The City of Almeria The City of Bologna The City of Budapest The

BASELINE REPORT
ROMA-Net a Trans-national
Partnership between
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
City
of
of
of
of
of
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Almeria
Bologna
Budapest
Glasgow
Heraklion
Karvina
Kosice
Torrent
Udine
Author : Ann Morton Hyde
Lead Expert – Roma- Net
Contributions from City Partners
Jan - May 2010
ROMA-Net Baseline
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... 3
MAIN REPORT .................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. The ROMA-Net Partnership ............................................................................... 2
1.2. Phase 1 – Design and Development ..................................................................... 4
1.3. Phase 2 – Implementation .................................................................................... 4
BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 7
1.4. The Extent of the Problems................................................................................... 8
1.5. Exclusion from education..................................................................................... 9
1.6. Exclusion from and limitation in employment ....................................................10
1.7. Exclusion from social and health care ..................................................................11
1.8. Integrated Housing Solutions– tackling residential segregation ..........................12
1.9. Roma exclusion is more than a CEE issue ...........................................................14
1.10.
Collecting data on ethnicity.............................................................................15
THE CURRENT POLICY CONTEXT FOR ROMA INCLUSION .......................................................... 17
2.1
The EU policy context.........................................................................................17
2.2
Roma and the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion (2008 – 2010) .............19
2.3
Non EU Initiatives Focusing on Roma...............................................................23
2.4
The Trend Is Towards Motivating Local Actions ................................................26
2.5
Multi-dimensional / Integrated policies and practices .........................................27
THE STATE OF THE ART - GOOD PRACTICE IN OTHER CITIES ..................................................... 30
3.1
City examples – Background ...............................................................................30
3.2
PROJECT: - Sectoral Mediators working at community level .............................30
3.4
PROJECT: Community led regeneration and community development ..............33
3.5
PROJECT: Health, Pharmacy scholarship programme and employment .............39
3.6
PROJECT: Alternative Secondary Schools in Hungary ......................................40
3.7
PROJECT: Acceder - Employment Programme - ESF (DG EMPL) spain...........42
LOCAL MAPPING ...................................................................................................................... 45
4.1
Background.........................................................................................................45
4.2
Methodology for the local mapping......................................................................45
4.3
Associated Risks..................................................................................................46
4.4
Purpose of the local mapping...............................................................................47
4.5
City Profiles ........................................................................................................48
4.6
Thematic Examples .............................................................................................65
SYNTHESIS OF PARTNER PRIORITIES ......................................................................................... 69
5.1
Common problems identified during the local mapping.......................................69
5.2
Preparation for Synthesis ....................................................................................70
5.2
Consultation on the synthesis for Phase II...........................................................71
5.3
Scope of the Overarching Theme .........................................................................72
5.3
The Overarching Theme and Local Action Plans.................................................74
5.4
Thematic Exchange and learning themes.............................................................75
ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................77
ANNEX 1. BACKGROUND BRIEFING NOTE ON ROMA POLICY......................78
ANNEX 2. COMMON BASIC PRINCIPLES ON ROMA INCLUSION ..................85
ANNEX 3. LOCAL MAPPING REPORTS .................................................................87
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Table of Contents
City Partner Almeria......................................................................................................87
City Partner Bologna......................................................................................................95
City Partner Budapest ..................................................................................................111
City Partner Heraklion .................................................................................................126
City Partner Karvina....................................................................................................147
City Partner Košice ......................................................................................................158
City Partner Udine.......................................................................................................165
ANNEX 4. LIST OF DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO ..............................................178
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INTRODUCTION
Main Report
INTRODUCTION
..addressing the problems which affect the Roma people is increasingly recognised as
being extremely urgent in both ethical and practical terms. The European Union
recognises there is a need for more active and effective policies concerning Roma
inclusion. The practical delivery of these policies rests above all with the Member States
and, in particular, with regions and municipalities.
European platform for Roma Inclusion April 2009
1.
The thematic focus of the ROMA-Net1 project closely echoes the recent trends in
social inclusion policy for Roma which recognise the important role of cities and
municipalities in the development and implementation of social inclusion policies. The
trans-national context of ROMA-Net recognises that Roma exclusion is a multi-national
issue which spans beyond the boundaries of single nations and at the same time the City
partnership approach reflects the commitment and need for action at local level to
achieve relevant and sustainable results.
2.
Budapest City Council, with other partners in a network of European cities was
successful in securing access to funding from the URBACT II programme for the
development and operation of a thematic network. ROMA-Net is a thematic network of
9 Cities that will establish a programme of trans-national exchanges to compare policy
planning experiences of URBACT partners, and others, and to share tangible and
sustainable local practices.
3.
The activities of ROMA-Net will strengthen capacity at City level through
professional learning and development and will contribute to the continued
dissemination and expansion of the European knowledge base on Roma inclusion.
ROMA-Net will support city policy-makers, practitioners, social service providers,
managers of operational programmes and research institutes to develop action plans for
local integrated sustainable development practices and policies for Roma communities
that are relevant to the situation and identified need in each partner city.
4.
The European Parliament’s resolution of 31 January 20082 stressed the importance
of involving local authorities in ensuring the effective implementation of efforts to
promote Roma inclusion and combat discrimination. The same resolution called on
Member States to involve the Roma community at grassroots level with a view to
empowering the Romani people to fully benefit from the incentives provided by the EU
aimed at promoting their rights and the inclusion of their communities, whether in the
field of education, employment or civic participation. Successful and sustainable
inclusion and integration favours a bottom-up approach which emphasises joint
1 1
“Roma” is a term given by the non-Roma population or by the Roma themselves when distinguishing from the non-Roma
population. Some authorities (such as the Council of Europe, OSCE, etc) recognise five main groups, which may be further divided
into two or more subgroups, distinguished by occupational specialisation or territorial origin, or both. In this study the “Roma” is
used having in mind its great internal heterogeneity. For information about the history of Roma see http://romafacts.uni-
graz.at/index.php/history/general-introduction/general-introduction
2
P6_TA(2008)0035
ROMA-Net Baseline
INTRODUCTION
responsibilities and places significant importance on the development of human
resources and professional capacity, factors that are at the core of the ROMA-Net
partnership.
1.1.
The ROMA-Net Partnership
5.
The partners in the ROMA-Net project include a mix of cities from competitiveness
and convergence regions of Europe which bring different perspectives to the operational
reality of Roma inclusion.
6.
The legal status of the Roma minority differs across Europe from country to
country and from group to group. The largest numbers of Roma are nationals and
resident in countries that are now members of the European Union such as Romania,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. They are entitled to free circulation as European
citizens, but in some other Member States they lack full rights as workers. Their status is
related to the period of migration, and recognition in each country as an ethnic or
national minority. Some groups from long-established patterns of migration are now
citizens of the country where they live and are either national minorities or ethnic
minorities and have full citizenship. In the same countries other groups are considered
refugees or asylum-seekers and have no residency permits; in other countries they are
considered asylum-seekers/refugees, but not in the condition to obtain the status. The
legal status of the Roma minority differs across Europe from country to country and
from group to group.
7.
The ROMA-Net partnership changed significantly from the beginning of the
development phase to the end.
The first phase partnership: Budapest, Amadora,
Heraklion, Karvina and Udine was extended by three partners very early in the
development phase when in December 2009 Almería, Bologna and Timisoara confirmed
their participation. These three new member cities joined the others and concluded the
local mapping exercise. After discussions with the representatives of DG EMPL and DG
Regio, further efforts were made to involve another partner from either Slovakia or
Bulgaria. In April 2010 the City of Kosice in Slovakia, confirmed that the city had
officially approved and support their commitment to join the ROMA-Net partnership.
8.
In May Amador withdrew from the Partnership, largely because the senior local
authority official has a new appointment and felt that the city does not have the capacity
or commitment to continue with ROMA-NeT. They Timisoara stated they are unable to
fulfil their intention to join ROMA-Net in Phase II. The reason they cited was that they
do not have the internal capacity to administer and manage the project and due to a
freeze on hiring in the public sector they cannot employ additional staff, also that the
level of financial remuneration was not sufficient to make external arrangements.
9.
By the middle of May the Lead Partner and the Lead Expert managed to secure the
participation of two other cities - Glasgow and Torrent - which completed the
partnership of 9 cities from 7 countries (4 partners from convergence area and 5 from
competitiveness and employment area). Both cities have Roma communities, which are
affected by a mix of similar issues as the other members of the partnership. Both Cities
face challenges in the effective delivery of services to the community and both believe
that an integrated approach is the way forward. From ROMA-Net they hope to share
experiences of international good practice and to have the support of other members
Cities for the development and implementation of local action plans.
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INTRODUCTION
10. The URBACT II Programme consists of two operational phases. Phase 1 focuses on
situation analysis, and on the design and development of a solid foundation of local
partnership and commitment to participation in the preparation and production of a
local action plan Phase 2 is dedicated to maintaining local participation and engaging
key actors in the step by step process of building and then implementation of a local
action plan.
11. The information contained in the Baseline also contains information gathered
during the development phase when both Amadora and Timisora were committed to
remaining in the project in Phase II. Their late departure meant that the two new
partners had insufficient time to conclude a full local mapping before the end of the
development phase. Both Cities are now working on the local mapping as the situation
analysis to underpin future actions.
12. The Roma communities that are represented in the ROMA-Net cities fall into three
different settlement models. Most cities have a mix of different groups:
•
Cities where the Roma population are descendents of migration that took place
many generations ago. The people are mostly nationals of their country of
residence, living a settled, but usually segregated life of poverty and exclusion in
a specific area of the city. In some cases people do not have identity or property
documents, even although they are living in the country of their birth. Almeria,
Bologna, Budapest, Heraklion, Torrent and Udine fall into this category.
•
Cities that receive economic migrants from other usually rural parts in their own
country, or neighbouring countries and who come for temporary work or to beg
but who only stay for a period of time and then move on to a another city.
Bologna, Budapest, Heraklion, Almeria are in this category.
•
Cities where the Roma population includes immigrants, usually economic
migrants, that have come from new member states in search of work and better
living conditions either as asylum seekers during the time before EU membership
or as economic migrants since EU accession. Some are fairly recent arrivals like
Bologna and Glasgow and others such as Karvina and Udine have been there for
about fifty years.
In Udine the Roma population may have migrated from
surrounding countries at the beginning of the Twentieth Century , but the current
population are Italian citizens and have been settled in the city for more than
years.
•
Cities where the Roma is made up mainly of immigrants that have come from
non-EU countries as asylum seekers, and now they have either temporary
residency or permanent residency in the country Bologna have a population from
the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans but there is no known Roma section of
this population.
13. The ROMA-Net Partnership that are committed to go forward into Phase II are
made up of the following cities that are made up of a mix of competitiveness and
convergence regions.
COMPETITIVENESS
CONVERGENCE
ROMA-Net Baseline
INTRODUCTION
Budapest
Glasgow
Bologna
HU
UK
IT
Torrent
Udine
Almeria
Heraklion
Karvina
ES
GZ
CZ
Kosice
SK
ES
IT
14. The URBACT II Programme consists of two operational phases. Phase 1 focuses on
situation analysis, and on the design and development of a solid foundation of local
partnership and commitment to participation in the preparation and production of a
local action plan Phase 2 is dedicated to maintaining local participation and engaging
key actors in the step by step process of building and then implementation of a local
action plan.
1.2.
Phase 1 – Design and Development
15. The initial 6 month phase for the ROMA-Net project allowed a number of critical
steps to be taken to establish a solid foundation to underpin continued implementation
of the URBACT and ROMA-Net concepts in phase two of the project. The steps
completed were as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Secured full complement of project partners for the thematic network;
Completed a two phased mapping exercise to establish the baseline profiles for
each of the participating cities;
Confirmed participation of corresponding Managing Authorities;
Completed a programme of city visits to contrast and compare the local
situations and the issues identified during the local mapping;
Identified the common issues and the shared areas of interest across all the
members of the network;
Established Local Support Groups (LSGs) with interested stakeholders to
facilitate preparation of Local Action Plans (LAPs) in each partner city;
Established the operational procedures to ensure effective management of the
thematic network over the duration of the programme;
Finalised the application form for the implementation phase.
1.3. Phase 2 – Implementation
16. The second phase of the ROMA-Net project will see the project moving forward to
full implementation for a period of 30 months (starting in June 2010). In this phase the
activities of the partners have to incorporate the City activities alongside the transnational focus of the project. The “Fast Track” status of the project means, the European
Commission will be involved as an active partner throughout implementation of the
project.
17. The partnership of Cities in ROMA-Net are very clear that the development and
implementation of the local action plan is a challenge that will require serious and
ongoing commitment from the key actors that make up the local support group. ROMANet is fortunate in that the city partners are fully behind the process and they are
ROMA-Net Baseline
INTRODUCTION
critically aware that the current discriminatory, segregationist and exclusionary practices
that reinforce the negative Roma stereotypes have to brought to a halt and replaced with
developmental opposites of fairer, equitable, more inclusive and participatory practices
that begin to introduce and reinforce a positive and more inclusive image of Roma
people.
18. A key factor of ROMA-Net will be innovation and a drive to find alternative
approaches that can stimulate interest and motivate community participation and
stakeholder action to drive the project forward. All partner Cities have cited active
community participation as the essential factor that will underpin every stage of the
project. Through such a process each city will establish a solid foundation for the local
action plan which will help to guarantee the relevance of the activities contained in local
action plans, the absorption of interventions and the continuation and sustainability of
the action plan beyond the life of the URBACT II interventions.
19.
There are horizontal and vertical dimension to the project activities.
•
•
20.
The horizontal are interventions that will involve all partner cities and will focus
on learning and professional development to increase the operational capacity
and the professional know-how of the partner cities, the members of the local
support groups and the participating managing authorities on topics that are
highly relevant to social and economic inclusion of Roma communities.
The vertical interventions will be developed and applied in parallel by the local
support groups in each participating city. There will be commonality in the
vertical actions that are foreseen in the project, but the diversity of the local
situations and the heterogeneous nature of Roma communities require that the
vertical interventions have to be tailored towards local need and applied at a pace
that is appropriate to the local situation.
At a horizontal and trans-national level the project will include :
•
a series of thematic workshops to increase partners’ understanding and
knowledge on the development and application of successful interventions to
tackle Roma inclusion. The thematic workshops will cover the following topics:
o area based and integrated community development approaches /
integrated housing
o innovative methodologies to activate community engagement / social
marketing
o result based monitoring / social accounting and audit;
o social
•
a thematic international conference to disseminate the experiences and practical
methodologies applied by the ROMA-Net partners to a wider network of
European cities that are also struggling to effectively address Roma exclusion;
Country visits to facilitate learning and practical exchange of good practice
interventions that have been tried, tested and are proving to be successful.
•
21.
The vertical city focused activities will include the following:
•
Innovative planning activities that are specially tailored to capture the
imagination and to stimulate community engagement in the local development
process;
ROMA-Net Baseline
•
•
•
INTRODUCTION
Development of an integrated local action plan (LAP) that is based on local need
and that builds on local opportunities. The LAP process will be facilitated and
driven by key multi-agency and community stakeholders in the local support
group (LSG).
Preparing and sourcing funding to support implementation of the LAP.
Preparing an organisational structure and strengthen its capacity to manage,
deliver, resource and coordinate the activities of local public service providers to
assist the local community to achieve the aims of the LAP.
ROMA-Net Baseline
STATE OF THE ART
BACKGROUND
22. It is estimated that at
Roma and Travellers emerge as Report of the EUMC.
least 10 million Roma people
live in the European Union,
They face discrimination in employment, housing and
making them the largest
education – as well as being regular victims of racial
minority group in Europe.
Throughout
Europe
no
violence in all EU member states.
precise data exist on the size
Beate Winkler, Director, Fundamental Rights Agency,
or demographic make-up of
April 2006
the Roma Communities, in
many
countries
official
statistics contain no information on ethnicity or self-identification and in some countries
ethnic data collection is forbidden.
23. In a study carried out on behalf of the European Parliament's Committee on
Employment and Social Affairs3 the socio-economic conditions of the Roma population
were described as follows - ‘Roma experience greater social exclusion than the majority
community, especially in accessing employment, education, health and social services:
The Roma present high rates of illiteracy and poor school attendance of children. They
usually live in segregated, isolated districts where the living conditions are frequently
poor, with problems of extreme overcrowding, lack of basic facilities. This contributes
also to aggravating their health condition. The Roma show very scant use of health care
services because medical treatment may conflict with the Roma rules of hygiene and
modesty, and because of the negative attitudes/racism/ discrimination of some health
care professionals and hospitals. For cultural reasons they also show limited use of
family planning services.
24. Throughout Europe Roma discrimination is frequent. Many European and
national surveys show that an appreciable proportion of European citizens take a
negative view of the Roma population based mainly on stereotypes and prejudice.
Roma have always been the target of racist abuse but the race fuelled riots and increased
violence towards Roma in Spain and Italy, Czech Republic and Hungary are indicative
of the growing levels of anti-Gypsyism which is widespread across Europe.
25. Anti-gypsyism is fairly widespread today and according to Petrova (2003) should
be interpreted as a set of misconceptions and myths. Misconceptions that may have
been true some time in the past, but that no longer reflect the situation of Roma today
and myths that are really assumptions that have been legitimised because somewhere
along the line they have been the foundation of a decision or policy.
26. One of the biggest myth or assumption is that Roma are nomadic and is one that is
often made by western Europeans, whereas the reality is that the overwhelming majority
of Roma, apart from in a few countries (France, Ireland and the UK), have been settled
for decades, some for centuries. The mental association between Roma and nomadism is
still thriving today and is able to distort the real picture; somehow it is less of an outrage
that many Roma are living without running water or adequate sanitation when it is
3
Policy Department Economic and Scientific Policy, The social situation of the Roma and their improved access to the
labour market in the EU, an Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
(IP/A/EMPL/FWC/2006-05/SC4), October 2008. http://www.romadecade.org/5014
ROMA-Net Baseline
STATE OF THE ART
associated with the vision of a caravan or trailer pulling up to rest for a period of days or
weeks before moving off again. The reality however is significantly different and living
conditions for Roma are often in overcrowded slum conditions on the outskirts of
villages, towns and in cities within derelict buildings where there is inadequate
infrastructure often without access to running water or adequate sanitation.
27.
The EU has an advanced legal framework which provides for protection against
discrimination. The Racial Equality Directive (Directive 2000/43/EC - RED) has been
adopted with the aim of combating discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic
origin and prohibits direct or indirect discrimination in employment, education, social
protection, property matters and services’.
1.4.
The Extent of the Problems
The problems experienced by Roma are multidimensional
multidimensional and interlinked: Poor
housing has an impact on health and on educational performance and access to
public services. Low attendance rates at school and unequal treatment within the
educational system affect employment opportunities, access to services,
services, health,
and access to justice. This… requires a multi sectoral, or integrated, approach to
providing solutions… [and thus] close coco-operation and coordination between
government departments and between
national, regional, and local levels of
government.
government. It also requires meaningful and ongoing consultation with the breadth
of the Roma community.
(Open Society Institute, 2006).
28. The European Union set ambitious goals in the Lisbon Strategy relating to the
creation of more jobs, social cohesion and sustainable development. However this goal
is jeopardised by the fact that a significant number of European citizens are socially and
economically excluded simply as a consequence of belonging to the Roma communities.
Combating social exclusion of the Roma in the name of fundamental rights and their
common European environment is a key aspect to turn social cohesion and local
development into a common resource, applying even to the more vulnerable and
marginal sectors of society.
29. While the moral and human rights arguments are clear, the economic arguments
for greater inclusion and more active participation of Roma in society are much stronger
and much more persuasive. The current situation is a basic misuse of one of the most
important resources and drivers of growth for any country. No country and no city has
the economic competence to ignore or to continue to under invest in such a large, and
growing, agglomeration of human capital. Solving problems of unemployment, poverty
and exclusion for Roma demand that the structural causes have to be addressed by
challenging discrimination and broadening opportunities for education and skills
development
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STATE OF THE ART
30. In the EU 12 countries with a significant share of Roma population, there seems to
be a general lack of recognition that the shortages of skilled workers threatening
economic growth can only be successfully tackled if education and training policies also
immediately begin to target the unemployed Roma in a holistic way. In particular those
countries where many qualified care workers emigrated, the training of Roma must
become a priority in the interest not just of Roma but of general social cohesion and of
the quality of social service in aging societies4.
31. A view that was supported by State Secretary Christer Hallerby (Swedish Ministry
of Integration and Gender Equality) at the second Roma Summit when he said that ‘The
inclusion of Roma is not only a moral, legal and political obligation. It also lies in the economic
and social interest of the European Union and its Member States. As the World Bank has stressed
here today, the exclusion of Roma entails costs in terms of lost productivity, lost state revenues
and direct transfers. Moreover, it means a waste of talent and of a potential workforce in an ageing
society’.
32. However, a widespread misconception is that Roma are different from the rest of
society – whether this is said with negative or positive intent – it is an attitude that has
stood in the way of progress and change and that continues to hinder the struggle for
equal participation of Roma in mainstream society. Research clearly shows that Roma’s
aspirations and expectation from life for themselves and their families are very much the
same as the rest of us. Although Roma are our contemporaries, living in Europe today
who deserve access to all the benefits and advantages of living in a modern society; they
are seldom treated as such and instead are trapped by a nineteenth century myth of
caravan trails, music, dance and a life of carefree abandon.
1.5.
Exclusion from education
33. The European Agency for Fundamental Rights (EUFRA) 20065 reported that Roma
children despite increasing numbers of dedicated programmes still suffer peculiarly high
levels of discrimination in the education system. In primary education the enrolment
and attendance of Roma pupils’ are disproportionately low all over Europe; Roma pupils
present an uneven and only partial transition to secondary education, absenteeism is a
persistent and common and serious problem affecting all pupils.
Transition to
secondary education is low and dropout rates increase with age, as a result of an effort to
find gainful employment or because of low performance, possibly a combination of both.
34. Formal and informal practices of segregating Roma pupils persist, despite
strategies and policies that have been developed to combat such practices. Placement in
separate classrooms or in special schools is justified on the grounds of their (perceived)
“different needs”, or of their patterns of behaviour, or as a reaction to their learning
difficulties. Their separation from other pupils may also be a result of their residential
segregation or isolation.
4
http://ec.europa.eu/social/keyDocuments.jsp?type=3&policyArea=0&subCategory=0&country=0&year=0&advSearchK
ey=nsr+spsi&mode=advancedSubmit&langId=en National Action Plans on Social Inclusion 2008 -2010
5
Roma and Travellers in Public Education – Executive Summary , National Focal Points of the Racism and
Xenophobia
European
information
Network
(RAXEN).
2006
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/material/pub/ROMA/EUMC_2006_00350001_EN_REV.pdf
ROMA-Net Baseline
STATE OF THE ART
35. Education remains a channel and perpetrator of intergenerational discrimination
and inequality towards Roma6. A very dangerous myth that is widely believed,
surprisingly even amongst professional teachers is about the Roma attitude to education.
Petrova says that ‘scholarly articles continue to repeat, together with Governmental
officials and various educators, that Roma parents do not regard education as necessary
and do not encourage their children to stay in school’. She condemns this as the most
dangerous myth as it hinders advancement and creates barriers to quality education for
the current generation of Romani children. Factors that continue to constrain access to
education for Roma include:
•
•
•
•
1.6.
