Today, a delegation of representatives from the Contact Point of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is in Chernihiv. The main purpose of their visit is to assess the situation with a view to possible assistance to Ukraine in protecting the rights of the Roma minority. Additionally, they are gathering information to develop a training course for law enforcement officers on working with Roma communities.
The international institution’s representatives met with the Roma community residing in Chernihiv and participated in a roundtable discussion on the implementation of the Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society until 2020. Representatives from regional departments of the regional state administration, institutions, organizations, and Roma community associations were invited to participate in the dialogue.
Idaver Memedov, the expert on Roma and Sinti issues from the Contact Point of the OSCE ODIHR, emphasized the significance of the Strategy as a document that should substantially improve the situation of Roma in the country. However, he noted that there are several problematic issues arising in the process of integrating the Roma minority into Ukrainian society. These include the lack of documents among Roma, access to quality education, social protection, and issues with law enforcement agencies. The OSCE office is actively cooperating with the Ukrainian Government to address these challenges. At the regional level, it is crucial to adopt an action plan that encompasses the needs of Roma and systematically resolves them.
According to Alexander Levochko, the Acting Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Nationalities, and Religions of the regional state administration, there are officially 799 individuals of Roma nationality in the region, and unofficially, about 2,000. Chernihiv region is actively working to implement the Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society. An action plan has been developed and approved by the head of the regional state administration to ensure social protection for Roma individuals, provide a range of employment services, vocational training, preschool and secondary education for children, healthcare, and improvement of living conditions, among other initiatives.
Moreover, the positive relationships between Roma and other national minorities are evident through their active participation in the annual regional festival “Polissian Circle.”
Representatives of Roma community organizations highlighted the importance of establishing a national center in Chernihiv. Such a center would help unite the Roma community. Equally important is engaging youth in seminars, training sessions, and even internships within governmental bodies.
All participants of the roundtable emphasized the need for continuing an open dialogue between authorities and the Roma minority, as it will help protect the rights of Roma and integrate them into Ukrainian society.
