSAL APPROACH• Congress Rapporteur on Roma and Traveller Issues & the Alliance

(CAHROM, local authorities and database)• GRETA, Lanzarote Committee, Children’s Rights Division, ERTF

(early marriage/domestic violence/trafficking)• Execution of Jugdments, ESF, ECRI, Commissioner for Human Rights,

Language Charter not enough with FCNM (monitoring, database)• PACE Rapporteur on anti-discrimination, gender committee)• Criminal Law Dpt, HELP programme, SOGI (training)• Gender Equality Division, SOGI, Youth Sector, ERTF (training, youth

and gender mainstreaming, etc.)• PACE, CDDH, DECS-ENF, Bioethics Committee (anti-Gypsyism

rapporteur, mainstreaming of Roma issues )• ERTF, DC, Congress (Dosta! campaign) • Strategic Partnership Unit of SRSG Roma (mediation, local

authorities)Planned in the future: police, media Division, CPT (prison) (training)


ONLINE DATABASE ON GOOD PRACTICEShttp://goodpracticeroma.ppa.coe.int/en

•Set up in 2011 as a result of the Strasbourg Declaration•Online tool for policy makers, NGOs, researchers, students, international partners•3 types of good practices: promising, demonstrated, replicated•Experts’ registry (14 experts registered)•Geolocalisation map•Search engine (per country/theme/national, regional local levels)•Content overview in one click; statistics (number of viewers) •Validation of good practices by HRCom, Congress, Dosta, OSCE, EU, Decade…•Practices are deleted if challenged by civil society/other actorsRecent developments:•78 good practices online in English (46 in French) from 24 member states + Kosovo* - 51 demonstrated; 11 replicated; 16 promising•People start using the database to exchange GP and submit practices directly•Database circulated to 123 municipalities of the Alliance networkFor the future:-develop the policies part without duplicating other websites & experts’ directory-Ensure that good practices are all translated into both official languages


DOSTA! CAMPAIGN• In 2005-2009 as joint CoE/EU Roma programmes; since 2008 open to all CoE MS• Launched in 17 member states + Kosovo* ; Financially supported by Finland

(VC)• Multilingual website www.dosta.org (toolkit, leaflet, calendar, radio/video spots,

CD• 3 objectives: address stereotypes and prejudice; combat anti-Gypsyism;

promote Roma culture, history, language and positive image – is nationally implemented

• Activities: public debates, music/theatre festivals, media training, street events, school awareness, Roma history promotion, photos and drawing competitions and exhibitions, testimonials, Congress Dosta! prize, Roma Pride…

Recent developments: 2013: launch in Lithuania, Slovakia, Spain; 2015: in Latvia• Brainstorming at CAHROM about the impact and new approach (May 2014)• Roma Pride in 14 countries (CoE support in FR, HU, MK, TR)• International Seminar on Roma History Teaching (Rome, Italy, 11-12 Dec. 2014)For the future:- Develop new approaches (shopping list, training) to increase MS involvement- Encourage member states to include Dosta/awareness raising in national Roma strategy

and budgeting (good practices in Italy and Slovenia)- Encourage other countries to join (BE, CH, CZ, FI, FR, HU, IE, NO, SE, TR, etc.)- Develop role models (self-esteem) – e.g. Montenegrine and French exhibitions.


THANK YOU!

Contacts: CAHROM / GENERAL FOR I-CARE UNIT / FINANCE

Michaël Guet – [email protected]

DATABASE / POLICE TRAINING & CAMPS IN ITALYRiccardo Mattei – [email protected]

ROMA WOMEN / ANTI-DISCRIMINATION TRAININGIsabela Mihalache – [email protected]

DOSTA! CAMPAIGNLjiljana Stojisavljevic – [email protected]


Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues The I-CARE UNIT.

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Transcript of Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma Issues The I-CARE UNIT.