Teachers, who are not adequately trained to deal with ethnically mixed classes,
not sufficiently supported in their work by intercultural mediators and not
adequately paid risking early burnout and developing an indifferent attitude;
Prejudice expressed in harassment, racial slurs and scape-goating at school;
Lack of pre-school education crucial for early assimilation of school norms and
expected behavioural patterns, but also for developing proficiency in language;
Low educational level of parents affecting their ability to support their children
in learning and lowering their aspirations.
Exclusion from and limitation in employment
36. A complex collection of factors are responsible for the very high, and concentrated
levels of Roma unemployment, such as low or lacking educational qualifications, workbased skills that are no longer relevant in a modern labour market, living in settlements
that are isolated with limited access to job, or limited access to transport and a level of
detachment from information about what jobs are available on the labour market. All of
these constitute real barriers that reduce employability and exclude many Roma from
work but there is another important factor that impacts on many Roma’s ability to secure
formal employment and that is direct and indirect discrimination that is prevalent in
many EU member states. Roma unemployment is a complex phenomenon, difficult to
remedy since it is a multi-layered and inter-generational problem7.
37. According to McNeill (2004) Roma-specific unemployment, or underemployment,
has created a serious endemic level of structural economic under-performance of the
economies concerned [Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia]. This is constraining the
functioning of the market economy, and reducing the capacity to cope with competitive
pressure and market forces within the Union. The losses to these three countries, related
to this specific failure in human resources policy is an under-performance of around
Euro 8-9 billion each year. In the intervening time the situation for unemployed Roma
has not improved significantly and many are negatively affected by the economic crisis
because of their high risk of poverty, the rise in general unemployment and the pressure
on social services and welfare benefit budgets.
38. Often Roma are held responsible for their own situation, the Draft Joint
Employment Report 2004/2005,8 recognises this - “The burden is often placed on individuals
6
European Roma Rights Centre, The impact of legislation and policies on school segregation of romani children, 2007,
http://www.errc.org/db/02/36/m00000236.pdf
7
European Roma Rights Centre, The Glass Box - Exclusion of Roma from employment, 2007,
http://www.errc.org/db/02/14/m00000214.pdf
8
Communication from the Commission to the Council - Draft Joint Employment Report 2004/2005 {SEC(2005)67}
ROMA-Net Baseline
STATE OF THE ART
to adapt rather than addressing wider issues of discrimination in society at large. The Roma or
migrants often seem to be portrayed largely as responsible for their labour market exclusion”.
This situation results in the even worse treatment of Roma people and the lack of
encouraging policies on the national level.
39. Empirical evidence shows that the vast majority of working Roma, men and
women, operate in the segment of the labour market which provides low skilled, low
paid - menial work. The lack of disaggregated employment data makes it impossible to
determine where, which employment sectors Roma that have jobs are actually working.
Historically Roma men took on hard labouring jobs, in the construction industry but
without good quality employment data there is no way of knowing, apart from the
visible evidence of Roma men digging the roads, if this is still that case.
40. Qualified and employed Roma do not have access to the same range of job
opportunities as their non-Roma counterparts. Even when Roma have the necessary
educational qualifications, the employment opportunities that are open to them tend to
be within a relatively narrow band of Roma related public service opportunities or in the
NGO sector.
41. In many instances mainstream employment is not an option. Roma are liable to
suffer discrimination regardless of how well qualified they are for the job.
Discrimination impacts on the employment opportunities of qualified Roma, many are
trapped in their current positions, and feel they would not be considered for any other
position except another Roma related job. In the same way that the ‘Glass Ceiling’ was
used to describe the invisible factors that limited the progress of women and ethnic
minorities into senior positions, it would seem that the Roma predicament is even worse
as not only do they have a ceiling which limits their progress upwards but they also
have to face invisible barriers that not only determine the types of employment
considered suitable for Roma but also limit opportunities to move out of Roma related
jobs into employment that is more mainstream. Therefore it could be said that qualified
Roma who have found employment, find their opportunities to progress upwards or in a
new direction are severely limited by an invisible ‘Glass Box’.
1.7.
Exclusion from social and health care
42. Mortality hits Roma groups much earlier than the broader population due largely
to the health service providers being unable to deliver consistent, accessible, timely and
prolonged health treatment for Roma communities. Higher rates of illness and mortality
are present among Roma than in majority populations. Persistent discrimination and
marginalisation are a daily reality that results in poorer health for Roma individuals and
communities. Available data consistently shows higher rates of illness and mortality
among Roma than in majority populations.9
•
•
Life expectancy for Roma populations in Eastern Europe is about 10 years less
than the overall population.
Infant mortality rates are twice as high among the Roma than the non-Roma in
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0013:FIN:EN:DOC
9
Open Society Institute, Public Heath Fact Sheet; Left Out: Roma and Access to Health Care in Eastern and South
Eastern Europe 2006 http://195.66.163.162/download/roma_rhp_fact_sheet.pdf
ROMA-Net Baseline
•
•
STATE OF THE ART
Higher rates of type two diabetes, coronary artery disease, and obesity in Roma
adults, and vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, anaemia, dystrophy, and rickets
among children.
It is widely agreed that TB, HIV/AIDS, and viral hepatitis disproportionately
affect minority populations in Eastern and Central Europe.
43.
Access to social and health care services for Roma, as described in recent studies
across Europe, is hampered by a number of common factors: discrimination by social
service practitioners, including improper application of eligibility criteria to social
assistance programmes and policies; territorial segregation of Roma minorities, making
their access to welfare services even more difficult - even if covered by insurance Roma
often cannot pay for expenses that fall outside of insurance such as medicines or
transport to health facilities; poor information and sometimes great distrust and a lack of
understanding between health and social service providers and Roma communities.
1.8.
Integrated Housing Solutions– tackling residential segregation
44. The 2004 European Commission report, The Situation of Roma in an Enlarged
European Union highlighted access to housing among the key challenges to achieving
full equality for Roma in Member States and called for the use of the European Regional
Development Fund (2007-2013) to adequately address housing and complementary
infrastructure. Now EU Structural Funds ‘can support measures to improve housing
stock – another fundamental issue for Roma communities’10
45. Many Roma and Travellers in the EU continue to live in informal, even unlawful
settlements and without prospects of legalising their homes and improving the quality of
their housing. Often without basic infrastructure, in dwellings that are barely habitable
and in areas with poor access to public services, employment and schools, as well as an
inadequate supply of water, electricity or gas. The FRA report on housing is clear that
11efforts to improve equal treatment and foster social inclusion need to actively combat
residential segregation.
46. Segregation is still evident in many EU Member States, sometimes as a result of
deliberate government policy. Some past housing projects have served to maintain or
even further the isolation and segregation of Roma settlements. Residential segregation
is a factor that has far reaching negative consequences. It can limit access to education,
employment and health care for many Roma people.
Segregated or insecure
settlements often mean inadequate or even non-existent access to basic public services
such as refuse collection, running water, connections to sewage systems, schooling and
public transport. Segregated living means fewer opportunities to hear about work or to
use public transport to get to work. There is evidence that having an address in a certain
Roma area means that job applications are rejected outright and inadequate standards of
housing lead to poor health, poorer performance in school, difficulties to access to
medical facilities and a general disengagement from the rest of society. There is also
evidence that segregation makes Roma individuals and settlements more susceptible to
violent attacks.
10
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf .
11
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in the European Union
Comparative report – October 2010. http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Roma_Housing_Comparativefinal_en.pdf
ROMA-Net Baseline
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47. ‘Politicians, experts and lawmakers have reiterated the widespread belief that the
Romani minority’s problems stem from their unwillingness to integrate into mainstream
society. When research has consistently demonstrated the contrary that, given the
choice, Roma prefer to integrate rather than live in a segregated parallel society. Roma
today are struggling for equal participation in mainstream society, while wishing to
preserve their unique culture12.
48. The Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC13 provides an important legal tool to
tackle discrimination and inadequate access or provision of goods and services,
including housing. Although the situations is dire in many areas, allegations of
discrimination in the field of housing are not being taken forward; evidence from the
FRA housing report shows that only a very low number of such complaints have been
filed with Equality Bodies or Ombudsperson offices.
49. The FRA report also points out some very important perspectives that need to be
considered when tackling the issues of residential segregation and improving housing
conditions for Roma. Relevant public authorities must •
•
•
•
ensure that Roma have security of tenure, available services and infrastructure;
that their housing is adequate, affordable, habitable and accessible; and that they
live in an adequate location and culturally appropriate homes;
provide potable water, electricity, waste removal, public transportation road
provision and other infrastructure to Roma settlements lacking any of the above.
The quality of housing of Roma and Travellers needs to be constantly monitored
and improved.
affirm the right of people to pursue sedentary or nomadic lifestyles, according to
their own free choice. To ensure equal treatment, all conditions necessary to
pursue these lifestyles should be made available to them by the national, regional
and local authorities in accordance with the resources available and within the
legal framework relating to building, planning and access to private land; and
raise awareness and disseminate information regarding Housing conditions of
Roma and Travellers in the EU.
50. Mistaken beliefs, uninformed interpretations of a situation and general
stereotyping can impact and, not infrequently limit the direction of public policy
provision in a number of areas, including housing. For example in Italy there is
widespread belief that Roma and Sinti are nomadic populations whose cultures revolve
around a nomadic lifestyle. This perception permeates all aspects of public policy and
has a profound impact on the housing policies and housing provision for Roma and
Sinti. From a public policy perspective the notion of impermanence makes the
shortcomings in education, health and social service provision seem less intolerable. At
the centre of Italian housing policies targeting the Roma is the idea and practice of
‘camps for nomads’ or simply, Roma camps. These camps are often located far away
from city centres, close to motorways, railways, or an industrial area not inhabited by
non-Roma groups. In some cases, they are even found on former waste dump sites.
These are policy-induced segregated structures, often overcrowded and lacking in
services and basic infrastructure. Roma camps are often targets of social alarm and
hostility from nearby residents and often submerged in political controversy.
12
Petrova Dimitrina (2003) Between a Myth and A Future Who are the Roma? In Social Research Volume 70 No. 1
(spring 2003). http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=1844
13
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=612
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51. Many of the problems that exist stem from the systemic and stigmatising approach
that has, and continues to be applied to Roma individuals and Roma communities. The
general lack of flexibility, the absence of conciliatory and inclusive approach from
service providers has, over many years, served to turn Roma away and prevented
general access to public services. Negative and discriminatory practices of the public
and service providers has had an insidious effect throughout Roma communities which
serves to undermine the confidence, capabilities and social acceptance that is needed to
actively engage in wider society.
52. Exclusion and non-participation is not simply a reaction to poverty, as affluent and
well educated Roma also experience s sense of stigma and are often presented with the
same systemic discrimination. Such practices have been on-going on for so long that the
effects are commonplace and now intergenerational and endemic across society.
1.9.
Roma exclusion is more than a CEE issue
53. EU membership for countries with Roma populations has brought about a new
dimension to the complex situation of Rome exclusion, namely that Roma in significant
numbers have begun to exercise their freedom of movement and have chosen to live and
if possible to work in another EU country. In the main this migration has not solved the
problems that existed in their home country, but rather displaced them to countries and
into cities that are challenged by the extent and complexity of the issues. Even in old
member states that have well developed anti-discrimination, equality and social
inclusion polices the extent of exclusion of Roma EU citizens in the society of their
Member State of origin and in their host Member State creates insurmountable barriers
to formal employment and it hampers their ability to access key civil and political,
economic and social rights.
54. As explained in the recent FRA report14’ ‘The Situation of Roma EU Citizens Moving
to and settling in other EU Member States’ 2009 Roma are exercising their right to freedom
of movement and residence rights in the context of significant push and pull factors.
Push factors in countries of origin involve a combination of poverty and racism.
Unemployment is a defining aspect of the experience of poverty in sending countries.
Pull factors include aspirations for improved living standards - particularly the prospect
of finding employment in both formal and informal economies. The way policies are
applied at local level can be a significant determinant for the push and pull factors that
influence Roma decisions about whether and where to migrate. The recent FRA study
concluded that Roma from other EU Member States are now part of the townscape of
almost every Member State of the European Union. The FRA research suggests that more
Roma may be moving from than returning to the countries of origin… The research also
shows that the way Roma migrants are treated in the new country has a major impact.
55. The overwhelming desire expressed by Roma respondents in the FRA research was
to work in the formal economy. The desire for formal employment is the definitive push
factor across the countries of origin and the key pull factor within the countries of
destination. Those who are unable to find work in the formal economy in destination
countries generally have a much more negative experience of free movement. It is these
‘economically inactive’ Roma EU citizens that attract most negative stereotyping and
14
The Situation of Roma EU Citizens Moving to and settling in other EU Member States’ 2009
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Roma_Movement_Comparative-final_en.pdf
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comment. However, in reality the majority of these Roma are anything but inactive.
While they are not integrated in the formal economy, they are mostly engaged in what is
identified as ‘marginal economic activities’, such as recycling glass or metal, working as
street vendors, painting houses, etc.
56. The FRA research did not identify any specific strategic responses at local
authority or even civil society level. This includes the lack of use of the Structural Funds
and in particular the European Social Fund to support Roma inclusion and addressing
discrimination and exclusion through information and awareness-raising campaigns.
The FRA research also did not identify local policy responses specifically targeting EU
citizens, including Roma, from other Member States. There appears to be a ‘policy
vacuum’ in this respect, but responses to the arrival of Roma EU citizens from other
Member States is more likely to be negative, occasionally taking the form of ‘removals’,
‘deportations’ or ‘repatriations’. In this sense the paradigm for non-Roma citizens from
other Member States is a benign non-response, while the paradigm for Roma citizens
from other Member States is more often a negative response.
57. The lack of measures is arguably more striking considering that Roma are
generally acknowledged as one of the most vulnerable groups of citizens in the EU. The
situation also raises profound questions about the effectiveness, transferability of the
collective principles of social inclusion across the EU Member States. The situation
amongst Roma populations in some of the ROMA-Net partner cities mirrors the
migration trends described in the FRA report. ROMA-Net aims to use the trans-national
exchange and learning components to bring together cities where Roma have been
exercising their right to free movement and migrating and others who have been
receiving immigrant Roma in search of work,, to share their experience so they can
collectively understand the issues from a pan-European rather than city specific
perspective.
1.10. Collecting data on ethnicity
58. Data on Roma socio-economic conditions and on their access to social welfare
provision are, in most EU countries, poor or lacking. While gathering disaggregate
ethnic data may itself be problematic, in the case of the Roma it is made even more
difficult by a systematic under-recording trend. Two obstacles generally stand in the
way of gathering data on ethnicity: a) the widespread belief that international law
and/or the domestic legislation prohibit the gathering and maintenance of ethnic
statistics; b) the widespread fear, among the Roma and other ethnic minorities regardless of their legal status – of misuse of ethnic statistics, dangerous for the
Community, and the fear that those statistics may reinforce negative racial stereotypes.
59. Clark C (1998) and even more so the authors in Krizsan (ed) 2001 provided a
challenging review that examined the need for accurate data on Roma populations and
the pressure that has been exerted on the Governments, from many quarters including
UNDP, World Bank and EU but with no success. The authors strongly acknowledge the
need for data for positive reasons, such as policy development and to prove or disprove
discrimination. They also cautioned about the potential negative usage of data,
particularly minority/ ethnic data, and demonstrated how misuse of statistics can be
used to compound and endorse the commonly held negative and stereotypical views of
Roma. For example in relation to crime statistics, unemployment and education. Negrin
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(2002) looks also at the common problems associated with collection and comparisons of
ethnic data in an international context.
60. An objection has been made on the grounds that collection of ethnic data would
breech the provisions of the EU Directive 95/46/EC on personal data protection.
According to the opinion of the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental
Rights the European rules relating to the processing of personal data, including the
protection of sensitive data relating to the ethnic origin of the individual, should not be
seen as an obstacle to adequate monitoring of the impact on certain ethnic, religious or
linguistic groups of either public policies or legislation or private practices. “On the
contrary” – it has been argued - “they constitute a necessary and welcome safeguard
against any risk of abuse in the process of such monitoring, a pre-condition for which
therefore is that these rules protecting personal data are strictly adhered to”.
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THE CURRENT POLICY CONTEXT FOR ROMA INCLUSION
2.1
The EU policy context
61. The policies and practices that offer legal protection and that provide the
framework for economic and social inclusion of Roma communities are complex and in
the main not Roma specific. The EU approach to the Roma situation has therefore been
not to develop a specific European Roma policy but to ensure that mainstream policies
are identified, translated and where appropriate targeted and directed to ensure they
provide the necessary protection and opportunities for a population that is as severely
disadvantaged and physically, socially and economically segregated as the Roma.
62. The EU has an advanced legal framework which provides for protection against
discrimination. The Racial Equality Directive (Directive 2000/43/EC - RED) has been
adopted with the aim of combating discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic
origin and prohibits direct or indirect discrimination in employment, education, social
protection, property matters and services.
63. Despite this a considerable part
States, even some resident in the
country of their birth, do not have
authorised legal status or official
papers to guarantee full legal status.
This is a core issue, as it strongly
influences rights to social security,
health care systems and prohibits
access to education, and has an
impact on the standard of living and
possibilities to participate in public
and political life.15
64. There may be no specific EU
Roma policy, but there is a wealth of
rhetoric and EU and political and
high level commitment to Roma
inclusion and to widespread use of
the common principles for Roma
inclusion. The situation is broadly
similar with most pan-European
and international organisations.
of the Roma population in the European Member
The core issues of Roma inclusion — education, employment, public
health, housing and infrastructure and the fight against poverty — fall
mainly under the responsibility of Member States. The EU however plays
an important role in ensuring the principle of nondiscrimination and in
policy coordination. Moreover, the Structural Funds (and in particular
the European Social Fund) are crucial instruments in supporting the
Lisbon strategy at national, regional and local level.
It is clear that all work on Roma inclusion has to take into account this
division of responsibilities. There are a number of pit-falls which the
Commission has done its utmost to avoid in its work on Roma inclusion,
i.e.:
• a purely horizontal ("ethnically neutral") approach to the
problem which would risk losing sight of specific challenges
that Roma face;
• a purely ethnically defined approach which forgoes the
advantages of mainstreaming Roma issues in the main policy
strands;
• a declaratory “Europeanisation” of the problem which could
symbolically transfer the responsibility to European institutions
without providing them with new instruments to deal with it
and without sufficient commitments from Member States.
Community Instruments and Policies for Roma Inclusion
COM (2008) 420
65. In 2003 the Decade of Roma
Inclusion emerged from the high
level conference “Roma in an
Expanding Europe: Challenges for the Future,” hosted by the Government of Hungary.
At that time eight countries signed the Declaration of the Decade of Roma Inclusion
which was a pledge that Governments of the participating countries would work to
eliminate discrimination and towards closing the unacceptable gap that exists between
15
Policy Department Economic and Scientific Policy, The social situation of the Roma and their improved access to the
labour market in the EU, an Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
(IP/A/EMPL/FWC/2006-05/SC4), October 2008. http://www.romadecade.org/5014
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Roma and the rest of society. The Decade countries all have significant Roma minorities
that are disadvantaged, both economically and socially.
66. Although each country has its own national Decade Action Plan16 that specifies the
goals and indicators in the key priority areas, the Decade has provided only very limited
leverage and has been largely unable to motivate comprehensive actions from the
participating countries. The Decade is not an institution nor does it have access to
dedicated funds. The operating principle is that participating Governments should
reallocate their own resources to achieve results within their own countries and that
Decade initiatives and plans should be closely aligned with the priorities of other
funding instruments especially European Structural Funds and also with other multinational, international, and bilateral donors.
67. The negative situation of Roma prompted the 56 OSCE states to adopt, in 2003, a
comprehensive Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the
OSCE Area. In 2008 the ODIHR OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights published a status report to provide information and analysis on the state of
implementation of the Action Plan. Also to raise awareness addition, the report seeks to
raise awareness of the Action Plan among OSCE states as there are instances where
awareness is lacking, and the Plan’s very existence is overlooked by national authorities.
The report concludes that ‘parts of the implementation process have been successful, and
many countries have some models of good practice in certain fields. Too often, however,
the implementation process suffers from a lack of political will at the national level, and
from a failure to implement policies at the local level. Funding levels are often
insufficient to support large-scale projects and programmes’. The status report calls for
’a renewed commitment to the Action Plan in theory and in practice, with participatory
involvement of Roma and independent transparent evaluations, must remain a priority.
68. In recent years the issue of Roma inclusion has been moving higher on the EU
agenda, and there is a growing recognition of the severe and divisive discrimination that
is widely aimed at Roma people, and stronger agreement that tackling exclusion and
facilitating integration of Roma will contribute significantly to the achievement of the
At the
aims of the Lisbon Strategy17 and the EU’s wider social inclusion process.
December 2007 Roma summit there was a call for a renewed examination of the policies
and instruments available at EU level to improve Roma inclusion. The European
Parliament’s resolution of 31 January 2008 represented an urgent call for a
comprehensive European framework strategy on Roma18. A European Commission
report, published on 2 July 2008, recognised that ‘millions of Europeans of Roma origins are
subject to persistent discrimination and far-reaching social exclusion’. The report urged for
better use of existing tools to combat these problems. In particular, it stressed the need
for stronger cooperation between EU bodies, Member States and civil society.
69. The first EU Roma Summit in September 2008 was an important event for Roma in
Europe, for the first time top level European politicians and decision-makers gathered
with Roma organisations and activists to discuss how to overcome exclusion, racism and
deprivation that still oppress the Roma people. The event brought together more than
400 representatives of EU institutions, national governments, parliaments and civil
Decade action plans for country members can be found at http://romadecade.org/decade_action_plans
Information about the Lisbon Strategy can be found at
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/tl/soccul/eincl/index_en.htm and specifically on the social inclusion objectives
on http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/poverty_social_exclusion_en.htm
16
17
18
P6_TA(2008)0035
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STATE OF THE ART
society including various Roma organisations. The main outcome was a set of 10
Common Basic Principles to effectively address the inclusion of Roma19. The 10 Common
Basic Principles on Roma inclusion aim at guiding the EU institutions and Member
States, candidate and potential candidate countries when they design and implement
new policies or activities. They represent a legally non-binding declaration. However,
by referring to the Principles in the Council conclusions, Member States have shown
their commitment to base future initiatives on these principles. Annex 2 provides more
information on the 10 common basic principles for Roma Inclusion.
70. Arriving at the current position where social exclusion and segregation of Roma
communities is widely acknowledged by the main policy makers in the EU and
international organisations has been an onerous process demanding much effort from
NGOs and community organisations in those countries with disadvantaged Roma
communities.
Much of the effort of Roma activists and civil society has been to
motivate policy makers to better understand the situation and the heterogeneous nature
of the Roma community and at the same time to acknowledge the complexity, interconnectedness and often inter-generational characteristics of the problems that Roma
individuals and communities have to confront. While this process of engagement is not
finished, as it is a dynamic path that is likely to be ongoing, some achievement has been
achieved and this is reflected in the high levels of engagement at political and policy
levels in the EU and from their strongly worded commitments that a significant amount
has been achieved from the concerted effort from activist in many countries.
71. While this effort has been demanding the attention from civil society organisations
in countries with significant disadvantaged Roma communities, very little has changed
on the ground and the living conditions and economic situations for most Roma in
Europe have not improved and may continue to decline.
