Final conference within the framework of the project “Expanding Rights and Opportunities of Romani Mediators”

On September 26, 2014, within the framework of the project “Expanding Rights and Opportunities of Romani Mediators,” supported by the International Renaissance Foundation, a concluding conference took place, during which the achievements of the project were presented.

The conference was attended by representatives from the Chamber of Regions of the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the State Migration Service of Ukraine, the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, the State Institute of Youth and Sports, Darnytskyi District State Administration of Kyiv, Odesa Regional State Administration, Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, Kirovohrad City Administration, and others. Additionally, representatives from NGOs and Romani social-medical mediators were present.

During the conference, the following topics were discussed:

• International legal norms concerning Roma: promoting integration. The contribution of the Council of Europe to regional development and ensuring Roma rights.
• Reforming the social service system: government assistance to the most vulnerable segments of the population.
• Interaction of Romani communities with government bodies: the experience of Darnytskyi District State Administration of Kyiv.
• Roma integration into Ukrainian society through multi-aspect mediation: potential and practice. The results of the work of Romani social-medical mediators and the overall project achievements were presented.
• Initiatives of local self-government regarding Roma integration and the experience of their implementation in collaboration with Romani social-medical mediators.
• The work of Romani mediators with internally displaced Roma from the ATO zone (conflict area).

Conference participants emphasized the value of the Romani social-medical mediator program, the importance of collaborating with them, and the need to involve Romani mediators in the work of Social or Territorial Centers based on local resources. Suggestions were made to learn more about the procedures for joining the European Alliance of Cities and to present the results of the Romani mediator program at the Congress of Regional Development of the Council of Europe. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine proposed that the NGO “Chirikli” use its experience to provide suggestions to the ministry on how to develop or amend regional Action Plans for the implementation of the Romani National Strategy. Conference attendees recognized the Romani social-medical mediator program as effective and recommended that it continue in cooperation with local and national government bodies. They also highlighted the importance of establishing the position of “social worker-mediator” for work with vulnerable population groups, including Roma.

The conference expressed gratitude to the International Renaissance Foundation for its support and to all partners for fruitful cooperation.

Algoritm

Roma needs assessment