On May 20-21, 2014, an event dedicated to Ukraine’s participation in the “ROMED2” program and the discussion of improving cooperation mechanisms between Roma mediators and social experts took place in Kyiv. The event was organized by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the International Charity Organization “Roma Women’s Fund ‘Chiricli’.”
Around 60 participants took part in the event, including representatives of ministries and departments, regional authorities, Roma and international organizations.
During the event, Larisa Kobelyanska, an Advisor to the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of treating Roma not just as recipients of social services or benefits but as an essential human resource that needs to be developed. She highlighted the role of local communities in ensuring the full inclusion of Roma in society.
Markos Andrade, the Program Manager of ROMED, continued the discussion by stressing the pivotal role of local authorities in improving the lives of Roma communities through key areas such as education, housing, employment, healthcare, and social services. He mentioned that these areas have been recognized by the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and other stakeholders, including local authorities. Andrade also spoke about the assistance provided by the European Commission and the Council of Europe in implementing the ROMED2 program.
In Ukraine, four cities joined the implementation of the ROMED2 program: Vovchansk, Kharkiv Region; Kropyvnytskyi; Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi; and Uzhhorod. The event was organized with the support of the United States Embassy’s Democracy Grants Program.
The ROMED2 program was launched in Ukraine in April 2010, initially covering five regions: Odesa, Lviv, Zakarpattia Region, Donetsk (Makiivka), and Kyiv Region. It expanded to include seven more regions and trained 50 Roma medical mediators, who started working in 12 regions of Ukraine. The program is supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as international organizations such as the International Renaissance Foundation and the Open Society Institute (Hungary).
The program’s results have led to open and effective mediation between Roma communities and state institutions, focused on addressing real issues and serving the interests of the Roma community. More information about the achievements, challenges, and opportunities of Roma mediators can be found at the following link: http://issuu.com/irf_ua/docs/roma-2014-3-14
[1] ROMED2 program is implemented in five countries: Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Slovakia. http://romed.coe-romact.org/
[2] http://legalspace.org/index.php/ua/romski-poseredniki-u-sferi-okhoroni-zdorov-ya