72. Although the 2007 Decade Watch Update report20 found increasing signs of
enhanced and more systematic attention to Roma inclusion across most countries they
also found that ‘integrated inclusion policies with a focus on achieving and
demonstrating results remain a distant goal’. The report also pointed out that there are
also examples of government policies which are likely to have a detrimental effect on
Roma inclusion, for example the tightening of access to social benefits in several
countries without adequate accompanying measures for promoting social inclusion and
access to employment. The Decade has launched a process towards making a difference,
but it has not yet had the impact that Roma in Europe need—tangible and real
integration into mainstream societies. The challenge over the coming years is to design
more systematic solutions and to look at positive examples across the Decade countries
and the EU as a whole. There are good examples of systematic policy approaches in most
countries, and the Decade should be used as an effective forum for exchanging this
experience, in order to maximize the effect of any government measure on Roma
inclusion.
2.2
19
Roma and the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion (2008 – 2010)
Council’s Conclusions on Inclusion of the Roma 8 June 2009.
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=761&langId=en
20
http://www.romadecade.org/decade_watch_update_2007 The Decade Watch Report.
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73. Although Member States have mainstream actions and a wealth of policies that
favour disadvantaged groups without significant effort and explicit intent there is a
strong probability that the actions by-pass and fail to reach the Roma communities21.
The issue is therefore not about the absence of Roma polices but much more the lack of
robust and sustainable operational responses that turn policies in practice.
74. In 2004 the World Bank, UNDP and EU all published in-depth reports about the
poverty, segregation and discrimination that are widespread in the Roma communities
of central, eastern and southern Europe. This extensive research has not been repeated
but the National Action Plans on Social Inclusion22 (2008 – 2010) show that while the
issue of social and economic exclusion of Roma is being addressed in some countries, the
scale and extent of the interventions are not proportionate to the scale or the entrenched
composition of the problems.
75. The following paragraphs provides an extract from the National Action Plan
reports from the countries with a ROMA-Net City partner on the actions they report to
have implemented for Roma communities.
•
In Czech Republic the report recognises that ethnic minorities are one of the groups
most at risk of social exclusion but they do not actually name Roma as a specific
group.
Some effort has concentrated on data collection quoting that
‘in 2006, in the Czech Republic, there were 310 socially segregated Roma localities in 167
municipalities. In 80% of these localities, the Roma population is estimated to be more than
half of the total. In more than 40%, it exceeds 90%. The dynamics of the process of social and
spatial exclusion are evident, for example, in the fact that 90% of the researched localities,
either were established or, due to migration, grew significantly, during the last ten years. The
majority of socially segregated Roma localities are integrated into the surrounding built-up
areas, slightly less than a quarter of these localities are spatially segregated. The vast
majority of people living in these localities are unemployed; they frequently have low
education and very few or a complete lack of qualifications. Risky conditions, insufficient
social competencies and detrimental health conditions are found to a greater degree in these
localities.
Interventions have been applied in a number of areas to provide different versions
of mediators between the authorities and the communities, for example employment
of social workers, the police assistants programme and school counselling offices,
and teaching assistants. According to the report ‘municipalities have a low level of
awareness of the possibilities of utilising social field work as a tool in the prevention of social
exclusion.
•
In the Greece report there is almost no mention of past interventions tackling Roma
exclusion. There is however a commitment to promote social inclusion of Roma in
the next phase of implementation and a new multi-annual sectoral action plan is
currently being developed as part of the Integrated Action Programme for Social
21
The Review of the European Union Phare Assistance to Roma Minorities http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/how-doesit-work/financial-assistance/phare/evaluation/interim_en.htm
22
http://ec.europa.eu/social/keyDocuments.jsp?type=3&policyArea=0&subCategory=0&country=0&year=0&advSearchK
ey=nsr+spsi&mode=advancedSubmit&langId=en National Action Plans on Social Inclusion 2008 -2010
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Inclusion of Greek Gypsies.
The main sectors will be housing, education, pretraining – training, employment promotion, counselling of families and awareness
raising.
•
The Hungary report on the national action plan on inclusion states that ‘based on the
data of TÁRKI5’s Household Monitor Survey of 2007 (which can be regarded as
estimates because of the small sample number), half of the Roma can be considered
poor. Therefore, they can be considered as the most endangered social group in
Hungary from the aspect of poverty and exclusion. Closing regional disparities is
closely related to the improvement of the situation of the Roma population who
suffer from multiple disadvantage. Housing and anti-desegregation plans feature
significantly in the Hungary action plan. An anti-segregation plan is a pre-condition
of obtaining urban rehabilitation development resources. A network of experts was
established to assist with drawing up the plans and to guarantee the applicability of
the plan. The main aims are as follows: comprehensive closing up of the most
disadvantaged rural micro-regions; improvement of the accessibility of public
services in regions with insufficient services; decrease of housing disadvantages,
especially in segregated areas populated by the Roma, as well as
decreasing/eliminating housing segregation; combating homelessness.
Hungary are implementing an extensive programme of employment and training
and active labour market measures. No information is provided about inclusion of
Roma in the programmes, or of the numbers that enter employment as a consequence
with the exception of an assessment that ‘the rate of Roma population participating
in the various labour market programmes is quite significant’.
•
The Italian National Report makes some small references to migrant Roma from
Romania and also to indigenous Roma and Sinti populations. The commitments
made in relation to Roma strongly reflect principles that underpin the ROMA-Net
project. In relation to migrant Roma it states that ‘the principle that mutual
understanding is a prerequisite for overcoming diffidence and hostility, the policies
aimed at fostering the full employment integration and social inclusion of the
immigrant population and of Roma people requires the implementation of three lines
of action: for raising awareness about immigration among both society at large and
the immigrants themselves; bridging the divide, by means of campaigns, sports and
other events, also involving schools; and carrying out further research work and
exchanges of experience with other EU Member Countries, to jointly tackle the
problem of racial discrimination and to support the victims of this form of
discrimination, thus laying the foundations for the inclusion of immigrants in our
society. Some social inclusion measures are reported to have been implemented in
agreement with local authorities. The measures target minors and adults belonging
to the Roma communities from Romania.
The National Strategy Framework of structural funds for 2007-2013 includes action
plans providing for structural measures in support of the Roma communities,
through the ESF and ERDF funds. The suggested activities focus on promoting
governance of the policies and instruments for achieving social inclusion and
contrasting discrimination against the Roma, Sinti and Travellers communities.
Strengthening protection strategies to support experimental and innovatory policies
and actions to overcome and remove obstacles to inclusion at the local level,
requiring fact-finding analyses, relating to the socio-demographical and socioeconomic characteristics of the communities.
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In relation to Roma and Sinti the aim is to strengthen inter-institutional dialogue in
favour of inclusion to achieve more effective discussion within and between the civil
society, all levels of government and the Roma communities themselves. Raising
awareness among society of the related problems and developing programmes for
opposing certain stereotypes and prejudices relating to these communities.
•
In Portugal measures to integrate the Roma community tend to be covered by
mainstream measures accessible to the general population. A High Commission for
Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue have set up an Office to Support Roma
Communities with a view to developing a set of activities aimed at the promotion of
social inclusion of Roma communities. They are responsible for ongoing monitoring
of the degree of integration of Roma communities, with a special emphasis on
education, health, employment and housing.
•
In Romania – Roma inclusion is on the political agenda of the Government the focus
of the information provided in the national action plan report is strongly focused on
the collection of data. A national study called ‘come closer’ provides qualitative and
quantative analysis of data which shows that –
–
–
–
–
The percentage of those who do not have an income in the month of
reference (July 2007) was 2 times higher for Roma than for non-Roma:
41.9% of the Roma, compared to 20.2% non-Roma.
At the beginning of the adult life, both Roma and non-Roma have equal
access to income sources but differences increase along with ageing. In
addition, the access to income is unequal from the point of view of
gender, as there is a negative effect among women (this tendency is
similar both for Roma and for non-Roma).
The most important sources of income for Roma (26.1% of the Roma
population) proved to be social benefits (maternal allowance, children’s
allowances, additional family allowance etc.)
The second most important source of income consists in the guaranteed
minimum income for a percentage of 14.4% of the Roma group (2.0% for
the non- Roma).
Another characteristic for Roma is that they gain their revenues from
inactive sources in general (43%) and informal activities (22.7%). This
leads to the conclusion that the majority of the Roma are outside of the
formal economy, which is also highlighted by the fairly low percentage of
Roma (16.7%) who receive revenues from pensions.
The Romania report also recognises that dealing with problems of exclusion of
vulnerable groups including Roma ‘can only be made in an integrated framework
that ensures the intertwining of the economic and social development’. Measures
have applied to improve labour market integration of Roma through a range of
employment and training measures including a Roma job fair, and the provision of
social services in rural areas.
•
The Spain report features the issue of Roma exclusion most and their actions offer a
number of areas of potential learning for other European cities. The report highlights
the lack of reliable and up-top date data on the situation of Spanish Roma. The issue
of Roma illiteracy is recognised as one of the causes of exclusion. However a 2006
report by the Gypsy Secretariat Foundation suggests that there has been success in
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this area and practically all Roma children go to school at compulsory age and a large
section remain in school throughout. Programmes have been subsidised aimed at
preventing absenteeism and early departure from school with a special emphasis on
girls. Health inequalities are also featured as a consequence of poverty and
exclusion. In relation to access to employment Spain has a number of programmes to
improve the employability and labour market integration of certain section of the
Roma population. A network of guidance services on housing issues including the
promotion and implementation of active housing measures focused on the
eradication of shantytowns and poor housing is in operation.
2.3
Non EU Initiatives Focusing on Roma
76. The Soros Foundation and the Open Society Institute has also been providing
ongoing financial support for a range of initiatives targeted at Roma inclusion and
supporting other wider activities that also have a strong relevance for Roma inclusion.
The following paragraphs provide a snapshot of some of the current interventions.
23
•
The Roma Initiatives is part of the Open Society Institute, and continues to build
on the many years of support that OSI has invested in Roma communities,
seeking to challenge prejudice and discrimination and to pursue policy change. It
guides all OSI program and grant making activities related to the Decade of
Roma Inclusion. In addition to coordinating OSI's wider Roma-related efforts,
Roma Initiatives provides project and institutional support grants to Roma civic
organizations. It works with Roma communities, civil society groups, and
governments to promote tolerance and antidiscrimination efforts, equal access to
quality education, women's empowerment and gender equity, public health, and
civic and political participation.
•
Decade Watch provides the monitoring and assessment of government action on
implementing Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005–2015. The first Decade Watch
report, released in June 200723, reviewed the period from the launch of the
Decade in early 2005 until the end of 2006. The information was based on
research conducted between autumn 2006 and early 2007. The members of the
Decade Watch team also reflected their own experience, often spanning many
years, in reviewing policies for Roma in their countries.
•
The Roma Education Fund (REF) was created in the framework of the Decade of
Roma Inclusion in 2005. Its mission and ultimate goal is to close the gap in
educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. In November 2009 donor
placed financial support behind education for the Roma and put €25.5 million
into the Roma Education Fund (REF). The funding will provide the essential
ingredients needed for children to succeed in school: scholarships, school meals,
teacher training and academic support. The added financial support will also
help governments develop stronger national policies for Roma inclusion. REF
runs five major programs:
– Project Support Program which finances projects and programs.
– REF Scholarship Program which is the largest tertiary scholarship
program for Roma students.
http://www.romadecade.org/decade_watch_update_2007 Decade Watch Report.
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–
–
–
•
•
•
24
STATE OF THE ART
Policy Development and Capacity Building Program which supports
activities that help create a framework for dialogue with governments and
civil society on education reform and Roma inclusion.
Communication and Cross Country Learning Program which includes
activities to promote the exchange of knowledge on education reforms
and Roma inclusion.
Reimbursable Grant Program to help Roma NGOs and local governments
access EU funds for the purpose of Roma education.
The Roma Decade Matching Fund was set up by Open Society Institute Roma
Initiatives to support innovative projects that promote intercultural dialogue and
challenge negative attitudes towards Roma. Roma Initiatives matches funds with
public authorities, private foundations, television, publishers, and corporations.
It has supported a diverse range of initiatives covering education, gender,
employment, cultural identity, diversity, and intercultural dialogue. Projects have
taken the form of research, advocacy, capacity-building efforts, awareness-raising
campaigns, art and photography exhibitions, documentaries, public debates, and
seminars.
Roma Health Project (RHP) 24is part of the Public Health Program, and aims to
promote Roma equal access to appropriate and quality health care services. The
project focuses on the protection of the rights of the Roma population in health
care settings, by promoting involvement of Roma communities in advocating for
access to health services, addressing discrimination against Roma in the health
sector and raising visibility around the obstacles impeding access health care.
RHP supports the development of sound public health policies targeting Roma,
and combating the perpetuation of myths and stereotypes about Roma
communities and health.
Soros Foundation Romania (SFR) also fund support a number of initiatives that
are relevant for Roma inclusion for example;
–
Ensuring access to structural and cohesion funds is a programme focuses on
groups currently exposed to high risk of exclusion or marginalisation from
the overall EU-supported development process. After Romania’s accession
to the European Union, the main source of development funding is Structural
and Cohesion Funds (SCF).
–
“Roma Women – known and unknown” started in march 2009 to put on the
public agenda less known features of Roma women exclusion, at the level of
local communities and within the society at large. The issue approached by
this program is that there is insufficient knowledge about family and
community life of Roma women. Although officially a horizontal theme in
every project or program financed from EU funds, gender equality is still no
applied in community level projects. As a consequence, Roma women are
very often overlook in social intervention measures
–
“integrated community development” essentially refers to approaching the
communities from a comprehensive perspective: economic, health, education,
infrastructure and housing issues. The program aims to develop replicable
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/roma Public Health Programme – Roma Health.
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integrated community development models within Roma communities. The
program was initiated in 2005, three hypotheses underpin the program:
o consultation and the involvement of all its members, no matter their
religion, ethnic appurtenance, economic status etc
o Infrastructure projects, economic development, education etc. are
valuable and sustainable only if they are part of a long-term plan
o involvement of the Roma as “first-hand citizens” within the
community life helps to raise self-esteem and reduces the gap between
them and other the rest of society and brings long-term benefits for
the entire community.
–
Normal houses for Roma in Vanatori, Neamt - 24 poor Roma families will have a
normal house, within the project. “A house, a future” project is being
developed over a three year period, starting from 2009, by the Association
Habitat for Humanity in partnership with the Soros Foundation Romania and
with the support of the local authorities. The aim is to create a model for
helping communities that live in poor conditions. The project addresses
Roma families and the long term aim is that the methodology is taken up by
other institutions and local authorities interested to solve the problem of
living in precarious conditions.
77. The EURoma Network was established as a result of the working seminar
'Transnational Cooperation on Roma Community and Social Exclusion' held in Madrid
in June 2007 and financed by the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de
Administración y políticas Públicas (FIIAP). Structural Funds should be accessible for
Roma initiatives and organisations should be able to take advantage of the funds and
actions targeting access to employment, which are implemented within the framework
of the ESF.
78. ESF has been identified as the main financial instrument available to Member
States to support the implementation of social inclusion polices and the implementation
of intervention ions focusing on Roma inclusion. However, this is not the case, and the
Roma are generally excluded from policies designed to combat social exclusion. In
accordance with the General Regulations of the ESF regarding the sustainable
integration of minorities in the labour market, and in order to improve the social
inclusion of the Roma in terms of political initiatives, regulatory development and the
allocation of resources, it was decided that a trans-national network would be
established to develop a common approach under the structural funds.
79. EURoma was created in the context of the 2007-2013 European Social Fund (ESF)
programming period, which increased the scope of trans-national cooperation between
public authorities and civil society actors, and in light of
–
–
–
–
the status of the Roma population as a truly European minority;
the enlargement of the EU through the incorporation of countries with the
highest concentration of Roma populations;
the fact that the cohesion and employment opportunities and;
the Spanish experience of effectively using the ESF for the inclusion of the Roma.
80. EURoma is a European Network made up of representatives of twelve Member
States, determined to promote the use of Structural Funds (SF) to enhance the
effectiveness of policies targeting Roma people and to promote their social inclusion. A
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coordinated, integrated approach will serve to improve the effectiveness of social
policies aimed at the Roma populations in the European Union.
2.4
The Trend Is Towards Motivating Local Actions
81. Many of the core Roma inclusion policies such as education, employment, health,
housing, infrastructure, the fight against poverty and the increase equality are the
responsibility of National and local Governments. The European Parliament’s resolution
of 31 January 2008 stressed the importance of involving local authorities in ensuring the
effective implementation of efforts to promote Roma inclusion and combat
discrimination. The same resolution called on Member States to involve the Roma
community at grassroots level with a view to empowering the Romani people to fully
benefit from the incentives provided by the EU aimed at promoting their rights and the
inclusion of their communities, whether in the field of education, employment or civic
participation.
82. However so far there has been a general and widespread inability to transfer
policy intentions into clear, operational and sustainable practices for the benefit of Roma
communities. Despite significant numbers of initiatives the scope and sustainability of
the interventions does not match the scale of the problem.
83. The OSDHI Status Report in 200825 reports that ‘parts of the implementation
process have been successful, and many countries have some models of good practice in
certain fields. Too often, however, the implementation process suffers from a lack of
political will at the national level, and from a failure to implement policies at the local
level. Funding levels are often insufficient to support large-scale projects and
programmes. This is compounded by a tendency for state actors to attract external
funding rather than focus on state-funded, locally owned and integrated programmes
that respond effectively to the priority issues facing many in the Roma and Sinti
community. Consequently, the many strategies in place are often implemented in an ad
hoc, symbolic manner, and they have little hope of long-term sustainability’.
84. According to Open Society Institute ‘Several years have passed since governments
in Central and East Europe committed to the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Since then, it
has become clear that little progress has been made toward eliminating discrimination
and supporting the meaningful inclusion of Roma. Monitoring reports show that
governments and other stakeholders have not co-operated either effectively or efficiently
to carry out their commitments towards the Roma Decade. Moreover, major sources of
funding have yet to "trickle down" to ideal candidates.’
85. A second meeting of the Platform took place in Brussels in June 2009, when it was
clearly stated that the practical delivery of relevant interventions lies firmly at local level
and is the responsibility of Regional and Municipalities.26 [t}he issue of addressing the problems which affect the Roma people is increasingly
recognised as being extremely urgent in both ethical and practical terms. The European
Union recognises there is a need for more active and effective policies concerning Roma
inclusion. The practical delivery of these policies rests above all with the Member States
25
http://www.osce.org/odihr/18148.html OCSE Status Report 2008 on the Implementation of the Action Plan on
Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.
26
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=518&langId=en&eventsId=206&furtherEvents=yes
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and, in particular, with regions and municipalities. Although the numbers and socioeconomic conditions of the Roma in individual Member States vary greatly, there are
several common denominators.
2.5
Multi-dimensional / Integrated policies and practices
86. Roma exclusion has many roots, each interconnected with the other resulting in a
multi-dimensional, intergenerational and cumulative collection of issues that are
impossible to disaggregate and impossible to consider on a single issue basis.
87. According to the European Parliament27 - Because of multiple deprivation within Roma
communities, a multi-dimensional “package” approach which seeks synergies between different
aspects of Roma issues (also referred to as “synergy approach”) is the best way of tackling the
problem in a comprehensive way. The package approach (i.e. the blend of physical improvements
and soft measures) would ideally combine actions in e.g. education, employment, health, fight
against crime, housing, settlement legalisation and fight against all forms of discrimination.
88. As a consequence different forms of integrated approaches are cited as good
practice. The local action planning that is foreseen by URBACT projects will allow an
integrated, and in some cities an area based approach to be applied in the ROMA-Net
project.
89. The Review of the European Union Phare Assistance to Roma Minorities28
published in December 2004 also supported a similar view saying that the integrated
development approach applied in the URBAN I and II programmes achieved economic
and social regeneration of areas with severe deprivation and specific challenges. It stated
that the measures implemented through a broad partnership involving all the parties
concerned and offered examples of good practice for urban located Roma communities29.
90. In this perspective, improving the Roma living conditions and opportunities
entails greater respect for “cultural self-determination”, along with attainment of full
individual rights. A significant development in the last decades has been the recognition
of minority rights, as a result first of OSCE and the Council of Europe’s initiatives, and
then in a common EU framework. Whatever the approach, effective social inclusion
policies should balance three distinct objectives (World Bank, 2005) “increasing Roma
economic opportunities”, by enhancing and qualifying their participation in the labour
market;
“building human capital”, with the levers of education and health;
“strengthening social capital and community development”, by facilitating Roma
participation in the public sphere and in civil society initiatives.
91. While these recent commitments of the EU reflect a recent trend in Roma inclusion
practices which set out the need for integrated actions at local level, particularly at the
level of municipalities and local authorities. This trend for integrated actions at local
level may be current but it is not new and has been called for recognised as the core of
good practice on many occasions in the past. In 2003 the World Bank Roma in an
27
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available
at: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf
28
The Review of the European Union Phare Assistance to Roma Minorities http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/how-doesit-work/financial-assistance/phare/evaluation/interim_en.htm
29
http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/themes/urban_en.htm provides information about the EU Urban
Programmes.
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Expanding Europe - Behind the Poverty Cycle report, set out the gravity and extent of Roma
poverty and exclusion in central and eastern Europe, and called for a multi-layered,
cross-country partnership saying that “There is not one single road forward, but several. What we need is a multi-layered
approach that involves cross-country partnerships among Roma and international
organizations, national and local governments, NGOs and communities” J
Wolfensohn 2003
92. Integration of Roma minorities relies heavily on many local factors, i.e. the
commitment of the local authorities (and even individual public servants); opportunities
for Roma to participate in training measures and to create labour market niches; the local
activation of social projects, varying in scope and eligibility conditions; and real access to
social welfare provisions – whether in education, health or social care, housing, etc.
Important, also are the self-organising capacities of Roma communities, whether in
terms of support, advocacy, self-representation and or service provision.
93. Municipalities have generally been passive in their approach to Roma inclusion/
integration often taking the view that the Roma population have access to the same
services as the majority population. Given the heavy, and increasing demands and
strains on local resources, it remains very difficult to persuade municipality decision
makers that increased or higher levels of resources should be targeted to tackle the
exclusion issues of the Roma population. Moreover, it can be difficult to gather the
necessary political commitment behind the problem as it fails to attract support from the
majority and is seldom perceived as a vote winner.
94. The search for a quick-fix ‘solution’ has distorted the scale and complexity of the
problem and the common practice of creating short-term single-issue projects aimed at
one specific problem issue has failed to generate much visible change at grass roots level.
Much of the past criticism of Roma targeted interventions has not been about the
relevance or quality of the services but rather at the lack of a strategic direction, the
absence of a common goal, the disjointed and fragmented nature of the projects and the
short-term life and general lack of sustainability of the projects.
95. The principles and core aims of the ROMA-Net partnership acknowledge that
successful, sustainable inclusion and integration demands a bottom-up approach which
requires joint responsibility and places significant importance on the development of
human, social and professional capacity to tackle the complexity of the problems. The
OSCE motto of “For Roma, with Roma” will be at the core of ROMA-Net and will guide
the development and implementation of the local action planning process.
96. Now that we have moved into a phase where local actions have to drive the policy
agenda it is time to question what can be done to change this situation.
