As of April 2013, by the Presidential Decree, the “Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society for the Period up to 2020” was approved, and in October of the same year, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Action Plan for its implementation. It is envisaged that the actions aimed at implementing this strategy should be carried out by 13 Ministries and agencies, as well as all local administrations. Furthermore, local authorities were supposed to develop and implement relevant plans. What is the current situation regarding the implementation of the planned measures?
Roma community activists have attempted to answer this question. The results of the monitoring conducted in 6 regions of Ukraine indicated that, as is often the case, the government’s approach is formal: documents are written, but there is no intention to implement them. The absence of indicators in the Action Plan, both at the national and local levels, leaves the implementers feeling indifferent, as if there are no clear results planned, there is no need to report on them. Concrete steps are taken only in isolated cases, primarily where there is active cooperation between local administrations and Roma activists. For instance, in the Darnytskyi district of Kyiv, a special working group of Roma women was formed to address issues related to informal settlements, or in Kirovohrad, through the cooperation between Roma mediators and representatives of the local Family and Youth Department of Kirovohrad City Council, assistance was provided to 39 Roma women.
Representatives of the Roma community decided not to stay on the sidelines and to establish a cooperation process and ensure the implementation of the strategy at all levels. For this purpose, the Coalition of Roma Non-Governmental Organizations of Ukraine “Strategy 2020” was created (comprising 9 regional and 1 international non-governmental organizations representing regions of Ukraine with the largest Roma population). Its representatives, led by the “Chirikli” Charitable Foundation, met with representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine (this Ministry is designated as the coordinator of the Strategy’s implementation). The main issue discussed at the meeting was the need to ensure coordination between various Ministries at the national level and between departments and units at the local level. The Coalition representatives proposed the establishment of a National Interagency Council for the implementation of the Strategy. The Ministry of Culture was expected to initiate the creation of this Council, and representatives of the Roma community should also be included, as it is unacceptable to make decisions affecting the community without hearing its position on various matters.
The need for creating a platform of interaction to facilitate the implementation of the Roma Strategy was confirmed during a meeting at the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights. During this meeting, the results of monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan for the Strategy for the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society up to 2020 were presented. The Interagency Coordination Council itself could become such a platform. Moreover, similar councils or working groups should be established at the local level as well. Currently, they exist only in a few regions (Odesa, Zakarpattia, Lviv, Kirovohrad, Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi, etc.). Only the coordinated work of all responsible parties at both the national and local levels can ensure the implementation of the Strategy, even in the context of limited resources that our country is facing at this time.
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture agreed on the necessity of cooperation and additional steps to ensure the implementation of the strategy’s measures at the local level. However, there are challenges related to the additional time required for the effective operation of the Council, which the Ministry’s specialists do not possess. As usual, relying on international assistance for this matter remains a possibility. Nonetheless, the Coalition’s representatives sent an official letter to the Ministry proposing the establishment of an Interagency Coordination Council for coordinating and monitoring the Action Plan for the “Strategy up to 2020” at the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, with the participation of representatives from relevant Ministries, civil society, and international organizations. A draft Regulation for the Interagency Coordination Council was developed and proposed to the Ministry. Now, it’s up to the Ministry to take further steps. The Roma community is ready for further discussions and, more importantly, for concrete joint actions.
