The All-Ukrainian Conference of Roma Organizations “Consolidation for Progress” took place in Kyiv on July 29-30. The conference aimed to address current political, economic, social, and cultural issues affecting the Roma population in Ukraine. Special attention was given to the situation of Roma living in the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in the Donbas region.
With a Roma population of over 300,000, despite the Ukrainian government’s declared commitment to equal rights for all nationalities, Roma individuals remain among the most vulnerable and unprotected. According to surveys, 87% of Roma respondents reported experiencing persecution based on their ethnicity, both from authorities and ordinary citizens. During times of escalated conflict in Ukraine, Roma individuals often face severe repression from separatist forces, including physical violence and discrimination, solely due to their Roma identity.
The conference brought together 30 representatives from various Roma communities across Ukraine. They had the opportunity to engage with government representatives, international non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations, and members of the Ukrainian parliament. The goal was to seek support from the new government and public for Ukraine’s participation in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, as well as to outline strategies for implementing the Government Action Plan within the framework of the Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society by 2020. The assessment of the implementation of this strategy by the Roma community indicated unsatisfactory progress.
The head of the “Roma Council of Ukraine,” Yuriy Ivanenko, emphasized that Roma are not seeking financial support from the state budget, understanding the country’s economic challenges. However, efforts are being made by Roma civil organizations to encourage the government’s participation in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, which could attract European donor funds to address urgent Roma issues, such as proper housing, identification documents, education, and reducing the social gap between the Roma minority and the majority population.
Roma civil organizations are working diligently to assist the Roma population. With support from the International Renaissance Foundation, a network of Centers for Legal Information and Consultations has been established in Ukraine, including within Roma civil organizations, to address the legal needs of individual Roma communities.
At the conference, various speakers, including Zemfira Kondur, head of the Roma Women’s Fund “Chirikli,” Mykola Yurchenko, head of the Lviv City Civic Organization “Ternipe,” and Mykola Burlutskyi, head of the Kharkiv Regional Civic Spiritual and Educational Organization “Chachimo,” discussed the actual conditions and challenges faced by the Roma community.
In their speeches, they emphasized that all Roma individuals require legal support and social assistance. However, Roma citizens in the occupied territories of Crimea and the ATO zone are even more vulnerable than other residents in these areas. The process of resettlement is particularly difficult for them, and they often face negative attitudes and difficulties in accessing basic services and social support.
The conference also featured speeches by Gennadiy Druzenko, the Government Commissioner for Ethnonational Policy of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and Yevhen Bystritskyi, the Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation.
As a result of the conference, an appeal was made to the President and Prime Minister of Ukraine to ensure the implementation of program principles within the framework of the national strategy. The aim was to establish constructive cooperation between the Roma community and public authorities to address daily challenges faced by the Roma community and those arising from military actions in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Additionally, an appeal was sent to the International Steering Committee of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2013.
The Decade of Roma Inclusion is a project involving twelve Central and Eastern European countries, focused on improving the social and economic status of the Roma minority and integrating them into society. The project’s actions from 2005 to 2015 aim to reduce disparities in well-being and living conditions between the Roma and non-Roma populations and to address the poverty and social isolation of Roma individuals.
This event was made possible with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation’s “Roma Program Initiative.”
P.S. Centers for Legal Information and Consultations, providing free legal assistance to the Roma population, operate with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation’s “Roma Program Initiative.” For more details about the network of centers, their principles, and activities, visit the “Legal Space” website in the “Strengthening the Legal Opportunities of Roma Communities” section.
The views expressed in this material belong to its authors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the International Renaissance Foundation.