When
considering actions to improve the situation of Roma, the relationship between special
services targeted solely to the Roma and the normal services that are open to everyone is
important. Often complex issues have been, and continue to be tackled through
successful and innovative interventions for segments of populations across Europe,
sometimes in the same cities where the Roma populations are in decline. However in
many cases interventions that are considered as successful and innovative simply do not
reach and are not accessed by the Roma populations.
97. The FRA report acknowledges the need for a specific focus at European, national
and local authority levels, and states that an integrated, co-operative and co-ordinated
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partnership approach across vertical and horizontal levels of governance is essential for
the effective design and implementation of policies and measures. But also points out
that many of the interventions are not Roma specific.
98. The art of developing interventions for Roma communities will come not only
from good practice developed specifically for Roma but also by taking into account and
considering what has been done successfully for other disadvantaged strands of the
population in the past. Other disadvantaged groups, other degenerated areas, other
minority group, other strands of the population where poverty, disadvantage and
unemployment are spatially concentrated.
99. Therefore the pathway to successful and sustainable interventions that tackle
education failure, long term unemployment, poor health or substandard housing is not
to start all over again and to create everything new. But rather to find the very best of
what has been done before and to cleverly adjust it to fit in with the needs of each Roma
community. We will not be starting with a blank page, but rather by making best use of
the vast experience and good practice that already exists across Europe. We will take
what is already known and ask the questions, why is this project not reaching the Roma
community, why are they not taking part, why do they not know about what you do,
how can you change and reshape what your project or your service does to be more
relevant, what would make it more open to Roma communities.
100. The partnership and local development approach that is foreseen in this URBACT
ROMA-Net project will support its City members to turn social inclusion polices into
relevant local actions through the development and implementation of local action plans
that take account of local circumstances, reflect local need and involve the local
community and other critical local stakeholders.
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THE STATE OF THE ART - GOOD PRACTICE IN OTHER CITIES
3.1
City examples – Background
101. As the emphasis shifts towards the European Cities and Municipalities taking a lead
role in the development of locally focused Roma initiatives, we need to respond by examining
the issues and satisfying needs at the ‘grass roots level’. However there is no blue-print to
tackle Roma exclusion what is most effective is a ‘Step-by-Step’ approach, supported by long
term commitment, that includes a variety of interventions specifically designed to tackle the
different layers of the problem.
102. In the past Municipalities have generally been passive in their approach to Roma
inclusion, sometimes supporting the action of NGOs and often taking the view that the Roma
population have access to the same services as the majority population. ROMA-Net offers a
new chance for the participating municipalities to change their position and to adopt an
active approach to Roma inclusion and through the development of their local action plan
they will create the strategic direction and the common goal necessary to create a Step-byStep pathway towards Roma inclusion.
103. Thus far the ‘Art’ of developing projects and implementing interventions for Roma
communities belongs more to the NGO sector rather than with municipal public authorities.
The previous chapter of this report has made a strong case for sustainable inclusion via a
bottom-up approach which promotes joint responsibility and places significant importance on
the development of human, social and professional capacity to tackle the complexity of the
problems.
104. The report supports an integrated, co-operative and co-ordinated approach where
commitment from local authorities can create :
•
•
•
•
3.2
opportunities for Roma to participate in training measures and to create labour market
opportunities;
locally generated social projects, varying in scope and eligibility conditions;
real access to social welfare provisions – whether in education, health or social care,
housing, etc; and
is underpinned by self-organising Roma communities providing support, mediation,
advocacy, self-representation and active participation in the supply of local service
provision.
PROJECT: - Sectoral Mediators working at community level
105. The widely applied approach of using mediators, in the fields of health, education and
social services, to create connections between the public authority service and the Roma
community has proven to be good practice. It has been used in many cities including two of
our partner cities Karvina and Timisoara in the form of field workers and health mediators
who effectively work across all or some of the social welfare sectors.
106. Mediation has been applied effectively in many countries and in different formats in
small projects, for example in Hungary mediators were used to provide health promotion
information to elderly members of Roma communities.30 In Dupnitsa, Bulgaria mediators
30
http://www.swpho.nhs.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=33137
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have been used to provide information and to help solve the problem of electricity being
disconnected and non-payment of electricity expenses.
107. Roma mediators as classroom assistants have been used in many cities in Hungary,
Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and are now seen as a critical link to engage parents in
school activities to ensure children attend and remain in education.
108. In Karvina there are dedicated fieldworkers who have been commissioned to provide
intermediary assistance, they collaborate effectively with organisations and representatives in
the implementation of all major initiatives being undertaken in the city and are involved in all
aspects of the community. Their responsibilities range from assisting with applications for
housing and co-ordinating health forums to accompanying children to ensure their school
attendance.
Health mediation system for Roma in Romania
109. The project addresses the situation of poor health for the Roma communities and uses
health mediators to improve access to health services at local level.
The two major goals of the project is to improve:
• the health mediation systems in Romania, including formal recognition of the
employment positions;
• access to health services of the Roma people in Romania.
110. The project was initiated in 2007 after an evaluation of the earlier programme, when
necessary changes were made to the design to improve the relevance and quality of the
programme.
Description of project activities
111. The main activities are organising training courses for the health mediators, continuous
and basic training which includes human rights, getting identity papers, legislation in health
mediation. To set up a process of regular meetings, at county level between health mediators
and coordinators from the Public Health Authorities to identify and discuss solutions to
problems in the health system. To establish 8 regional centres to support and monitor the
health mediators in their work. Organize a campaign of lobby and advocacy around the
Ministry of Health of Romania to reactivate The Ministerial Joint Commission for Roma,
within the Ministry of Health.
112. The project’s main achievements were as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
a total of 436 visits made in the communities where the health mediators work;
666 health mediators supported and monitored during the two years of
implementation of the project;
33 round tables organized with the local authorities and the health mediators;
179 health mediators participated to continuous training courses;
266 health mediators participated to basic training courses ;
8 local organizations have benefited from organizational support
Identifying and documenting cases of discrimination in access to public health
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Lessons learned and the best elements of the project
113. The health mediators have benefited from professional support from the regional
centres, as they were accompanied into the communities where they work and given
professional guidance to help clarify problems. Another key element of the overall success of
the health mediator concept in Romania is the fact that the eight regional centres were given
institutional and professional development support. During the project “The Evaluation
Centre for Professional Competences of the Health Mediators” was funded and the working
practices of 100 mediators were evaluated and certified.
114. The number of people from the Roma communities that attended the services of
doctors, hospitals, the number of the people that have health assurance has increased.
Difficulties and limitations encountered
115. The “Professionalisation” of the health mediator employment position is uncertain from
year to year as their contracts of employment have to be renewed on an annual basis. A first
solution for this problem was drafting the occupational standard for the health mediator and
getting it approved by the National Council for Vocational Training of Adults.
General observations about mediator positions
116. The success of mediators can largely be attributed to the fact that the majority are
chosen from the Roma community, creating a faster build up of trust and the ability to break
down barriers with formal organisations as well as providing role models for the community.
Another critical and positive aspect of the Roma mediators is the fact that the positions
provide good quality jobs for members of the community. They show Roma undertaking
responsible employment, performing in professional roles which projects a positive image
and can contribute to raising the aspirations of other.
117. For the foreseeable future while Roma inclusion remains an underdeveloped practice,
the role of community mediators will remain crucial to support less capable members of the
community to utilise the services of the main social and public sectors such as health,
education, social care, social welfare, housing and general advocacy services.
118. Although the role of mediators has been widely used there are a number of areas where
the potential has not been adequately applied, for example:
•
To use mediators as relationship builders between fully trained work ready people
and employers in need of new labour has thus far not been adequately exploited.
•
To use mediators to support new entrants, men and women, into the world of work
either for the first time or as adult returners. The same could be foreseen in relation to
adult education.
119. The important role that mediators have in the process of community empowerment has
also not been fully recognised. However it is a role that can be promoted and developed
through ROMA-Net activities as they aims to generate greater community participation and
to empower and strengthen the community voice.
An extension of the mediator is the
community or local champion and for widespread engagement and effective communication
each local support group would benefit from the input of a collection of community
champions.
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PROJECT: Community led regeneration and community development
120. There are examples where NGOs have been able to access national level EU
programmes and other donor funding to support community led development and
regeneration type interventions, sometimes in partnership with a municipality, but mostly
driven by the NGO.
Examples of integrated Urban Regeneration activities led by
municipalities and focusing on Roma communities are hard to find.
An Integrated Community Housing - Brno, Czech Republic
121. The project focus is how to involve Romany people in reconstructing their homes and
help them pay their debts and obtain valid rent-contracts?
Description
122. Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic, has a Roma population of
approximately 12,000 - 3% of the population. These Roma people live in tenement buildings
which have suffered from neglect for many years. A private non-profit organisation and the
local authorities are working together to renovate the buildings and help solve the debt
problems of many Roma people.
123. Approach
•
At the end of 1998 the local authorities decided to refurbish Drom, a Roma community
centre. The centre offers leisure-time activities, education, advice and support for
Roma children, youngsters and adults. It works closely with the local authorities,
police and social work institutions to improve the situation of Roma people in Brno.
•
The centre is located on the ground floor of a tenement building in which many Roma
families live. Horizonty (formerly Spolu), an international non-profit organisation
aims to improve the position of Roma communities, was already involved in the Drom
centre and wanted to do more for the Roma families in Brno than just reconstructing
the centre. Many Roma families are in debt and live in run-down apartments without
paying rent.
Horizonty came up with the idea of having the tenants help the authorities to
reconstruct their own homes, so that they could pay back their debts and negotiate
valid leases.
They organised a meeting with the tenants which was well attended. Their reactions
to the plan were positive. However, the families were afraid that once the building
was refurbished the local authorities would evict them from their flats because they
did not have valid lease agreements.
The NGO and the local authorities set up a 'work-for-debt' programme. The tenants
would be given an opportunity to work for the local authorities. This work consisted
mainly of cleaning of unused spaces. The money earned would be deducted from their
debts. People who worked their debts away could sign a new and valid lease for one
year.
•
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•
124. Results
•
A number of people have been working in and around the buildings and have not
only managed to clear their debts but have also started to make regular rent
payments.
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During the project two tenant committees have been set up: a total of forty-one people
willing to do something. Horizonty is training these committees.
The project is unique because many local authorities in Eastern Europe are reluctant to
allow Roma people to live in inner city areas. In this case the local authorities took a
relaxed approach towards the families' illegal rent situation.
This is the first time an integrated approach has been used to solve problems with
Roma people.
125. Learning experiences:
•
•
•
•
It proved difficult to achieve concrete results during tenant meetings, to which the
Roma people are not accustomed. Roma tenants should be seen as active citizens
instead of a problem. Both sides, local authorities and Roma families, needed time to
adapt. And an attitude of apathy does not change overnight even where both sides are
cooperating.
Within the local authorities there are still people who do not agree with any nonstandard approach towards solving debt problems. Also the general public is
sceptical.
After so many years of neglect, there are a whole range of problems to be addressed. It
is not possible to solve one problem without addressing the others.
It is important to keep the decision-making process as transparent and
straightforward as possible and to make important decisions during meetings in
which all participating organisations take part. Corruption is something that can ruin
a project like this.
126. Key to success - In the opinion of the project Director, the key to success is both ‘the
active involvement of residents in the management and administration as well as financial
support and commitment from the local authorities’. The project has a voluntary Self
Administration and Management Committee. There are examples in Member States, where
Community Housing Associations are involved in management, refurbishment and service
provision in projects providing affordable social housing projects. This example should be
looked upon as a model of good practice relevant in all five countries31.
The Vzájemné soužití (Life Together) Ostrava, Czech Republic
127. The Life together project is an ongoing community development centred type project in
the city of Ostrava, which delivers many integrated local actions including social service
delivery, health services, early education, further education and eradication of usury practices
in the city. The Life Together project featured as a case study for the Fundamental Rights
Agency conference32.
128. The Coexistence Village project is an NGO driven initiative involving volunteers and
civic mobilisation. It aimed to provide both social services and the construction of new
housing. The time frame of the project: social assistance, community and advocacy activities
started after the flood in July 1997. The construction site was provided in 1999, the
construction of the Coexistence Village started in November 2000 and was completed in
August 2002. Today the Coexistence Village is operated by Ostrava-Opava Diocese Charity
Problem
31
http://www.eukn.org/eukn/themes/Urban_Policy/Housing/Housing_policy/Collective_housing/Integrated-CommunityHousing_1009.html
32
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Roma-Housing-Case-Study-czech_en.pdf
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129. The initiative addressed the need to deal with the housing problems of Roma who had
lost their homes after a flood in July 1997. According to local activists, Roma flood victims
were generally provided with substitute accommodation or housing of a significantly lower
standard than the non Roma flood victims.
130. Lower quality housing was allocated only to the Roma and exclusively Roma were
accommodated in construction site cabins installed in the socially marginalised
neighbourhood of Liščina inhabited mostly by Roma. A non-Roma respondent commented:
'The municipality was not willing to address the situation; I guess it was to a large extent
because those people were Roma. My experience is that the non-Roma got substitute housing
first. As a Roma respondent explained: 'The municipality did not know what to do.
Description
131. The initiative started as a voluntary effort (social work, community activities, charity) to
help 27 Roma families accommodated temporarily in construction site cabins in a
marginalised neighbourhood of Liščina provided by the municipality after the flood. The
involvement of the Life Together Association among homeless Roma flood victims started as
social work, counselling and community support activities. These activities, largely carried
out today by OODC, continued throughout the planning and construction phase of the
housing project. The community activities focused also on pre-school preparation for the
children.
132. The target group was defined from the start as both the Roma and non-Roma residents
who had lost their homes in the flood, but special assistance was given to the Roma living in
substitute accommodation in construction site cabins in Liščina, where the Life Together
Association started a community centre.
133. There were tensions before the start of the project, as the majority of tenants of the new
houses in the Coexistence Village used to live in the municipality of Slezská Ostrava before
the flood. A Roma respondent added: 'The mayor of the City of Ostrava, was concerned about
negative public reactions.
134. Before the start of the project the municipality of Slezská Ostrava became involved,
especially in selecting future tenants, with the Roma advisor who conducted fieldwork with
Roma families.
The tenants of the new housing in Coexistence Village were selected
according to five criteria defined by the institutions involved in the project (Life Together,
OODC and the municipality). Each family had to fulfil all the criteria, a Roma advisor from
the municipality of Slezská Ostrava participated in the selection process and two other
persons helped us to find the right non-Roma families.'
135. The Living Together association and later the community centre in the Coexistence
Village focused particularly on women and children in their support activities.
Project budget
136. The total budget for the Coexistence Village composed of 30 family-houses and a
community centre, reached 66.1 million CZK (2,455,423 EUR). The supporting activities in the
Coexistence Village are funded through regular grants from the MLSA, the City of Ostrava or
other sources. The operational costs of the Coexistence Village are approximately five
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million. The management and maintenance costs of the Coexistence Village are paid through
the rent.
Lessons Learned
137. 'It has been an expensive project which helps only a limited number of people. Since the
houses are quite large, the utility costs are too high for socially weak families,' concluded a
respondent from Life Together.
138. Security of tenure remains an issue for the Coexistence Village. On the one hand,
housing in the Village has the features of a social service – assisted social housing, which is
usually a temporary solution. On the other hand, the village has been constructed as
permanent housing for flood victims who lost their homes.
139. As a respondent noted: 'We have formally separated the housing component from
other activities. With regards to the project's potential for transferability, all the interviewees
agreed that it is necessary to continue with initiatives focused on the housing of vulnerable
groups, especially Roma, and that the model of housing with supporting social services,
employed in the Coexistence Village is the right formula to approach the housing issues of
such groups.
140. The Life Together association plans new projects based on the principles and experience
from that initiative: 'It will not be purely Roma, but rather will integrate Roma and nonRoma, and it will focus mainly on young families.' One Roma respondent concluded: 'I
believe that this initiative was born to eradicate that evil conviction that Roma are socially
inadaptable people and non-Roma have only troubles with them.
Evidence of success
141. An exhibition of photographs opened in March in the foyer of the Ostrava City Hall
which depicts life in Liščina and the results of a the local Partnership project. Radomír
Mandok, the deputy mayor of Silesian Ostrava, where the settlement of Liščina is located, is
greatly pleased by the success of the project. “Few people believed that Liščina could look as
it looks now. It isn’t a dirty hole where people are afraid to enter let alone live. I believe that it
is just the beginning, only a step in the right direction, for which I thank not only all
participants in the organization but mainly the citizens who live in this location,”
Socially Sensitive Area-based Regeneration in Budapest
142. The Magdolna quarter is one of the socially and physically most deteriorated inner city
area in Budapest, with a 12 000 population housed in 5400 units. The proportion of public
housing is unusually high in the quarter amounting to 36 % of the housing stock compared to
the city level data which is around 8 %.
Project Description
143. The first stage of the regeneration program was implemented in 2005-2007 with the
support of the Budapest Urban Rehabilitation Fund, while the second phase is being carried
out in the framework of European funded ROP urban rehabilitation programs.
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144. The aim of the regeneration is to improve the living circumstances and life chances of
the local people by including them in social, employment, education, community
development and youth programs and by upgrading the physical environment as well. To
improve the housing conditions is an important part of the program. The housing
subprogram aims to renew the public rental buildings and condominiums as well. It is
important that the renewal of the public housing targets the improvement of the housing
conditions of the neediest households, who live in buildings fully owned by the municipality
and these are the most problematic buildings in the quarter regarding both their physical
condition (many small, substandard units) and the social attributes of the households.
145. The housing investments do not fully renovate such buildings, as it would be very
expensive, but rather to renew the main technical structure of the buildings, to make them
more attractive and to improve the living circumstances for the tenants.
Tenant Participation
146. A very strict condition of the participation in the housing reconstruction program is that
the communities of tenants have to take part actively in the intervention both regarding the
planning and the implementation process and also that they have to take up responsibilities
in the sustaining period as well. In the first stage of the program 4 buildings were involved
while in the second stage another 11 buildings. The tenant community in the building had to
apply voluntarily for the program then the local rehabilitation company (RÉV8) started the
negotiation with the tenant community of a building through a series of meetings. The
conditions for the inclusion of building was that 50% +1 of the tenant households agree on the
participation and then the tenants had to elect representatives, 3 persons in a building, with
whom RÉV8 could have direct every day connection. The tenants agreed with RÉV8 on the
exact terms of the renovation: the forms and concrete actions that the tenants’ community
would implement and the reconstruction works that would be the task of RÉV8. This
agreement was included in a cooperation contract made between the tenants’ community and
RÉV8, with a schedule of implementation.
Bihari street program - socially sensitive area-based rehabilitation program
147. This rehabilitation program covers the renewal and modernisation of one block of a
publicly owned building with 96 substandard one-room units. The rehabilitation was
implemented from the Budapest Rehabilitation Fund.
Project Description
148. The aim of the rehabilitation program was to renew and modernise the units by also
merging some of the units making two-room apartments more suitable for families. The
rehabilitation also included the establishment of a small social centre on the same plot dealing
with health, social and employment problem of tenants with a special attention to prevent
teenage pregnancy etc.
149. Unfortunately as the financing of the centre ended in the framework of the Urban
Rehabilitation Fund program and no other resources were matched and the district
municipality shut down the small centre. This means that families have to use the mainstream
district social services, where there are less capacity to deal with their complex problems.
However the renewal of the building should be finished in the near future.
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Roma involvement
150. Neither of the Budapest rehabilitation projects were designed as Roma programs, but in
both area the proportion of Roma families are very high. In both projects the soft programs
were designed with special attention to the need of the most disadvantaged among them the
Roma families. In the rehabilitation program the city municipality has launched the socially
sensitive rehabilitation programs with an integrated approach where not only the physical
aspects of regeneration / rehabilitation were taken into account but also the social etc need of
the local people.
151. Therefore these pilot programs differed substantially from the other modernisation and
building rehabilitation that has been going on in Budapest which has had a significant
pushing out effect of poorer households from the rehabilitated areas.
152. In the Magdolna project the inclusion of tenants in the planning and implementation
process had two very positive results: first, it generated trust between the two parties (tenants
and RÉV8) making the tenants more committed toward the program and enhancing their
personal and micro community level responsibility. Such smaller programs on the long run
can contribute to a better more cohesive community on neighbourhood level as well.
Supporting the development of the Roma communities from the North-Western
and Central development regions, Romania
153. In Romania the Resource Centre for Roma Communities in Cluj Napoca has been an
advocate for a community development approach for a number of years. They have
community development type activities in cities, towns and rural communities across
Romania. The Centre has a diverse workforce of Roma and non-Roma and has been the
provider of good quality professional employment for qualified Roma33.
154. The centre supports efforts by Roma communities to resolve their specific problems,
aims to contribute to the identification and neutralising of prejudices and discrimination
against Roma, and works to help improve communication between Roma and non-Roma
people. The centre also supports the development of a Roma NGO network capable of
developing, in partnership with local authorities and communities, concrete solutions to
specific problems. RCRC also counts among its priority objectives the encouragement of
Roma cultural identity, as well as the stimulation of active involvement by Roma youth.
155. In 2008 the European Social Fund/Operational Sectoral Programme Human Resources
Development – Romania approved a project with a value of 3.8 million Euro to continue and
expand the community and economic development approach that has already been
established by the Centre.
Project Description
156. The project aims to support the development of the Roma communities from the NorthWestern development region and Central development region in Romania, the activities
included are as follows:
33
http://www.romacenter.ro/
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•
Creating 36 inter-ethnic initiative groups to initiate a long term change in the field
of community development and of the interethnic relationships, within a period of
34 months;
•
Increasing the entrepreneurial capacity of 36 initiative groups and of the Roma
members of 36 communities from the North-Western region and the Central
region within a period of 34 months
•
Facilitating the access of the Roma members from 36 localities to the vocational
training courses, in the North-Western and Central region
•
Increasing the number of Roma pupils who graduate secondary school and go to
high school and vocational schools from 36 communities within 34 months
Project Activities
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3.5
Facilitating the communities – in 3 cycles, 12 communities per year;
Training courses for the leaders from the initiative groups in „community
development and leadership and in elaborating income generating projects and
setting up social enterprises;
Providing consultancy services regarding the elaboration of the income generating
projects and setting up the social enterprises, informing campaigns within the 36
Roma communities regarding the changes from the labour market, the politics of
occupancy, the offer of local vocational training and conditions of eligibility;
Counselling services and vocational orientation for at least 900 Roma;
Involving the 12 AJOFM, CRFPA from the 2 regions and 36 local public authorities for
organizing and unfolding at least 32 qualifying courses;
Assessing the competencies for certifying 150 Roma people who acquired the
competencies by informal means;
Providing 150 scholarships within a period of 3 years for the pupils with a problematic
material situation, with high risk of abandoning the school;
Providing educational and moral support for 200 pupils with high risk of abandoning
the school;
Transforming the initiative groups into community associations or SRL, depending on
the IGA that were planned by each initiative group. Project in implementation, first
year.
PROJECT: Health, Pharmacy scholarship programme and employment
157. The Open Society Institute and the Roma Education Fund recently launched the third
year of a groundbreaking health and pharmacy scholarship program for Roma medical
students and health professionals in Romania. European Social Fund, has agreed to give
nearly five million Euros to this scholarship program.
158. The scholarship program, “Leadership in Health: A Generation of Professionals in the
Health Care System,” coincides with the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 and represents
an innovative and new approach in Central and Eastern Europe.
