The practical stage of implementing the recently concluded cooperation agreement between Pereyaslav and the International Charitable Organization “Roma Women’s Fund “Chirikli” for the implementation of the ROMED-2 program under the auspices of the Council of Europe involved a round table discussion that took place on June 13. The event was held in the hall of the central district library in Pereyaslav.
The round table was attended by Zemfira Kondur, the Council of Europe coordinator for Roma issues in Ukraine, Valentina Zolotarenko, a Roma mediator in Pereyaslav, Valentina Hubar, the deputy head of the regional administration (RDA), Lyubov Onoprienko, the director of the center for social services, Natalia Kostyuk, a district council deputy, as well as the heads of departments responsible for culture, education, law and order, and social protection in the region.
Valentina Hubar stated, “There are 62 Roma families living in Pereyaslav, but we have never separated them as a different nationality. We are all Ukrainians, and we treat all citizens equally.” She mentioned an instance where a Roma family from another region was accepted into a social dormitory and helped with social rehabilitation.
Zemfira Kondur emphasized the need for a mediator in this work, someone from the Roma community who can bridge the gap between Roma families and government officials or volunteers. She stressed the importance of having a mediator who understands the specific cultural dynamics of the Roma community and can represent their interests at the local government level.
Zemfira Kondur further explained the challenges faced by the Roma population, including the lack of identification documents such as passports and birth certificates, as well as difficulties in obtaining education and employment. She highlighted the need to address these issues collaboratively and involve the Roma community itself in finding solutions.
Valentina Zolotarenko, a Roma mediator, shared her insights based on her experiences in Pereyaslav and emphasized the importance of socializing Roma families, particularly young parents interested in education and employment opportunities for their children. She mentioned that while not all Roma families are ready for such engagement, many are willing to participate in socialization efforts.
The participants discussed current situations in Roma families registered with the district’s social services and decided to form a special working group that would meet once or twice a month. This group, including the mediator and representatives of the local Roma community, would help address their issues. Zemfira Kondur also mentioned that there’s a preliminary agreement with the Ministry of Social Policy to introduce a separate position of Roma mediator at the local administration level, which would facilitate this work.