Problem
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159. Throughout the region, Roma often experience discrimination by health care providers.
The scholarship program seeks to address this problem by helping more Roma join the ranks
of health care professionals.
160. The scholarships will support Roma students who are enrolled in medicine faculty
courses or in nursing and midwives colleges, as well as to resident doctors. OSI and the
Roma Education Fund will select students based on academic merits, professional motivation,
and leadership potential. Recipients of the scholarships will be eligible for additional funding
to study a foreign language or to attend professional conferences. The scholars will also
receive mentoring support, provided by the Romanian Resident Doctors Association, in order
to further develop their academic and professional goals.
Description
161. In the first two years of the program 100 Roma students and health professionals in
Romania, and an additional 23 students in Bulgaria were awarded scholarships. Applications
for the third round of scholarships are currently being accepted until May 2010.
162. The students pre-selected for scholarships will participate in an advocacy training
program to develop their abilities to effectively promote the right of Roma to health care
services. As part of the training, an advocacy camp will be held in the summer of 2010,
organized by the Center for Health Policies–Sastipen NGO.
163. In 2008, the first year of the scholarship program, OSI awarded scholarships to 35 Roma
resident doctors and medical students in Romania. In 2009, 63 Roma resident doctors and
medical students in Romania were awarded scholarships. The scholarship program expanded
to Bulgaria in 2009, with 23 Roma resident doctors and medical students awarded
scholarships.
3.6
PROJECT: Alternative Secondary Schools in Hungary
164. Hungary has experimented with alternative approaches to secondary school education
that aim to help Roma children bridge the gap between basic and secondary school, improve
their academic performance, and create future opportunities. Roma are much less likely to
start and complete secondary school than other children.
165. A World Bank–commissioned review of these alternative approaches looked at six
different schools. All the schools were private and received support from a range of local and
international foundations and NGOs, as well as state budget subsidies.
While most students were Roma in each school, not all the institutions explicitly targeted
Roma children. The type of education provided by the different schools varies greatly. In
some cases, the schools provide vocational training, such as the “Roma Chance” Alternative
Vocational Foundation School in Szolnok, the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center and
Primary School in Kazincbarcika, and Budapest’s Kalyi Jag School. Others, such as the
Jószefváros School and the Collegium Martineum in Mánfa, support secondary school
students through extracurricular activities and classes and, in the case of the Collegium
Martineum, dormitory accommodations in a supportive home environment. Finally, the
Gandhi School and Students’ Hostel in Pécs is a six-year secondary school (or gymnasium)
that prepares students for university.
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166. The schools differ in the extent to which they emphasize the Roma background of their
students in their curricula and approach. In most of the schools, strengthening Roma identity
and preserving Roma tradition are explicit and integral components of school mission. These
schools offer classes in Roma language, history, and art. Others, such as Don Bosco, focus on
building the self-confidence of students through professional training.
167. The schools also take different approaches to the underlying socioeconomic
disadvantages of students. Some, such as the Collegium Martineum, target disadvantaged
students and provide housing and other support to boost attendance. Most of the schools also
involve parents, although this often proves difficult because of low education levels.
PROJECT: Steps to improving of the access for Roma children in educational field
- strategic project
168. European Social Fund/Operational Sectorial Programme Human Resources
Development Romania approved a project with 3.5 m Euro budget. To be implemented by
the NGO Romani CRISS, in Bucharest during the period: December 2008 - November 2011.
Project Partners are the The Ministry of Education, Research and Youth; Equal Chances
Association (Salaj), The Roma Alliance Association (Galati); Roma ILO Association (Brasov).
Aims of the project
169. The general objective of the project is reducing the risk of abandoning the school for
Roma pupils. More specifically, the project intends to:
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develop desegregation plans in 90 schools from 4 regions (North-West, Central, SouthEast and Bucharest-Ilfov regions) within a period of 3 years;
train 150 teachers in order to work with the pupils in an intercultural environment
through organizing a number of 6 training session in 4 regions;
improve the relationship between the Roma and non-Roma pupils through organizing
20 educational camps and workshops for 500 pupils from 4 regions;
organize campaigns of increasing the degree of awareness in 40 communities (out of
which 10 are traditional ones), in order to prevent the phenomenon of abandoning the
school and to promote the intercultural education in the 4 regions;
organise a lobby and advocacy campaign for adopting some general
recommendations regarding the reduction of the risk of abandoning the school.
90 schools will be selected, from the 4 regions, with a significant number of Roma
pupils.
Local meetings in order to create partnerships with 90 schools from the 4 regions, in
order to implement the activities of desegregation and intercultural education.
Training sessions for 150 teachers from the 90 schools, teachers who work with the
Roma pupils and with the managers of the schools from the 4 regions.
Each school will be responsible for elaborating a plan regarding the equal access of the
Roma pupils to education.
In the first year of implementation, in the schools where segregation was found,
activities will be developed that involve Roma and non-Roma, in order to improve the
relationship between them.
Meetings school-community-Roma parents-NonRoma parents: in each school a
meeting will take place every year which involves Roma and non-Roma parents.
90 debates / workshops in the 90 schools, approximately 4500 pupils, during the 3
years of implementation, to which representatives of some minorities will be invited,
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public persons will talk with the pupils about the importance of the cultural diversity,
about the culture of the minorities they are a part of.
10 training sessions for 250 Roma pupils in order to destigmatize and increase their
self esteem. The workshops will take 4 days.
10 intercultural camps for 250 pupils during the 3 years of the project.
40 campaigns (10 communities per region) of raising the awareness of the Roma and
non-Roma parents and children regarding the importance of education, focusing on
intercultural education, affirmative measures and the consequences of the early
abandon of schooling.
An annual publication (10.000 copies/year) which will contain information about the
activities and the results of the project.
10 exchanges of experience regarding desegregation between the teachers and school
managers respectively with 20 study visits to the schools that accomplished successes
and to the schools that encountered difficulties in the process of desegregation.
A guide to positive practices in desegregation methods and intercultural education.
Actions of promoting in the media the activities and the results of the project: 15 press
conferences at the regional and central level.
Lobby and advocacy campaign: bilateral meetings with the relevant institutions,
consulting some experts in order to elaborate and approve a general policy
recommendation regarding the reduction of the risk of Roma pupils abandoning
school early.
3.7 PROJECT: Acceder - Employment Programme - ESF (DG EMPL) spain
170. NGOs continue to be the most active in the development and implementation of
programmes for the Roma population and it is NGOs that continue to attract the bulk
Structural Funds aimed at the Roma population.
European Social Fund support the
following project;
Project Description
171. The Accedder programme in Spain provides the most comprehensive and successful
employment and training project focusing on the Roma population. Acceder is a multiregional programme to help Spain’s Roma population gain access to employment. It was
designed to improve social inclusion and equality for members of the Roma community by
opening gateways to the labour market. The project consists of two phases: the first ran from
2000 to 2007, and the second runs from 2008 to 2013.
172. There are approximately 700,000 Spanish Roma in Spain’s total population of almost 45
million inhabitants. Like elsewhere in Europe, the Roma community in Spain suffers from
direct and indirect discrimination and a negative social image. Mainstream Spanish society
knows relatively little about the Roma culture and the issues faced by Europe’s largest
minority.
173. The principal challenges faced by the Roma include housing, education and
employment, all of which are interlinked.
174. Acceder’s priority is to give the Roma population greater access to the labour market
through integration actions such as individual employment pathways and the development
and enhancement of human resources. It adapts vocational training to the demands of the
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labour market and establishes direct links between the Roma and companies by promoting a
partnership network with administrations and companies. The project has also raised
awareness about prejudice and discrimination and standardised proactive policies targeting
the Roma population.
175. Acceder creates valuable intercultural dialogue among Spain’s Roma population and its
other citizens, NGOs, employers, training entities and government associations. It has
changed Roma employment prospects within the Roma community and in mainstream
society. By eliminating obstacles to training and paid employment, Acceder upholds the
principle of equal opportunities and improves the standard of life for many Spanish Roma.
Main aims of the project
176. The principal objective of Acceder is to apply an integrated, multi-dimensional and
individualised approach to finding jobs for Roma applicants in Spain’s mainstream job
market. It seeks to adapt vocational training to help enhance the professional skills of Roma
jobseekers. The aim is to create greater access for the Roma to paid employment and
simultaneously meet the demand for workers from private companies.
177. Acceder aims to establish a direct link between Roma jobseekers and employment
service providers, enabling Roma jobseekers equal access to these services. Raising
awareness about prejudices and discriminatory practices against the Roma community has
helped to improve their image in society. The programme also seeks to standardise proactive
policies targeting the Roma population in order to improve living standards and guarantee
equal opportunities and equal access to public goods and services. Acceder focuses primarily
on Roma jobseekers and professional teams, although 30% of its target population is made up
of non-Roma, representing its intercultural approach.
Project activities
178. A total of 48 integrated employment centres have been established throughout Spain for
the implementation of Acceder. These centres are staffed by 260 intercultural and multidisciplinary work teams made up of Roma and non-Roma workers with diverse skills and
backgrounds. Each team assigns four to seven people (including coordinators, labour
counsellors, enterprise mediators and social technicians) to execute programmes at local level.
179. These nationwide employment centres are fully equipped with technical tools and
material resources, and each is in a location that is easily accessible to the local Roma
population.
180. The work teams conduct an initial diagnosis of each individual’s employability. This is
followed by a plan of appropriate measures and recommended steps to enhance access to
employment. This process includes counselling, training and assistance in labour market
integration. Reception and information actions include an introduction to Acceder’s services
and general information on employment and training.
181. Tutoring and monitoring of the individualised employment plans include referrals to
mainstream training resources and follow up. Pre-training and vocational training have been
specifically tailored to the Roma population. Jobseekers are also offered extensive support in
analysing and looking for employment. A mediation system is offered to companies in order
to match demand with suitable potential Roma employees. Support is offered for the
engagement of workers, with follow-up for those who have found and commenced
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employment. Consultancy services and support are also made available to those Roma
wishing to start their own businesses.
182. Proactive policies targeting the Roma population have included debates and forums on
training for social intervention professionals. Technical assistance is offered to public
administrations and social organisations to design plans and measures for the inclusion of the
Roma. Studies and research have been conducted to broaden knowledge of the Spanish Roma
population. An observatory has been created on Roma labour market integration to compile
information on progress made through Acceder.
183. By 20 June 2009, a total of 47,778 people had attended Acceder integrated work centres
and 33,827 jobs had been found in Spain as a result of the programme. 72% of these successful
jobseekers were Roma.
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LOCAL MAPPING
4.1
Background
184. The ROMA-Net project deliberately sets out to encompass a wide mix of city partners
from competitiveness and convergence regions across Europe, each with their own unique
identity, their own perspective, their own blend of influences and range of experiences. What
unifies these partners is a common goal, an overwhelming desire and commitment to
improve the lives of a severely marginalised sector of society, through targeted Local Action
Plans, founded in best practice and developed in partnership with the community.
185. Defining the specific objectives of our Local Action Plans first requires a locally mapped
overview of the current situation in each of our partner cities to provide a baseline from
which to identify the critical issues under consideration.
186. The Local Mapping exercise provides an essential vehicle for breaking down the
complexities of a cross sectional and multi-dimensional, pan European picture. Using a two
staged approach, the aim is first to provide real understanding of the local situation for each
city, both in general terms, and in respect of the Roma population specifically, their
interaction with the wider community, the particular issues they face, and any barriers to be
overcome. It should illustrate not only the diversity of problems but also the common
denominators and critical sub themes that underpin the major issues. This is supplemented
by a second stage detailing the specific characteristics of relevant interventions that have
already been applied to the city, identifying the available social capital and resources and a
short profile of the public sector infrastructure.
4.2
Methodology for the local mapping
187. Stage 1 examines Place and provides a clear current picture of the city, its existing
Roma strategy and expectations from membership of the project considering:
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General demographics, the economic drivers and any particular special characteristics
which could influence the nature of the problem.
Roma specific demographics including best estimates of population size, spread,
living conditions, levels of segregation, relationship with contiguous communities.
Articulation of the key issues and sub themes, access to essential services, labour
market inclusion and self-help programmes.
188. Stage 2 builds upon stage 1 using a targeted questioning technique. It focuses first on
Programmes and Projects to provide an outline of the initiatives already put in place to
improve services for the general population, or specific segments under the key policy areas
of Health, Housing, Education and Employment and in order to gauge the development
capacity of the city.
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What the city has achieved in each area, generally and for specific groups, the results,
the success stories and the characteristics of success?
Who is implementing the projects – Local authority, public agency, NGO etc
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LOCAL MAPPING RESULTS
How these have been or could be if re-directed or re-shaped, relevant to the Roma
population?
189. Secondly, it considers People and resources to provide an understanding of what social
capital and resources are available locally for the next phase of the project.
•
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Which organisations either regional or national are already active and working with
the Roma community?
What is the main focus of local activity?
What physical infrastructure is available and accessible for local initiatives, for
example, schools, community centres, health centres.
190. Finally, it examines Public Sector to help define the public sector division of
responsibilities in each of the key policy areas of Health, Housing, Education and
Employment, in order to determine how far reaching the network needs to extend in order to
be effective in this complex policy field.
•
•
•
Are their different tiers to the public administration in each city?
Are there divisions in decision making that could present an obstacle to future
development?
Are there particular strengths and examples where the different tiers work well
together?
191. In comprehensively articulating this current state, we provide clarity as to the extent of
the problem and in doing so seek to identify a reference point, against which we can measure
the success of and benchmark new initiatives going forward.
4.3
Associated Risks
192. Whilst there is still considerable debate as to the most viable approach to future Roma
policy development, whether specifically targeted or mainstream adjusted, what we can
conclude from specific attempts at Roma inclusion policy that have gone before, as well as
from more general interventions aimed at the whole population, is that despite growing
political will and economic funding available, very little in the way of measurable
improvement has actually been felt at the disadvantaged community level. Therefore
something has limited or compromised the effectiveness of these interventions. What the
ROMA-Net project must avoid is repeating these mistakes by taking too narrow a view on the
issues. We can examine the methods used to deliver previous initiatives and try to work out
what went wrong, and we will, but taking this approach in isolation, risks limiting both our
perception of the problems and our ability to think creatively about the solutions.
The ROMA-Net project can make a real difference to the lives of the Roma people but
to be assured success it has to demonstrate the power to reach the community, to
generate a momentum great enough to change society’s perception and to deliver
genuine results. It needs to be targeted, innovative and engaging of the Roma people at
a truly local level. To do this requires careful planning and more than just the
regurgitation of the same initiatives that have failed to make a noticeable difference.
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4.4
LOCAL MAPPING RESULTS
Purpose of the local mapping
193. We know that many of the issues faced by the Roma people have an overlap and
similarity to those experienced by other complex and disadvantaged communities across the
EU. We know that many of our city partners in the ROMA-Net project have undertaken
successful initiatives addressing these issues. Why then has the Roma community proven so
difficult to reach and what lessons can be learned from our other successes? The partnership
promotes an ethos of consultation and communication from the outset and provides the
perfect platform from which to share the wealth of knowledge and experience that exists
across our partnership.
194. By focusing on the broader context of what has been successful, we hope to be able to
capitalise upon the best practices demonstrated elsewhere, to re-align our thinking around
the issues of Roma inclusion. Building on the knowledge and support of our local
stakeholders we aim to translate them into meaningful and innovative new interventions that
are sustainable because they are founded on an approach that we know can work. Crucially
the initiatives will be highly relevant because they will be developed, championed and
moulded in partnership with the beneficiaries themselves.
195. Our feedback from partners is conclusive with virtually all of our city partners
expressing fundamentally the same common expectations for being a part of the ROMA-Net
project.
The ROMA-Net partners have a united desire to share expertise and to spread good
practices, in the hope that it will improve local policy development, implementation
and delivery capabilities for social inclusion and stronger community cohesion, within
Roma communities and more widely between Roma and their neighbouring
communities across the whole city.
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4.5
LOCAL MAPPING RESULTS
City Profiles
196. The following tables provide a short summary of the situation in each partner city.
Annex 3 contains the detailed local mapping reports produced by each partner.
ALMERIA CITY PROFILE
Almeria is located on the South Eastern most tip of the Spanish mainland, in the region
of Andalucia. Originally supported by a thriving silk trade during the 11th Century,
Almeria has seen many a change in fortune since. Discovery of huge iron deposits
brought rapid prosperity in the early 18th century and more laterally, Almeria has
experienced spectacular economic growth since the upsurge in tourism and the
refinement of their agricultural sector into intensive vegetable production. There is also a
thriving University campus offering a wide range of academic degrees.
The service sector currently represents the main employer and totals 82% of all
companies whilst the primary sector is also historically important and employs the
majority of migrant workers. The recent economic downturn has significantly weakened
economic activity and has worsened an unemployment figure which had already risen
to 12,000 in the second part of 2007.
The city occupies an area of approximately 295km2 and is home to a population of
185,309 of whom only 17.36% were over the age of 60, as at 2006.
Roma Population Profile
The Roma community is the most significant minority group in the city of Almeria. The
community is largely settled and concentrated in one of four main neighbourhoods
within the urban area where the cost of housing is significantly lower than in the rest of
the city. In the Chanca Pescaderia – Casco Antiguo district, there are approximately 4,000
residents of Roma origin which equates to roughly 25% of the total population. This area
was historically characterised by cave dwellings although this has largely disappeared.
The Fuentecica –Quemadero on the north –east side of the city is home to approximately
500 Roma where they occupy largely new houses provided as part of the efforts by the
council to regenerate the city slums. Los Almendros in the northern part of the city is an
area consisting of duplex accommodation that was built in order to find a solution to the
problem of the shanty towns that had arisen over time and provides home for at least
400 Roma citizens, more or less the entire local population. The final area of Punche in
the north-east of the city is well linked to the centre thanks to recent urban development
which established new arterial roads and as a district was again constructed as a result of
the abolishion of the city shanty towns. Around 2,000 Roma, 25% of all residents, live in
this area along with significant Romanian and Bulgarian communities which has given
rise to the additional problems associated with the close coexistence of different cultures.
In each community, regardless of their location, the same major challenges are faced by
the Roma population in Almeria and these are generally associated with their low levels
of educational attainment as a result of the high percentage of children, particularly girls,
who leave school early and the high levels of unemployment that this ultimately leads
to. The Roma community also experience significant general difficulty accessing social
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services, for example, housing, where they are unlikely to afford anything anywhere
other than the most impoverished areas of the city where they must endure conditions of
extreme poverty and hardship often completely isolated and excluded. To varying
degrees, these communities also suffer from a reliance on the black economy, the
majority with some connection to illegal activities such as drug trafficking all of which
further reinforces poor public perception and the opinion that they lack any personal
motivation to improve their circumstances.
Social Capital
The City of Almeria Council has an existing Roma strategy which aims to promote social
awareness of the issues faced by the Roma community as well as other minorities, and
eliminate discrimination, through encouraging intercultural dialogue. Also, promote the
social integration for the Roma people by improving access to education and reducing
absenteeism, housing and social services as well as providing community based
development programmes targeting the young people and their families, with the help
of social workers, psychologists and monitors to provide advice on these issues.
The Public Sector
There are additionally, projects that have been executed directly by specific associations
set up to help Roma people, such as Fundacion Secretariado Gitano, supported by the
Local and Autonomous Administration, and city council efforts have also involved
coordination with these groups and as a result has facilitated greater breadth of and
acceptance by the Roma people.
In Almeria, there are also Territorial Delegations of the Autonomous Community such as
the Regional Ministry of Equal Opportunities and Social Welfare, which offer such
services and are almost all funded directly by Roma Associations. The Housing and
Urban Planning Ministry, through a public enterprise, is implementing rehabilitation
projects in the neighbourhoods of Chanca and Punche, which directly impact the Roma
population. These interventions are realised in conjunction with the Municipality.
Amadora was a partner in Phase I, the development phase but at the beginning of May 2010
changes in key personnel in the local authority left the city with insufficient internal capacity
to continue with the project. Unfortunately Amadora decided not to proceed into Phase II of
ROMA-Net.
AMADORA CITY INFORMATION
Roma Population Profile
The Roma community in Amadora, as of the 2001 census, numbered 948, representing a
total of 224 family units. As a result of the recent intervention by Amadora City Council,
these families are mostly settled in social housing which is concentrated in the two main
neighbourhoods of Zambujal and Casal do Silva.
The Roma community in Amadora and throughout Portugal, represent one of the social
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groups most vulnerable to poverty, social exclusion, racism and more recently drug
related crime. They experience a significant problem with their perception in the local
communities which prevents their acceptance into mainstream society and their own
attitude towards education, with high levels of early school leaving and academic failure
also compound the problems associated with the deterioration of traditional work
opportunities resulting in a new generation of unskilled, often illiterate young Roma, illequipped and unqualified in any way, to participate in the available job market. The
knock on effect is a cycle of poverty and declining opportunities that prevent any ability
to create wealth or access financial credit. The previously important source of inclusion
derived from a strong sense of family cohesion is also seriously under threat from the
new wave of involvement in general and drug related crime that is becoming
increasingly prevalent in this community.
Social Capital
Amadora City Council’s Office for Social Affairs deals with all excluded communities
and is currently active in defining strategies to facilitate general social inclusion and
access to mainstream social services using a socio-territorial approach.
•
Health – 1 Public Hospital and 6 health centres work in partnership with the
NGO’s and local associations. Additional private organisations, through
agreements with public entities, provide health services to the population with
low economic resources.
•
Education – All public schools and kindergartens in the Amadora City are
available resource for local initiatives.
•
Housing – Amadora City and The Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation,
through re-housing programs, facilitate the process of property acquisition.
The Zambujal Melhora Housing Program, was undertaken by a working
partnership that brought together a group of institutions and associations
including the Secretariado Diocesano da Pastoral dos Ciganos (Diocesan
Secretarian of Roman Pastoral), the Residents’ Association and the Santa Casa da
Misericórdia who worked directly with the quarter’s residents, including a
significant Roma community.
•
Employment – The Professional Training and Employment Institute assist people
who are unemployed and/or need to improve their qualifications and their
Professional Integration Office support unemployed youths and adults to access
the labour market.
•
Other organisations that provide a range of services to the Roma community
include, Obra Nacional da Pastoral dos Ciganos (social inclusion targeting
children), and Associação para o Desenvolvimento das Mulheres Ciganas
Portuguesas (Association for the Development of portuguese Roman Women).
The Public Sector
Amadora City Council have been developing social interventions using new broader
participation methods, to involve the project beneficiaries at all stages and with
contributions from across all levels of the social welfare structure. The ‘Zambujal
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melhoral’ housing project integrated a Roma social worker into the initial working party
and incorporated the arts i.e. music, art and dance, in order to break down some of the
social barriers with, learn more about and empower the Roma community.
The EMPREENDE program on employment and entrepreneurship was an experimental
public/private co-operation model that benefited from public sector investments and
policies working in conjunction with academic knowledge and delivery expertise from
the private sector to derive successful operational synergies.
BOLOGNA CITY INFORMATION
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna Region in the Northern part of Italy,
ranked one of the most developed cities in Italy thanks to its strong industrial tradition,
wide range of highly developed social services and strategic location in the heart of the
country, mid way between Milan and Florence and at the crossing point of the most
important highways and railways in the country. Also home to the oldest University in
the World, founded in 1089 and with rich cultural heritage, Bologna is considered to
have amongst the highest quality of life rankings in Europe.
Bologna has the lowest unemployment rate in Italy at 2.9% and one of the highest GDP
per capita in Europe at Euro 35,156. Over the last 10 years the number of businesses has
grown by 83% and the number of employees by 33% whilst it also boasts the highest rate
of employed women in Italy, totalling 63.2%. There is additionally an impressive record
of educational attainment with 60% of citizens reaching graduation and 26.2% attaining
a university degree.
The city occupies an area of approximately 140.7km2 and is home to a population of
372,256 of which a significant 27.02% were over 65 as at 2007.
Roma Population Profile
The people that would fall under the broad collective heading of Roma in Bologna fall
into several categories: Migrants who have come to the city from other EU countries, mainly Romania, and
for whom there is no official data. This migrant population can also be divided into
several categories:
(i)
(ii)
those who come to the city for very short periods of time, usually two or
three months and have no intention to settle. They make money from
begging, temporary work and other black economy activities. Most of
this community tend to live in very transitory circumstances taking refuge
in abandoned buildings or erecting shacks and tents in remote locations
away from public view where they will camp out at night, returning to
the city centre in search of work by day and often in the city for only short
periods before moving to the next location.
economic migrants who arrive looking for decent employment. Some
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leave their families in Romania as they plan to return to Romania after
making some money. Others come in search of a better life, they are here
as families and have a longer term plan to remain in Bologna. They are
generally aged between 20 and 45, living as married couples often with
children. This group tend to take up residence in abandoned premises, but
they try to create better living conditions with beds, cooking and washing
facilities. Mostly they live without water but manage to illegally source
electricity. Recently a small number have been relocated into social
housing apartments as part of a municipal integration initiative.
The indigenous Sinti population who are Italian citizens, born in the city and
continuously resident there. They are mostly descendents of circus and show people.
There are 3 official camps in the city housing the Sinti population, which is estimated
to be around 250 people. The communities are made up of members of a few families
and are generally closed to outsiders. The living conditions are generally
overcrowded and they payment of electricity costs is an ongoing issues. Mostly the
Sinti community are not interested to leave or to live outside the camp environment,
and the experience of some who have moved into housing has been negative. Within
the camp the educational attainment levels are low, drop out from school is high,
unemployment is very high, and discrimination from the majority population is an
issue. Mediators from the boroughs work with the community to encourage and
facilitate school attendance.
Social Capital
A significant range of activity is provided by the decentralised services of the
Municipality, whereby recent reform has resulted in authority being delegated out to the
City districts. Running the services is entrusted to the ASPs (Aziende pubbliche di
servizio alla persona [Public Utilities for Services to People]). 3 dedicated ASPs ensure
delivery of the principal services for social integration, acting as co-planners with the
Municipality.
There is also a strong and consistent network of third party activists with whom there
are many collaborative interventions. Among the most active associations are; La Piccola
Carovana, Sokos, La Cooperativa Dolce and La cooperativa sociale Nuova Sanità.
In addition to the afore mentioned services The Urban Safety Policies Office of the City
of Bologna work in co-operation with local police to monitor the living conditions of the
Roma population living on the street, in shelters and illegally and intervene where
circumstances threaten the safety of the Roma people or may lead to criminal activity.
Regional or national organisations also delivering services include, Caritas, Opera
Nomadi, and various religious organisations.
All social services and local infrastructure will be made available and accessible to the
Roma population and any local initiatives.
The Public Sector
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Local policies are strongly influenced by the national and regional laws on migrations,
schools, minors and families. Training and job policies are directly managed by the
Province and therefore the competencies of the Municipality are residual jurisdiction.
Housing policies are also influenced by the national and regional law, but some of the
competencies are still of the Municipality and the health policies are managed at regional
level, but the Municipality of Bologna, being the co-ordinator of Healthy Cities
Programme, promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is responsible for a lot
of Health projects and actions.
There are several co-operative interventions that demonstrate good, clear planning skills,
supported by a wealth of knowledge and experience across the all spheres of
involvement. This has been assisted by a very active local administration, strong
institutional collaboration in the camps and a significant financial investment.
BUDAPEST CITY INFORMATION
Budapest is the largest city, centre of economic activity and historical capital of Hungary,
a city of two halves it straddles both banks of the River Danube. Commonly regarded as
one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and most idyllic and desirable places to live on
the quality of life index, it boasts numerous World Heritage sites and attracts in excess of
20 million visitors each year.
In common with most other cities in the developed world, Budapest has seen a marked
transformation in the breakdown of its economic structure over recent decades, this is
characterised by the continuing decline in the importance of both the primary and
secondary sectors in favour of a more service driven economy. As at 2001, the primary,
secondary and tertiary sector contributions equalled 0.3%, 20.4% and 79.2% respectively.
The city covers an area of 525km2 with a population of 1,770,000 people, of whom
24.53% were of pensionable age as at the last national census in 2001.
Roma Population Profile
According to the national census figure, there is a Roma community approximating
12,000 inhabitants in Budapest. This figure is known to be unrepresentative of true
numbers and unofficial neighbourhood surveys suggest the true Roma population is
more likely in the region of one tenth of the national number, equating to between 60
and 70,000 people.
The Roma population of Budapest experience considerable personal and institutional
discrimination and being largely segregated from the wider community they tend to be
settled in one of a few central districts of the city, often living without tenancy rights, in
areas marred by poverty and disadvantage and in conditions of significant hardship.
Historically the Roma people inhabited the Obuda area of the city but more recently the
population have become concentrated in the central districts, 7,8 and 9 of Pest.
Continuing low levels of educational attainment within the community result in low
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levels of literacy and a basic lack of the skills required to compete in the modern labour
market and ultimately that creates high levels of unemployment. Failure to gain access to
basic social services such as healthcare and adequate housing significantly impacts upon
the Roma quality of life and is even impacting their life expectancy
Social Capital
There has been a preparatory study conducted and a civil servant appointed to the
implementation of an Equal Opportunities Programme in the city. This has resulted in
an action plan which is to be discussed by the General Assembly of Budapest in the 1st
quarter of 2010.
Many social development projects have been implemented in
conjunction with Budapest Roma Municipality, Budapest Roma Education and Cultural
Centre, the Budapest Esely Nonprofit Company, Rev 8 managing body of the Urban
Social Regeneration project, Magdolna Quarter city regeneration company, Budapest
Social Resource Centre as well as the main Roma NGO’s from Budapest.
The Public Sector
In Hungary, sectored policy planning, decision making and execution of decisions is
done on a three-tier basis. On the national level, laws created by the parliament, and
orders issued by the relevant ministries are to be executed by the different ministries.
The so-called higher-level laws designate the roles of the central executive departments,
and set out the roles that are relegated to county/capital governments, and local
governments.
Tasks that are delegated to these governments by higher level laws are performed by the
various departments and local government founded bureaus. To ease the performance
of their tasks, local governments can create “partnerships”. An important fundamental
principle is that laws created at the local level can not contradict laws created on higher
levels.
The county/capital and local/district level governments have to create strategies based
on orders given by higher level laws in fields such as the Social Service Concept, Local
Development Concept, Residential Political Concept, and Educational Concept.
Cooperation between same level local governments is also very basic with no serious
joint actions taken.
GLASGOW CITY INFORMATION
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, with a population of around 580,000 people.
The city has an important history as an industrial centre and although some of that
manufacturing base still exists, - with around 80,000 people working in either
construction or manufacturing, it has reinvented itself in recent years as a service
sector driven economy. Glasgow is the largest retail destination in the UK outside
of London. The city is also one of the top twenty Financial centres in Europe.
The latest estimates for employment show around 400,000 jobs in the city, although
many of these are filled by people from the surrounding areas. There are something
like 262,000 residents in employment, either in the city itself or the surrounding
area.
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Glasgow has significant pockets of deprivation and has the highest concentrations
of multiple deprivation in Scotland. There are more than 100,000 people on benefits
living in the city.
There is very little data on the extent of migration from new EU Member States and
it is unlikely that this will improve until the next Census in 2011.
Roma Population Profile
A recent report by the University of the West of Scotland has estimated that there
are between 2-3,000 Roma in Glasgow and that this community has almost entirely
settled in the Govanhill area on the South East of the city. Most of these people
have originally come from Slovakia although a proportion has come from Romania.
As part of this process the University employed two Slovak support workers who
interviewed 225 people. A range of issues have been identified including access to
employment and employment services, welfare benefits, social housing and
homelessness support, health services and to education.
Social Capital
A number of local voluntary and other statutory bodies have sought to engage with
and support the community, but this has not always proved to be straightforward.
There are housing associations and local resource centres active in the area.
In addition to language barriers there has been a degree of suspicion within the
community. A number of initiatives have been taken by local organizations, to
address the issues identified and also to help with community building and
integration. Specific activity has taken place to engage with young people.
The report has produced a range of recommendations, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Continued community support through providing a drop-in centre;
Address a range of issues including, language, skills, self employment and
help to move away from exploitative employment
Use a range of approaches, including outreach, to help people access
health services;
The housing issue needs to be addressed urgently;
Education providers have already done much to help but this needs to be
built on;
Training for those working with the community is essential;
Greater co-ordination between services is needed to avoid overlap and
gaps.
The Public Sector
In Glasgow the local authority is responsible for education, social housing and
social work policy and services. National Government, the home office is
responsible for policy for new migrants and much of what can be offered locally is
determined by the home office policies and the status of the new migrants. Social
Welfare and Benefits is also a National Government provision, services by local
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branches of the government. There are some locally led active labour market
programmes, delivered by NGOs or by branches of the local authority. Health
policy is the responsibility of the Scottish Government and service delivery is the
local divisions of the National Health Service.
Scotland has a long history of partnership working particularly in localities affected
by social and economic inclusion. The concept of different service providers
working together to deliver integrated services is not completely new to the city,
however the concept of working with and potentially creating such service
provision for the Roma community is a new challenge and new concept for the city.
HERAKLION CITY INFORMATION
Heraklion is a city whose colourful history dates back thousands of years and in certain
periods has represented a major hub for economic activity in the region. It is the largest
city and capital of the Greek Island of Crete and is located on the central North coast
where it maintains an important shipping port and ferry dock.
Until the 1970’s, the main source of economic activity in Crete derived from the primary
sector specifically agriculture and livestock farming. More recently as tourism has
flourished, the service sector has come to dominate the economy and as at the 2001
census, provided employment for 71.9% of the working population in the Heraklion
Municipality. There is no official unemployment data available for Heraklion itself but it
is thought to be comparable to the national levels which in the 4th quarter 2009,
approximated 10.3%.
The city occupies an area of approximately 109km2 and houses 137,711 residents, as at
the last census dated 2001.
Roma Population Profile
The Roma population in Heraklion Municipality consists of three groups:
(a) the Roma greek citizens permanent residents of the Municipality,
(b) the Roma greek citizens who move to Heraklion Municipality from other parts of
the country to live and work at the wider area for a certain period of time each year
and
(c) the Roma immigrants mainly from Albania, less from Bulgaria and Romania.
The Roma population of Heraklion Municipality tends to be spread throughout the city
but there are three districts/neighbourhoods that present serious concentration of the
local Roma population.
Data relating to the Roma population does not exist specifically for the city of Heraklion
but estimates can be made for the wider district to include the 2 neighbouring
municipalities of Gazi and Nea Alikarnassos where there is a significant greek Roma
population of approximately 550, housed on a permanent camp. A rough estimation
concerning the total Roma population of the whole urban district could be that there are
about 1.500 people – with about 600-700 people living at Heraklion Municipality.
For the majority of the Roma population in the wider Heraklion district – mostly the
immigrants and a significant part of the Greek residents, especially the camp’s residents
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– social exclusion matters are crucial. They face unemployment or gain very low income,
their housing does not cover the basic standard of living, they face discrimination issues
and they present law access to educational, vocational and skill development
opportunities. They make use of some of the general social and medical services, but
many such needs also remain uncovered.
Social Capital
There is no specific Roma strategy in the Heraklion Municipality, however, some Roma
specific initiatives have been undertaken and there is a strong desire to eradicate all
forms of discrimination and exclusion to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens.
Although there is no specific department designated to deal with the Roma policy, there
is a general social policies and services department which deals with all community
needs including those concerning the Roma population also additional local social
services and both municipal and non-municipal special projects, some of which target
the Roma community exclusively, for example the Socio – Medical Centre for Roma
located in Nea Alikarnassos.
Details of all local organisations actively working with the Roma community in
Heraklion Municipality and in the neighbouring Municipality of Alikarnassos and their
main focus, are listed in the Local Mapping Exercise Annexe 3.
There are no Regional or National organisations currently delivering such services
although there has been past participation in projects as detailed in the Annexe 3.
There is access available to the infrastructure of the Municipal Employment, Social and
Medical Services and Municipal Halls for meetings and conferences.
The Public Sector
Greek Administrative Tiers:
Ministries – national level (government ruled)
Regions (government ruled)
Prefectures (self-administration/ self-government)
Municipalities (self-administration/ self-government)
There is strong interaction of the national policies and structures with the city. Many
interventions for the general population as well as the Roma population are provided by
prefectural organisations under national policies or by national organisations.
In many cases the different tiers act separately. A cohesive plan for Roma has not yet
been developed. Different organisations have occasionally worked well together, but
there is no close and ongoing cooperation between all relevant organisations. There are
gaps and sometimes overlap. Therefore, problems and obstacles have appeared and may
appear in the future.
Different tiers have been identified as working well to deliver the following initiatives;
URBACT II - MILE Project (for immigrants and Roma), Action plans concerning
vocational training and counselling for Roma, and Project “School integration of Roma
children”.
KARVINA CITY INFORMATION
Karvina is a city located in the North Eastern, Moravian-Selesian district of the Czech
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Republic, close to the border with Poland. Its position on the Olse River and the rich
black coal deposits discovered in the 19th century, secured its future as one of the most
important mining centres in the country. Until recent industrial restructuring, the city
has been characterised by an economic reliance on heavy industrial activity although it
has also long been established as a centre for learning with a diverse range of further
education establishments. Following the industrial restructuring and closure of the coal
mines, Karvina has seen a significant increase in the levels of unemployment which now
stands at 15.6% although it is currently experiencing a surge in tourism activity.
The city occupies an area of approximately 57.49km2 and is home to a population in
excess of 62,000. There has been a notable decline in population from 65,141 at the last
census in 2001, however the Roma community continues to expand.
Roma Population Profile
The Roma community in Karvina can only be estimated with the assistance of
fieldworker intermediaries who have been active in the Roma community since 2003, no
official data has been collected to date. Their community is settled and tends to be
concentrated in the area of Karvina-Nove Mesto, where it is estimated that 1980 Roma,
including 1295 children, are housed typically in severely overcrowded apartments. Five
further locations throughout the city house an additional 426 Roma people, including
205 children.
The Roma community, through cultural conditioning, tend to lack any real motivation or
desire to attend school and gain any kind of formal education or qualifications. The
result being a general lack of the skills necessary for forms of work other than the
manual labour associated with the now declining primary and heavy industrial sector
that initially attracted many of this community to the area. Now the Roma population
shows high levels of unemployment and dependence on social welfare. Another
common problem within this community is the prominence of Usury as a method of
financing day to day expenditures, an issue that has so far proven difficult to tackle. The
Roma way of life is not one that is understood or accepted by the wider population,
which creates isolation , exclusion and generates discrimination.
Social Capital
The city of Karvina has no specific Roma strategy although there is a more general
strategy, which is part of the Strategic Plan for Economic Development, to address and
improve the treatment of all citizens subject to social exclusion, focusing primarily on
education, living standards, employment and crime. There are four dedicated
fieldworkers who have been commissioned by the Ministry, with the support of state
grants, to provide intermediary assistance in this respect and in conjunction with
numerous organisations as detailed in the Local Mapping Exercise Annexe 3.
At a national level the Government Committee for Ethnical Minorities would have
jurisdiction over the Roma policy.
Local initiatives make use of the Roma Culture and Social Centre where there are various
events and forums often run in collaboration with local gynaecologists and
paediatricians on various health issues. Local schools also have a significant role to play
in assisting field workers.
Public Sector
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There are certain issues within the authority of the city whilst others, such as funding for
specific initiatives, that have to come from government and is dependent upon the
appropriate legislation. For example, there is legislation to prohibit the collection of data
relating to the Roma community.
There is a significant amount of well organised interaction and co-operation between the
local field workers and the representatives of social service providers such as the health
service, schools and employment agencies.
At a national level, there are grants available to assist with projects addressing these
issues and although available to the city and charitable organisations, the administrative
burden involved with the funding is significant. The state social welfare system may be
an obstacle to some Roma targeted initiatives, as it is considered to demotivate the
community to find work.
KOSICE CITY INFORMATION
Košice is the second largest and most important city in the Slovak Republic after its
capital Bratislava and whilst retaining a well preserved historical centre it is also an
important industrial and economic hub. The city lies in the Košice Basin, formed by the
wide valley of the River Hornád, contained by the outlying ridges of the Slovakian Ore
Mountains to the West and the Slanské Hills to the East. With an historically strong
economic background, the city of Košice has played a significant role in the provision of
employment opportunities for much of the surrounding region, largely in the industrial
sector with the main employer being the U.S. Steel Košice Steelworks, although the
transport and educational sector are also strongly represented. In common with most
cities worldwide, the current economic situation has had a detrimental effect on Košice,
however the overall conditions are still considered stable despite a relatively high
unemployment rate of 12.97%, even more starkly reflected in the Roma community.
The city occupies an area of approximately 242.77km2 and is home to a population of
approximately 234,237 as at the last census. The ethnic mix of the city’s inhabitants is
very interesting and varied reflecting its geographical location at a crossroads in both
economic and cultural routes.
Roma Population Profile
According to the most recent census data, the Roma community in Košice numbers
5,429, although it is widely believed that this figure is much underrepresented due to the
numbers of Roma declaring themselves as belonging to other nationalities. A more
realistic number is thought to be around the 10,000 mark, particularly given that recent
research has shown there to be in excess of 300,000 Roma country wide. The Košice
Roma population is concentrated mostly in one housing estate, Lunik IX, which was
built in 1987-1988 for 2,600 citizens. Today there are 5,640 registered residents in the
housing estate, but it is anticipated that the real number is far greater and exact data are
impossible to ascertain due to the high levels of uncontrollable migration.
The housing estate was originally a mixed residential area where approximately half of
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the citizens were of Roma origin. During the socialist led period there were rarely any
debts on rent, partly because it was not a pure Roma settlement, and partly because at
that time all citizens had a regular constant income. After 1989, with emerging
democracy and capitalism, many immigrants descended on the city, families lost their
jobs and significant debts have been accumulated. This has resulted in many Roma
citizens having to give up their city centre flats as the rents rapidly increased, forcing
them to settle finally in Luník IX. Proportionate to the increasing number of the Roma
citizens, the other populations have left the housing estate, and it has gradually become
an exclusively Roma residential area. This district has become characterised by extreme
overcrowding where residents live in poverty and without even the most basic of
facilities whilst largely isolated and excluded from the wider community. Public opinion
of the community is poor and combined with their generally low levels of educational
attainment, the discrimination they experience in the labour market is significant
resulting in alarming levels of unemployment
Social Capital
Košice has a strategy for addressing the problems associated with this area that includes
application of EU projects to provide experience and assist in the definition of policy to
promote the integration of this the Roma community. Two documents have been
approved by the Slovak State: The Strategy for Improving the Situation 0f the Roma
(April 2001) and the Basic Thesis of Government Policy Concept for Integration of Roma
– Approved by Government of the Slovak Republic in April 2003. Both documents have
raised the basic issues and established the goals for the settlement of the marginalised
communities, these being:
Improving the integration of marginalised communities,
Enlarging the network of highly professional community and social workers assisting
Roma women and children,
Improving employment opportunities and,
Access to University education for talented Roma children.
There is additionally a dedicated Roma Press Agency, Roma Community Centre and
Professional Theatre for the famous Romathan, supported by the city administration.
Plans have also been defined to establish a local community police station in the Lunik
IX, with recruitment from the local unemployed residents.
There has also been a Professional Commission established within the City Council to
deal with the following problems within the Roma minority of Košice; housing
problems, school attendance, unemployment, improvement of health and well being and
access to resources for the community.
Public Sector
The Košice City Council has developed a strategy of social intervention in vulnerable
territories. The city considers the Roma integration a huge challenge, in terms of the city
policies and social cohesion, inviting new methodologies and solutions for the burning
social problems, of poverty and exclusion. New participation methods are being used,
involving the population, access to mainstream services, social support and positive
action. An important consideration is the improved image of the concerned groups in the
majority’s view. The Roma representatives are involved in designing of public social
projects.
The closed and isolated nature of the Roma Community represents an obstacle to the
delivery of planned assistance and particularly with respect to creation of opportunities
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in the wider society, making it more difficult to improve their situation and necessitating
the identification and adoption of new and innovative strategies. The low skilled,
unqualified labour force, and low levels of educational attainment are also critical areas
for attention. Most individuals never reach higher education, have no professional
qualifications and few skills with which to approach employers thus largely excluding
them from the labour market altogether. To overcome this obstacle, appropriate
interventions have to improve public opinion of this marginalised community and
provide them with the necessary resources to improve their capacity to contribute to
society.
This has been the purpose of founding the Professional Commission for settlement of
Roma national minority living in the city of Košice. The members are renowned Roma
specialists in social work, media, and culture and it is hoped that the desired results will
emerge through the support of this project.
Timisoara elected to join ROMA-Net for the second phase of the project. They completed
the mapping exercise but at the beginning of May they decide not to continue into Phase II
of the project. The reason they cited was the project did not provide sufficient resources to
cover the costs of the local actions that would be required. Due to budget constraints and
a freeze on public sector employment the City was unable to recruit additional personnel
to cover the additional workload that the project would generate.
TIMISOARA CITY INFORMATION
Timisoara, Romania’s second largest city, is the main economic and cultural centre in the
Western region of Banat. Throughout history Timisoara’s importance has grown, first by
virtue of its strategic position on the Banat plains close to the borders of Serbia and
Hungary then increasingly as a result of its ethnic diversity and innovative laws drawing
in technicians and craftsmen who established guilds and developed the economy.
During the industrial revolution the city prospered by embracing new and modern
innovations boosting development of commercialism. More recently Timisoara has
experienced something of a second revolution with the growth in levels of foreign
investment and is now supporting a variety of international manufacturers from
automotive parts to software and communications as well as the more traditional light
industry, textiles and footwear. The level of unemployed in Timisoara is approximately
2.54% as at December 2009.
The city occupies an area of approximately 129.2km2 and is home to a population of
307,347 , of whom a mere 4% are over the age of 75, as at 2007
Roma Population Profile
The Roma community in Timisoara was reported to have totalled 3,114 as at the 2002
census. This figure is however considered to be much under-stated as it is known that,
due to the stigma attached to the Roma community, large numbers of the population do
not declare their true ethnicity preferring to declare themselves Romanian. The true
number is thought to be more in the region of 7,000.
The wealthy Roma live in the central area of the city, in so called "palaces" and are often
linked to illegal activities. These have taken advantage of the new possibilities created
by the post-communist transition. A considerable number of the newly wealthy Roma
acquired their riches due to their business sense and because they have taken advantage
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of the opportunities on the black market in combination with ambiguities of the legal
system. The wealthy Roma are organised in families and are often linked to some mafia
activities.
The migrants from other regions of Romania came to Timisoara due to high economic
growth that the city has experienced in the last decade, hoping for a better life, but also
because Timisoara is the "access gate" to Western Europe. This category of Roma comes
to beg in the city, try to find a job or to emigrate to other European countries. Their stay
in the city is often temporary.
The majority of the Roma are poor, living in the outskirts of the city and live in bad
conditions: lack of utilities, including water, lack of propriety, very small apartments that
are overcrowded etc. They live in the districts: Kuntz, Fratelia and Fabric. Many live in
historic buildings (Fabric), but without any legal documents.
In Timisoara many
historic buildings became social housing for Roma and other disadvantaged groups and
now they are in very bad condition.
The Report "Public policies for Roma", made by the Roma Women's Association "For our
children" in Timisoara in 2009 showed that 63% of the interviewed (on a sample of 1003
Roma) live in improvised accommodations or in social housings. 23% live in bad or very
bad conditions. Cca. 40% live in 2 rooms.
Social Capital
The Municipality of Timisoara has a Local Development Strategy but this does not
specifically target the Roma community and although there is a specific City Hall
department, this is not yet functional.
The organisations currently active and working with the local Roma community in the
city are extensive and listed in the Local Mapping Annex 3.
TORRENT CITY INFORMATION
UDINE CITY INFORMATION
Udine is an ancient historical city in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region of North Eastern
Italy which in recent years has experienced something of a renaissance in both its
industrial and academic capacity. With levels of unemployment at approximately 4%
(2008) as compared to country averages of almost double that, the city boasts a relatively
strong economy, dominated by the tertiary sector and recognised as an important centre
of commerce.
The city occupies an area of approximately 56km2 and is home to a population of 99,071,
of whom 24.27% were pensioners over the age of 65, as at Jan 2009.
Roma Population Profile
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The Roma community in Udine currently stands at 330, representing a total of 85 family
units. Of this 330 total, a significant proportion, currently 100 people or 26 families, 55 of
whom are under 21 years of age, are housed unlawfully on the city’s largest, and Italy’s
oldest, unregulated camp. Over the last 50 years Roma families have gathered on this
area of State property, between the station and a cemetery in the North Eastern part of
town, and have settled, without permission, in either caravans or pre-fabricated houses
which have no access to standard public services such as sanitation. There are 5 other
such camps spread across the municipal area. Fewer than 100 people are settled in
permanent social housing and despite the use of housing mediators to smooth the way
for those concerned, the experience has not been a positive one. Please refer to Local
Mapping Template Annex 3 for detailed history of Roma migration to Udine.
Living on a camp without basic amenities is not a lifestyle choice that is widely
understood or accepted by the general population and thus has contributed to a fear and
mistrust of the Roma people which results in their social exclusion and often in abusive
treatment by other communities. The Roma community themselves suffer the discomfort
of extremely degradated living conditions and as a result of their lack of residency rights
or official registration, they fail to qualify for the most basic of social services such as
general healthcare and education. This results in poor health and high levels of illiteracy
which as young Roma people become increasingly isolated and marginalised, has a
direct correlation with the high levels of unemployment and petty crime rates being
experienced. Whilst there have been some attempts to establish social co-operatives
providing gardening services, there is no investment in the development of sustainable
good jobs and as a result, the main source of income generation has been the collection
and disposal of illegal waste
Social Capital
The formation of the 2008-2012 Administrative Mandate has identified that the Roma
community slip through the existing social services net and prescribe the need for a
unified Roma strategy. As such, it has allocated resource to the integration of the Roma
community in the form of a dedicated councillor who has studied their situation
thoroughly and acts as an intermediary in their dealings with all external institutions
and associations.
There are additional projects focusing attention on mediation in social housing and
integration of the Roma juvenile population and although there is no specific designated
department, various sectors of the Municipal Administration, including Social Services,
Education Services, Registry Office, Town Planning, Municipal Police and the Mayor’s
Office are involved with addressing Roma related issues. Individual professionals also
work with Roma people focusing on; making the area safer, promoting children’s
education and vocational training for youths, overcoming illegality and proposing
alternative housing solutions.
At a National level, OsservAzione, Opera Nomadi, Sucar Drom, Law Department within
the University of Florence, although not delivering services, they provide for studies and
research into Roma issues including, physical segregation, community discrimination,
children’s education etc.
Local initiatives could be organised within the camp, or in its neighbourhood as well as
in local schools.
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The Public Sector
Levels – Municipality covers political trends, quarter suburbs cover local representation.
High levels of resistance from Local committees could present an obstacle to
implementation of the main political decisions on the Roma camp. At a National level
there are significant discriminatory strategies e.g. fingerprint proposals, forced removals
and blanket policy making without credible solutions. At a Regional level there is
unapplied Regional Law, no policy or economic funding available. Local initiatives are
unlikely to receive National or Regional support.
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4.6 Thematic Examples
In this section of the report we explore some of the more innovative approaches taken
by members of our project partnership and examine why these methods have proven
successful in managing to engage the target audience and deliver real results that
genuinely benefit the people at a community level.
By identifying and articulating these critical success factors, we seek to assess their
relevance for the Roma people and consider the appropriateness of using similar
techniques in tackling the issues associated with implementation of improvements in
our hard to reach Roma communities
Health
Project ‘ROTAS’ (Dec 03 - Dec 06) Community Initiative URBAN II
197. This initiative focused on prevention of drug use in the community, it was implemented
in partnership with a local parish council and targeted drug addicts and the homeless as well
as the immigrant community. The objectives of this project, to gain access to the communities,
for the purpose of monitoring the situation and dissemination of healthcare advice and
psychosocial support was facilitated by intervention at the level of basic needs provision.
198. Resources were applied to the provision of a ‘Social Shop’ environment, with one unit
at a fixed location and another adapted to provide mobile services in critical areas, where the
target community could ‘drop in’ and be assured a hot meal as well as the varied support of
the team.
199. This method of providing essential aid in the form of food distribution has quickly
drawn in the target community, breaking down social barriers, building immediate trust and
opening the doors for communication and intervention at a more personal level.
200. The use of informal drop in units as a ‘hub’ providing easily accessible support to a
range of clients in key locations has encouraged widespread acceptance and ensured the
success of this initiative.
Education
The Children’s Parliament (Mar 05 -Dec 08) Community Initiative Program URBAN
II
201. This was a joint initiative between the City and 4 primary schools in the URBAN II area
and was designed to provide the vulnerable children from this deprived area an opportunity
to participate actively in identifying the needs of the area they live in, design and vote for
improvements and also be active in their realisation.
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202. The children were encouraged to participate in the simulation of a real parliament
where there was active debate on the issues raised and full authority to implement the most
popular proposals through the provision of a specified budget. The results of the project were
surprising, it demonstrated the ability of children, given the chance, to reflect on, identify and
prioritise key issues in their own environment, empowering them to find solutions.
203. This initiative provided enrichment and was successful on many levels, it specifically
enabled the active participation of the target community, it motivated them to discuss and
take action on issues that really affected them and reinforced their rights as citizens of a
democracy.
204. The resulting improvements delivered to the community are assured of success having
been advocated by the beneficiaries themselves. Targeting children in this type of initiative
helps to breakdown certain aspects of social and behavioural conditioning that can become
more difficult to address in later years.
Housing
TRAA Project – Funded by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
205. The specific aim of this project is to facilitate improved access to Public Residential
Housing for non EU citizens and assist with the common integration of different cultures in
the communities. The main effort has been focused on the assignment of social mediators
who have assisted in the organisation of special activity clubs ‘laboratories’ where the
residents of the Public Residential Buildings can congregate to participate in common interest
activities such as computing, sport and language courses. The purpose of these clubs being to
promote the idea of ‘friendly community in a friendly building’ and breakdown barriers to
entry for non EU citizens, thus testing the new and transferable model of social mediation for
new housing settlements.
206. Using the example of the computer club, foreign residents have been encouraged to
integrate with the wider community by taking up the opportunity to train as computing
tutors. Wireless areas have been built into the communal areas of the buildings to encourage
use of public spaces and condominium web sites designed. The clubs are then managed and
run from these areas by the local associations of non EU citizens. This initiative has used the
medium of computing, sport and the arts which cross all national boundaries, to bring
together individuals of mixed cultural background with the common goal of improving their
skills or pursuing an interest.
207. Empowering the foreign residents to be able to run these clubs has been an insightful
method of demonstrating that these people can have something valuable to offer the
community. It has increased the awareness and profile of social inclusion as a tool for conflict
prevention and resulted in improved residential harmony and the greater acceptance of
foreign citizens.
The Action Program ‘Zambujal Melhora’ (2009 – 2011)
208. The main purpose of the initiative is the regeneration of the Zambujal social quarter.
Zambujal is a deprived inner city area where buildings are derelict and the public spaces
dilapidated to such an extent that it is exacerbating the problems of the area.
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The project has 3 axes 1) Housing, 2)Environment and Urban Space and 3) Social and
Economic Development and is being implemented through a partnership comprising local
organisations, both public and private as well as community members.
209. In respect of housing, the objectives are, the rehabilitation of the residential buildings in
order to improve general living conditions and comfort levels, promotion of the organisation
as a ‘condominium’ type set up to facilitate future acquisition of the property by residents
and encouraging community participation. By encouraging the community to take ownership
of their residential area, through active participation in the design of public space projects
and investment of their own resources into the improvement of their surroundings, this
initiative hopes to promote longevity of the solution by engendering a greater respect for the
environment that they live in. From a community perspective, the residents can feel
empowered to make changes that reflect their needs and feel pride in their own
achievements, knowing that the city is prepared to reward their efforts with extremely
advantageous purchase options on the property.
Employment
‘EMPREENDE’–Social Entrepreneurship Municipal Program
210. This initiative is a partnership between the City, a National Foundation, a University
and a private company. It is a program to encourage entrepreneurial endeavour and is
targeted at individuals who are in compromised social circumstances, whether that means
they are generally experiencing difficulty in accessing the labour market or are at specific risk
or are subject to social exclusion.
211. It offers those individuals, who can demonstrate basic skills and the desire to become an
entrepreneur, the opportunity to change their personal circumstances and professional status
with assistance in identifying viable business ideas and facilitating their implementation.
212. Participants are helped with personal coaching and technical support as well as one of
the following, logistical setting up support ie an office, financial support or access to premises
and a subsidised MBA course. This kind of approach demonstrates a belief in the people’s
entrepreneurial potential regardless of their social circumstances through specific investment
in their future by a range of contributors and will be viewed extremely favourably by the
vulnerable communities. Not only does such an intervention empower the individual to
develop their skills and break free from social stigma and stereotyping but it sets an example
and provides aspiration to the community and may also be self sustaining in its potential to
create new employment opportunities and reduce dependency on social welfare.
‘START UP’ Roma Trainee Scholarship Project
213. This initiative is a vocational training opportunity supported by the EGT, the
Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the Local Government. Its purpose is to provide an
opportunity for young Roma people with secondary level school qualifications to participate
in a professional vocational work experience program/traineeship within the Budapest
Municipal Organisation. Research had shown that these young people encounter particular
difficulties finding employment due to a lack of work experience and employer
recommendations as well as resulting from the racial discrimination prevalent in the labour
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market. For this reason and as a result of the groups significant under representation in local
Government, young Roma students were targeted for this initiative.
214. Based upon the matching of qualifications with the requirements of the available posts,
35 trainee positions were filled from an applicant base of 85. Such has been the success of this
process that 15 of the young Roma trainees have succeeded in securing permanent
employment. This is an example of successful positive discrimination, where it has been
recognised, that in the interests of an inclusive, progressive workplace, it is necessary to
promote increased contribution from a minority group.
215. The Roma trainees have been afforded the opportunity to gain insight into professional
life and the functions of a public service organisation whilst procuring general work
experience. Both trainees and employers in the Municipal offices mutually benefited from the
opportunity to become acquainted with each others culture in order to eradicate prejudices
and build trust. The Roma population benefit from positive role models and can gain comfort
in the knowledge that there are opportunities for personal attainment should they choose to
commit to finishing their education.
Summary
216. It is easy to see because of the common basic needs and thematic interests that many of
these projects favour how transferable such enterprising initiatives could be for the Roma
community. With some thought to the structure and desired outcome they could be adapted
to meet the needs in different cities. What is to prevent us, for example, from using the
‘Children’s Parliament’ concept to engage adults in the Roma community, to provoke in them
a sense of belief that the system is interested in what they have to say and what their needs
are? Or, using the ‘TRAA’ project concept to address the inclusion of the Roma community
and gain wider acceptance in society by demonstrating a common interest in something that
benefits the community, for example, expressive arts. With a little imagination, the potential
transferability could be significant.
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5.1
Common problems identified during the local mapping
217. Regardless the size or locality, it is interlinked and intergenerational factors that are at
the root of the social and economic exclusion experienced by Roma in Europe, and also in the
ROMA-Net partner cities. For many it means poverty, discrimination, unemployment or
informal exploitative work, dependency on social assistance, low or no educational
attainment, poor health and inadequate living conditions often without legal tenure. There is
quite a variation in Roma population size in the partner cities, for example Budapest is
estimated to have more that 60,000 and Udine with only several hundred. The baseline
however exposed that there is a strong commonality in the issues across all Cities in fact the
small communities appear almost as a microcosm of the large ones.
218. Insufficient and inadequate data exists at local or national level making it impossible to
accurately quantify with accuracy the scale of and intensity of the poverty and exclusion that
exists in the local Roma populations. The absence of disaggregated data on Roma is common
across much of Europe and in all our partner cities. Like most policy and programme makers
we have to rely on empirical evidence, local expertise and best estimates.
219. The local mapping reveals findings that are broadly similar to sampling exercises
carried out elsewhere and they confirm that the exclusion issues are deep rooted,
interconnected and complex. A snapshot of the common and city specific problems that were
highlighted during the local mapping exercise are as follows:
GENERAL
•
•
•
•
Common issues for the Roma populations – discrimination and negative views by the
majority population, direct and indirect discrimination.
Specific issues for the Roma population - Roma blamed for anti-social behaviour. Lack of
understanding and respect for the Roma culture and history.
Common issues for the Cities – overcome the negative attitudes of the majority
population, improved consultation and engagement with the Roma community.
Build tolerance and mutual respect.
Specific issues for the cities – very negative attitudes from neighbouring residents.
EDUCATION
•
•
•
•
Common issues for the Roma populations - Low levels of educational attainment and
attendance, low literacy levels. Language barriers. Discrimination.
Specific issues for the Roma population Early school departure, especially with
girls dropping out before finishing even basic education.
Common issues for the Cities - Roma negative attitude to education, both in relation to
attainment and school attendance.
Specific issues for the cities – challenges to keep young people in education; how to
overcome the lack of aspirations and low expectations of young people; home
environment not suitable for study; discrimination.
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HEALTH
•
•
•
•
Common issues for the Roma populations - Exclusion from critical social services,
especially health. Discrimination.
Specific issues for the Roma population - Unable to gain access to basic health care, no
residency rights or official registration means failure to even qualify for general
healthcare.
Common issues for the Cities - Often no health provision/centres close to Roma living
areas. General poor health of Roma seen by majority population as self inflicted
because of lifestyle choice and therefore unsympathetic and even animosity to
targeted Roma health issues.
Specific issues for the cities - Roma ignorance of health services that are available and
accessible to them. One city has been quite successful with a Roma targeted medical
centre.
HOUSING
•
•
•
•
Common issues for the Roma populations: - Isolation, lack of reliable transportation
network, often living with no residency rights, ghetto conditions, lack of basic
amenities; including gas, electricity and proper sanitation. Discrimination.
Some city specific issueS - Drug related crime, severe overcrowding, living unlawfully
on unregulated camp.
Common issues for the Cities: - Some attempts at social housing initiatives for
integration, with varying outcomes but mainly negative.
Specific issues for the cities - Drug related crime, Roma populations living on the street,
shelters and illegally causing police involvement and intervention for Roma safety or
criminal activity detection and prevention. Residency rights and property rights,
illegal camps and housing land disputes.
EMPLOYMENT
•
•
•
•
Common issues for the Roma populations - Deterioration of traditional work
opportunities, ill-equipped and unqualified to participate in the new job market.
Informal work contact; lack of work opportunities for young people. Discrimination.
Specific issues for the Roma population - No access to financial credit for entrepreneurs
small/medium business; lack of training/re-training opportunities.
Common issues for the Cities - In many the industrial restructuring and the decline of
heavy industries have severely cut employment opportunities and where new
industries have emerged they require a higher skill based employee.
Specific issues for the cities - a generous state social welfare system is blamed as an
obstacle which de-motivates and discourages Roma from going into work.
220. Given the scale for some cities and the complexity of the issues in all cities, the partners
acknowledged that ROMA-Net needs a clear focus and an overarching theme within which
ROMA-Net activities will broadly concentrate.
5.2
Preparation for Synthesis
221. The plan was that the synthesis of the findings from the baseline would take place at the
second steering group meeting. This would be after partners had read and commented on
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Chapters 1- 4 of the Baseline which would provide the main setting to complete and agree an
overarching theme and focus for the implementation phase of the project. The second
meeting was scheduled to take place on 22-23 April 2010 in Budapest. A full agenda was
prepared and distributed to all partner members. The aim of the second steering group
meeting was to allow all partner members to:
reflect back on the journey they had made during the development phase;
consolidate all the information that has been collected and prepared during the
course of the development phase;
identify the differences between some of the city partners and to what extent they are
relevant;
consider the common issues that unite members of the partnership;
discuss and agree the synthesis of the development phase and agree an overarching
theme to provide the necessary focus for ROMA-Net activities in the second phase.
222. However, the planned second steering group meeting coincided with the volcanic ash
incident which grounded and disrupted all flights in Europe. As a consequence the meeting
had to be cancelled and rescheduled for a later date on 17 – 18 May.
223. The lead expert had therefore to complete the local synthesis via the most appropriate
consultation method that could realistically be met within the short timescale available. The
lead expert travelled to Budapest before the steering group meeting was cancelled and was
therefore able to substitute the steering group meeting with a workshop with the core of the
Budapest local support group. At that meeting the findings of the baseline and local mapping
was discussed and a number of potential overarching themes were analysed and considered
for their relevance. Having made the city visits and engaged meetings with local support
groups in each city, the lead expert was able to input the likely views and to consider the
relevance for the other ROMA-Net cities.
224. The outcome that was most favoured is a focus on young adults, to have young adults
as partners and through them to gain access to the rest of the community. To focus on
providing better services, improved access and an integrated approach, to support and
motivate the life choices that young Roma make in their transition into mature socially
included active citizens. The age group is not tightly defined but is roughly from 14 to age 28
5.2
Consultation on the synthesis for Phase II
225. To allow partners to consider the relevance of this theme to their local circumstances,
the lead expert prepared a summary paper setting out the thinking behind the overarching
theme, the relevance, the scope, the focus, the opportunities and the risks that such an
overarching theme could provide. The paper was distributed to all the partners and was
followed up with an e-mail exchange and phone discussions to ensure that partners could
fully consider the implications at local level and to ensure they were fully conversant and
accepting of the theme. Partners were asked to consider the following six questions:
1. Does this proposed overarching theme have sufficient relevance for your city?
2. Does it offer sufficient scope to encompass the actions that need to be applied in the
future?
3. Is it a theme that you will be able to ‘sell’ to the city decision makers and to members
of the local support group?
4. Are you clear about the thematic learning suggestions?
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5. Do you see the relevance of the thematic learning themes for your city – and local
support group? Any questions/ recommendations – please add
6. If not, please can you think through and explain what adjustments need to be made to
make the theme more relevant?
Do you want to have a phone meeting to discuss the context and implications of having this
theme?
226. To fully explore the implications of the proposed overarching theme, the lead expert
entered into an exchange of information and discussions via email and telephone meetings
over a few days with the Partner representatives. Clarifications were provided by the lead
partner about the proposed scope of the theme and some of the risks and assumptions
stemming from the overarching theme were discussed with partners.
5.3
Scope of the Overarching Theme
227. Therefore using best estimates and extensive local knowledge the ROMA-Net partners
agreed an overarching theme to bring focus and concentration for all actions but at the same
time to be sufficiently inclusive to encompass and incorporate the broad scope of complex
issues that have to be addressed in each city. The phrase to describe ROMA-Net is as
follows:
ROMA-Net is a transnational partnership to inform and support its City partners to
develop local action plans that facilitate better services, through improved access and
an integrated approach, to support young Roma adults in their transition into social
included, active adult citizens.
Change will come from a step-by-step inclusive approach. As ROMA-Net partners,
young adults will motivate positive acceptable change and provide insight into the
barriers and challenges caused by exclusion and discrimination.
The theme provides focus and clarity for future actions, but also allows for a complex
approach that crosses all the key priority areas of education; health; employment and
housing/ land.
228. The overarching theme for the project activities can be justified on many levels as it
offers a number of clear advantages and opportunities for both the focus group and the
partnership. These are as follows:
for the focus group are as follows:
•
the activities concentrate on the period of time when young adults have to make some
of the most crucial decisions that will affect the rest of their lives;
•
it should be possible to identify the key services that young people most need during
this time of their life and then to improve access to existing services or create new ones
to fill the gaps in provision;
•
by creating active positive interventions to engage and support this group we have the
potential to shape, influence and sometimes re-direct the decisions that young people
may make;
ROMA-Net Baseline
SYNTHESIS OF PARNTER PRIORITIES
•
through this group we hope to influence the wider family networks, such as children
as this is the time many Roma women will start having children. The housing/ land
tenure rights of their parents, as many of this group will continue to reside with their
extended families;
•
this is the age when people are most motivated for change and have the energy to
drive change –this dynamic is needed to get behind the project.
for the partnership –
•
It will motivate the local support groups to think about interventions that are modern,
that support the decisions that young Roma adults have to make during these critical
years and that communicate and engage young people;
•
It provides a clear focus to engage and negotiate with service providers/ employers
etc
•
It provide a common link with Roma who have migrated to the city from elsewhere,
mostly second (and some first and third) generation. Some are from other parts of the
same country, from another country or who are the current generation of a previously
nomadic group. This factor creates another common link across the ROMA-Net
partners
229. The local mapping exposed that many services are already being supplied by the local
authority and other public service providers, but they are not having sufficient or visible
impact on the Roma population. Although there is no hard evidence, it is acknowledged that
without a mix of anti-discrimination components and some targeting, mainstream services
and special initiatives fail to reach or engage the Roma populations. This is especially
limiting for young Roma adults, many of whom do not have adequate support at the time
when they make some of the most important decisions of their lives.
230. The overarching theme will also encompass a number of sub-themes, namely :
•
•
•
•
2nd Generation Migrants – will be the bulk of the target group
The age to build aspiration – creating new expectations
Community Building – using the motivation of the young
Influencing Change to improve existing practices
231. The level of community engagement is generally under-developed. The partners
believe that community participation, community buy-in to the process; community
commitment; community development can be furthered by harnessing the energy of young
men and women.
All ROMA-Net cities agree that community engagement is a horizontal
and core principle that has to run across all components and through all activities of the
project, at trans-national and local level.
232. The EU and international policy context provides a supportive and relevant
environment for ROMA-Net activities, as it has made a fairly recent shift to recognise the
critical role that local authorities have in the implementation and absorption of complex
multi-sectoral approaches for Roma. So far, much of the practical implementation experience
at local level as been with NGOs this will not however be lost as local organisations will have
a critical role in all local actions. They can significantly boost local capacity and will be
essential for successful local implementation of ROMA-Net activities. They will be members
ROMA-Net Baseline
SYNTHESIS OF PARNTER PRIORITIES
of the local support groups and participants in the learning exchange clusters and/ or in the
people to people exchange activities foreseen in phase II of the project.
233. Most Roma populations in the partner cities are second, some first generation migrants.
The common factor for many is that they do not have family roots in the city as they or their
parent came to the city from somewhere else. For example, in the case of Karvina, they were
part of the industrial migration as part of the communist labour force; in Budapest it has been
migration from rural areas to urban mainly in search of work; in Udine they are settled
families that were previously travellers in Italy; Bologna has the mix of new wave of eastern
European migrants; and relatively recently settled Sinti population.
234. Although the antecedents for many young Roma adults are not always strongly tied to
their current city of residence, many were born or have lived in the city for a considerable
portion of their life and are creating roots within the city. In acknowledgement the City’s
should ensure that the support and services are available to allow young Roma adults to
make active and informed choices that will improve their quality of life. Choices that with a
step by step inclusive approach can create active engaged citizens that make a positive
contribution to enhance the diversity and add significant value to the city as a whole.
5.3
The Overarching Theme and Local Action Plans
235. The theme does not limit actions in other areas but provides the context for the bulk of
activities and interventions that will be included in the local action plan. For example, it has
to include service for children as it is the women within the scope of the ROMA-Net focus
group that will be having children. In term of housing / land / accommodation tenure this is
a whole family issue that will have an impact on the life of the young person, directly or
indirectly. Services that work for young people and also there parents are most likely for this
case.
Facilitate better access to services
236. The term does not mean simply providing information about what services are
available/ or even helping people to make use of the services. The context is much more
about –
•
•
•
•
•
•
looking at what services are available;
identifying gaps in provision and taking action, in partnership, to close these gaps;
guaranteeing the relevance of the service in its present format;
making adjustments or additional components to improve the relevance and
accessibility of the service;
informing and empowering the young people to make better use of the services to
support their lives;
bridging the gap between the service providers and the community – increasing
understanding from both sides.
Type of actions under each key priority
237. The priority actions that could emerge in the local action plans could be under the
following types of interventions -
ROMA-Net Baseline
SYNTHESIS OF PARNTER PRIORITIES
Health will not include delivery but much more on health promotion of preventative
measures and provision of information and age relevant guidance such as sexual wellbeing,
family planning,
Education –there were two categories of formal and non formal.
•
Formal – the role will be challenging the current education methods; and influencing
change (by bringing in alternatives and educating teachers to better more relevant
teaching practices.
•
Non formal – encompasses the supply free time activities with an education
orientation which will be seen also as an empowering too for the young people;
provision of support education services for example for children of the target group or
parents of the target group. Also education in other areas such as rights, crime
prevention etc,
Employment: in the format of
• training for work
• support for starting career
• engaging employers
• formalising employment, ie legal contracts
Housing – two sub categories related to physical and allocation/ placement
5.4
•
Physical – the legal title for land, accommodation. Planning for the physical
regeneration and rehabilitation or housing stock.
•
Allocation/ placement - ensuring integrated placement practices are available; better
understanding how housing policy limits housing choices; empowering young people
about the housing choices they make; finding housing; providing/access to
information; promoting the ability to defend/ challenge housing decisions.
Thematic Exchange and learning themes
238. ROMA-Net will implement three learning clusters designed to provide local support
groups with increased know-how, with the necessary tools to tackle the complexity of issues
that have been identified during the baseline research and local mapping. The learning aims
to make local support groups more effective in the development and the implementation of
their local action plans.
239. Within each learning cluster there are three inter-connected topics where the exchange
and learning will concentrate.
Community engagement - including participatory activities / tools; anti-discrimination
awareness; social marketing;
Integrated and area based approach to tackling exclusion and segregation including the
application of an area based approach; innovative approaches to tackling segregation
using housing improvement; and inclusive approaches to area regeneration.
ROMA-Net Baseline
SYNTHESIS OF PARNTER PRIORITIES
Building a transitional labour market – creating, supporting and using an intermediate
labour market; the role of the social economy/ social firms ; justification using social
accounting and audit.
240. The three exchange and learning clusters will:
contribute to a continuous and expanding cycle of learning in each partner city and in
each local support group. Each event will build and complement the knowledge and
insight gained in previous events;
prepare and disseminate tools and guidelines to the cities that will support and
underpin their work within the URBACT Local Support Groups to build a step by
step, integrated and area based approach to social and economic inclusion of Roma,
with a focus on young adult Roma; and
maximise the impact of the trans-national exchange on the local activities in the
partner cities through a feedback and reporting structure after each international
event.
241. Development of the local action plan will be more effective if a robust project
development methodology is applied during planning and implementation. ROMA-Net has
made provision for local support groups to learn the principles of PCM - project cycle
management. The baseline provides the situation analysis to understand the wider strategic
context for the local action plan. The priorities set out in associated operational programmes
should provide strong indications of the priorities that should also be incorporated and
reflected in local action plans. Each local support group, with the help of the managing
authority members, will review the content of the Operational Programmes to find the
relevant priorities that match the aims of local action plans.
242. We envisage that the Regional Operational programmes and the Human Resource
Development Operational programmes, in each country will provide the essential funding
stream to ensure that the local action plans generated by ROMA-Net local support groups are
translated into real and sustainable actions. Where appropriate we will maximise
opportunities and coordinate between ERDF, ESF and EARDF at regional and local levels.
243. Indications are that the recent European Parliament decision, 18 May 2010, and
amendment to regulation 1080/ 2006 Article 7 will be of crucial importance for the future
activities of the ROMA-Net partner cities. The amendment to the regulation is very recent,
and how it is translated into national programmes will obviously have a bearing on the
relevance and accessibility of assistance at local level. However the indications are that the
changes are very much in line with what we already foresee as the integrated area based
approach that will emerge in the local action plans that will be developed and implanted in
ROMA-Net cities.
244. The ROMA-Net partnership was consolidated at a trans-national meeting in Budapest
on 17 and 18 May 2010. The meeting provided the opportunity to introduce the new
composition of the partnership, for new partners to meet each other and to share experiences.
The meeting provided the opportunity to fully engage and to discuss the proposed Phase II
work programme, the supporting budget and to agree clear aims and objectives for future
activities.
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Annexes
ANNEXES
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Annex 1
ANNEX 1. BACKGROUND BRIEFING NOTE ON ROMA POLICY
Roma Policy and Trends for SGM January 2010
This paper provides a summary of how the Roma policy environment has developed over the
last twenty years or so. It looks at the role of the EU in the policy evolution and identifies
recent trends and how they are likely to impact on the ROMA-Net project.
Throughout Europe the Roma community is composed of several communities differentiated
by settlement model, culture and religion, legal status, language and periods of migration.
Across Europe Roma experience greater social exclusion than the majority populations,
especially in accessing employment, education, health and social services. The Roma present
high rates of illiteracy and poor school attendance of children. They usually live in
segregated, isolated districts where the living conditions are poor with problems of extreme
overcrowding and lack of basic facilities all of which contribute to aggravating their health
condition.
Many European and national surveys show that an appreciable proportion of European
citizens take a negative view of the Roma population; based mainly on stereotypes and
prejudice.
The briefing note serves to show that there is a very strong body of evidence about the multifaceted and complex exclusion that is experienced by many Roma individuals and collectively
by Roma communities.
Roma Policy - EU accession brings attention to Roma situation
The EU’s attention towards its Roma population developed largely as a consequence of the
Enlargement process, which extended membership to a number of former communist
countries with significant concentrations of Roma communities. That is not to say that the
EU was completely unaware of the Roma populations in the candidate countries, or that some
national governments, international organisations and NGOs were not already actively
working with some Roma communities. However the level of awareness about the scale of
the problem and the complexity of the situation was not fully or widely appreciated. It is also
well documented that during the 1990s the Roma population suffered a significant decline in
their living conditions.
Throughout the pre-accession period and in the years since accession there has been ongoing
action to increase awareness about the situation of Roma in Europe and a continued push
towards the development of a robust overarching policy framework with a clearly defined,
and generally agreed, set of aims and objectives. This document provides background
information about a number of key events that have contributed towards the development of
an acceptable policy framework.
Roma Policy - EU apply pressure on candidate countries
In 1993 the European Council’s Copenhagen Criteria made ‘respect for minorities’ one of the
so-called political criteria to be achieved for EU membership and as a direct result the EU
began monitoring the situation for minorities in the various candidate countries.
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1999 until 2006/8 The EU extended considerable funding for Roma via the Phare
Programme in the pre-accession countries and socio-economic interventions were designed to
deal with some aspects of the social exclusion. Phare resource allocations were targeted on
the most visible and acknowledged problems. The largest share of resources, some 60%, was
spent on education related and infrastructure development activities with the remainder used
to support a collection of other relatively small scale, but none the less important, activities.
The early Phare projects drew attention to the extent of Roma exclusion and demonstrated the
importance of government intervention to address the problem. At that time, Roma were
seldom featured in government policies, and as a result the Phare initiatives were perceived
to be separate and additional to mainstream functions of the various ministries. Many of the
interventions were led by NGO organisations.
1999 – 2004 - There were no active national social inclusion strategies and Joint Inclusion
Memoranda were being completed by all EU Member States. Central and Eastern European
countries start to adopt some form of document or strategy setting out Government
commitment to integration of Roma.
People Are The Wealth of Bulgaria” programme, presented in October 2001:
The Roma Integration Policy Concept – Czech republic updated - March 2003:
The medium term package of measures aiming to improve the living conditions and
social situation of Roma, accepted by the Hungarian Government in 1997 – and
amended in 1999:
The Strategy for Improving the Situation of the Roma (April 2001); and Basic Thesis of
Government Policy Concept for Integration of Roma – Approved by Government of
the Slovak Republic April 2003.
Roma Policy - Growing international pressure
Early 2000s - other EU bodies start to lend their weight and a number of international
organisations began turning their attention to the worsening situation of Roma. The
European Parliament issued a report denouncing the “widespread discrimination, racial
harassment and violence” suffered by Roma and encouraged direct government collaboration
with minorities. In mid-2000, the European Council took a significant step forward in the
fight against racial and ethnic discrimination by adopting the Race Equality Directive,
“implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or
ethnic origin.” These efforts were instrumental in encouraging positive change.
During that time the situation was well documented by some national and many
international organisations. For example Czech Government 1997 – Report on the situation of the Romani Community in the Czech
Republic and Government Measures Assisting Integration in Society (known as the Bratinka
Report) Prague.
van der Stoel, M. (2000) Report on the Situation of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE Area,
Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Organisation for Security
and Co-operation in Europe, The Hague: OSCE.
Ladányi, J. and Szelényi, I. (2002) The Nature and Social Determinants of Roma Poverty – a
Cross-National Comparison, Budapest: Economics University.
Ringold, D. (2000) Roma and the Transition in Central and Eastern Europe: Trends and
Challenges, Washington, D.C: The World Bank.
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Ringold, D., Orenstein, M. A. and Wilkens, E. (2003) Roma in an Expanding Europe:
Breaking the Poverty Cycle, Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
In 2001, the Open Society EU Accession Monitoring Program (a Soros Supported
Organisation) published reports on minority protection in the ten candidate countries of
Central/Eastern Europe. Every Central/East European candidate country had adopted a
special programme to improve the situation for its Roma minority.
In 2002 EU-MAP extended their monitoring process to include vulnerable groups in five EU
member States and these brought attention to Roma (Gitanos) in Spain and Germany. The
report concluded that ‘despite a 600 year history in Spain Roma/ gitanos are treated less favourably
than other peoples of Spain in various spheres of social, economic and political life… Roma/ gitano
children face disadvantages in gaining equal access to education as well as discrimination and
segregation within the educational system… There are significant barriers against the entry of Roma/
gitanos into the legal job market. In addition to the handicap of generally lower levels of education and
training they face strong prejudices and discriminatory practices’.
Roma Policy - new wave of Roma pressure groups
In 2003 – Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) The Decade of Roma Inclusion grew out of
the conference “Roma in an Expanding Europe: Challenges for the Future,” hosted by the
Government of Hungary. Initially 8 countries were included in the Decade, this has now
been extended to 12: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic,
Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain.
The Decade is an international initiative to bring together governments,
intergovernmental and nongovernmental organisations, as well as Romani civil
society and its focus is on the priority areas of Roma education, employment, health,
and housing, and commits governments to take into account the other core issues of
poverty, discrimination, and gender mainstreaming.
All participating countries have significant Roma minorities, and the Roma minority
has been disadvantaged, both economically and socially. Each country has developed
a national Decade Action Plan that specifies the goals and indicators in the priority
areas.
Decade
action
plans
can
be
found
at
http://romadecade.org/decade_action_plans The Decade is not an institution,
bureaucracy, or fund and participating governments must reallocate resources to
achieve results, also aligning their plans with funding instruments of multinational,
international, and bilateral donors.
In 2003 – Brussels the European Roma Information Office (ERIO) was established. It is a
Brussels based international advocacy organisation which promotes political and public
discussion on Roma issues by providing factual and in-depth information on a range of policy
issues to the European Union institutions, Roma civil organisations, governmental authorities
and intergovernmental bodies.
ERIO aims to combat racist discrimination against Roma and to contribute to an improved
public awareness of the problems faced by Roma communities. It advocates for the rights of
Roma people by designing and promoting policies which are oriented towards the
improvement of the socio-economic situation and social inclusion of Roma in Europe.
Moreover, ERIO promotes the participation of Roma communities in decision-making
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processes at the European, national and local levels. ERIO works to sensitise EU institutions
to the importance of developing and ensuring the accessibility of equal opportunities for
Roma in EU Member States as well as in Candidate Countries. ERIO is currently focused on
anti-discrimination policies in the fields of education, employment, health care and housing.
2003 – Spain evidence showed that there were disparities between health system usage of
the Roma population and that of the population as a whole. These differences had more to do
with lack of equity in life opportunities, access and use of resources than with genetic factors
intrinsic to the Roma minority. In response, the National Strategy for Health Equity for the
Roma Population was launched. A service was created for assessing, mediating and building
capacity for Roma health issues. It targets health professionals and administrators, as well as
representatives of civil society. Training and awareness-raising of hundreds of health
professionals took place. The “Handbook for Action in the Area of Health Services with the
Roma Community” was created by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano. Several national
seminars on health services and the Roma community took place.
Growing acknowledgement of Roma Issues
2004 – European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) was established with support from the
Council of Europe. From 2001 until July 2004 several dozen meetings took place in
Strasbourg where Roma and Traveller representatives negotiated with the Council of Europe
the creation of the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF). ERTF was registered in July
2004 as an association under French law. In November 2004, the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers agreed to establish close and privileged relations with the ERTF
through a Partnership Agreement which was signed on 15 December 2004. The ERTF receives
assistance in terms of financial and human resources, and has a privileged access to the
various bodies and organs of the Council of Europe which deal with matters concerning
Roma and Travellers.
2005 – the Roma Education Fund (REF), the main pillar of the Decade of Roma Inclusion, was
established to expand educational opportunities for Roma communities in Central and
Southeastern Europe. The goal of the REF is to contribute to closing the gap in educational
outcomes between Roma and non-Roma, through policies and programs including
desegregation of educational systems. The REF receives funds from governments, multilateral
organizations and private sources. It finances projects that are designed to meet its goals and
which are proposed and implemented by governments, NGOs and private organizations.
Spain 2005 – the State Council of the Roma Community (Consejo Estatal del Pueblo Gitano)
was created as a mechanism for consultation and assessment. The Council is composed of 40
members (50% from Roma associations and 50% from state-sector administrations, with
representatives from employment, housing, health, education, culture, social affairs and other
sectors).
In 2007 Spain’s Labour and Social Affairs Ministry commissioned a survey of the Roma
population. Spain’s population of Roma is the largest in Western Europe and the largest
minority group in the country.
Spain 2006/8 - A National Survey on the Health of the Roma Population was carried out
and compared with the National Health Survey for the general population. Fundación
Secretariado Gitano is now coordinating a European-wide project “Health and the Roma
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Community: Analysis of the Situation in Europe” and receives funding from the European
Commission. http://www.gitanos.org/european_programmes/health/
2007 - The EURoma – the European Network on Social Inclusion and Roma under the Structural
Funds was established as a result of the working seminar 'Transnational Cooperation on
Roma Community and Social Exclusion' held in Madrid in June 2007. EURoma was created
in the context of the 2007-2013 European Social Fund (ESF) programming period, to increase
the scope of transnational cooperation between public authorities and civil society actors.
http://www.euromanet.eu/about/index.html EURoma net provides essential information
by country and is an organisation that hosts events of significant relevance to our ROMA-Net
partners.
The 2007 – 2013 Structural Fund Operational Programmes are approved some with
measures designed to include Roma communities. Structural funds, ESF in particular and
ERDF have been cited as the main single financial resource available to support initiatives
focused on Roma inclusion. The Operational Programmes, particularly in the new Member
States, contain a number of measures within various priority axis which either specifically
name Roma minority programmes as potential beneficiaries or are more generic but
nonetheless appropriate for the situation of Roma. In a number of countries, for example
Romania, Spain, Hungary, Roma targeted projects have been designed and are being
supported by ESF programmes mainly through the Human Resource OPs developed by the
various Ministries of Labour. ESF and ERDF are crucial programmes for the further
development and future implementation of ROMA-Net local action plans.
Roma Policy - recent trends towards major agreements
September 2008 - The EU Roma Summit was one of the most important events for Roma in
Europe. For the first time top level European politicians and decision-makers gathered with
Roma organisations and activists in order to openly discuss how to overcome exclusion,
racism and deprivation that still oppress the Roma people. The event brought together more
than 400 representatives of EU institutions, national governments, parliaments and civil
society including various Roma organisations. Following this event, EU countries called on
the Commission to organise "an exchange of good practice and experience between the Member
States in the sphere of inclusion of the Roma, provide analytical support and stimulate cooperation
between all parties concerned by Roma issues, including the organisations representing Roma, in the
context of an integrated European Platform". (General Affairs Council, 8th December 2008).
24-25 November 2008 in Strasbourg - The Fourth Plenary Assembly of the European Roma and
Travellers Forum was held. The main focus was the setting up of national member/umbrella
organisations in Council of Europe member states, and the adoption of the European Roma
Rights Charter, as well as the definition of orientations and priorities for the coming year.
January 2009 - The Regional Roma Health Intelligence Centre (RRHIC) set up to facilitate the
generation and exchange of information and knowledge on the health of Roma in the
countries of the Decade of Roma Inclusion program. The RRHIC aims to foster the formation
of an international network of professionals, researchers, experts, Roma organizations,
advocators and other individuals who are interested and active in generating, disseminating
and using relevant health information. The RRHIC project is funded by the Open Society
Institute. http://rrhic.org/home.php?id=29
The RRHIC is provides useful research
information and operational toolkits that should be of value to the ROMA-Net members.
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2008 – 2009 increased violence towards Roma in many European countries including Italy,
Hungary, Czech Republic, UK to name a few. In April 2008 The European Commission
strongly condemned all forms of violence against Roma and called for Member States to
increase their efforts to facilitate the transfer of active, evidence-based policies aiming at the
social inclusion of Roma. The Roma should be able to enjoy their full rights as European
citizens with full access to mainstream education, mainstream jobs and mainstream housing.
24th April 2009 - The first European Roma Platform took place in Prague, in the framework of the
Czech Presidency of the EU. A set of 10 Common Basic Principles to effectively address the
inclusion of Roma was identified. The 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma inclusion aim at
guiding the EU institutions and Member States, candidate and potential candidate countries
when they design and implement new policies or activities. They represent a legally nonbinding declaration. However, by referring to the Principles in the Council conclusions,
Member States have shown their commitment to base future initiatives on these principles.
Annex 2 one provides more information on the 10 principles. The second meeting of the
Platform took place in Brussels - it focused on the issue of Roma education.
Roma Policy- Migrating Roma take the issues to other countries
July 2009 - Thomas Hammerberg Council of Europe says ‘ Many Roma in Europe are
stateless and live outside social protection’.
There are Roma in a number of European countries who have no nationality. They face a double
jeopardy - being stateless makes life even harder for those who are already stigmatized and
facing a plethora of serious, discrimination-related problems. For those who happen to be
migrants as well, their situation is even worse.
Many Roma lack personal identity documents which hinders their access to basic human rights,
such as education and health services, and increases their susceptibility to continued
statelessness. In fact, estimates indicate that thousands have no administrative existence at all.
They often have never obtained a birth certificate and do not overcome administrative hurdles
when trying to be recognised by the State. They live entirely outside of any form of basic social
protection or inclusion.
This is largely a hidden problem. Naturally, it is difficult to establish facts in this area but too
little effort has been made by state authorities to collect relevant data about the scope and nature
of this systematic marginalisation. As repeatedly noted by the European Committee of Social
Rights, states have an obligation to identify the dimension of the exclusion of vulnerable groups
such as the Roma, including through statistical means
November 2009 - Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) research shows that many Roma EU citizens
settling in another Member State in search of better conditions continue to experience racism,
discrimination and exclusion. A new report released by the Agency highlights the case of the Roma
and their particular challenges in exercising these rights. Based on the evidence of its report, the FRA
advises the EU and its Member States to adopt targeted policies promoting social cohesion to ensure
that all citizens can exercise their right to freedom of movement effectively.
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/ROMA-Movement-Comparativereport_en.pdf
2010 – start of a new Decade.
Evidence demonstrates that in many ways the policy battle has been won. This does not
mean that the problem has been solved and in reality the life situation for many Roma will
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not have improved or changed while these international organisations have been active in
their policy debate. For the ROMA-Net partners it means that at a national and international
level we do not have to convince Government policy makers of the importance and
significance of Roma inclusion. We have the backing and the weight of large and influential
international organisations behind what we are trying to achieve with the ROMA-Net project.
2010 - European Year of Social Inclusion – offers important opportunities and could be a
significant lever to direct attention and resources towards Roma communities that are very
often the most socially and economically excluded in the locality.
25 - 26 February 2010 | Rome, Italy
Transnational seminar with the main aim of
encouraging and promoting a wider and more efficient use of Structural Funds for the social
inclusion of Roma at local and regional levels. The main aim of the EURoma network is to
promote the use of Structural Funds for the social inclusion of the Roma. In this sense, local
and regional administrations are becoming key actors in the development of social inclusion
policies and programmes. Nevertheless, it is not always the case that those municipalities
with large Roma populations and high levels of social exclusion and poverty access
Structural Funds as a tool for promoting social inclusion.
Growing emphasis on the role of European Cities
10th and 11th March 2010 | Brussels, Belgium - Conference Exhibition of the European
Commission on "EU Projects in favour of the Roma Community"
8th April 2010 - the second European Summit on Roma inclusion will take place in Córdoba
(Spain), as a key event of the Spanish Presidency of the Council.
2010 – ROMA- Net is established. Evidence suggests that the attention of the EU and other
EU organisations is looking towards Cities and Municipalities to take the lead on the
development of locally focused Roma interventions.
ROMA –Net – the way forward
What is the situation at City Level?
Are we pushing at a door that is already partly open?
Is there resistance from the policy makers
o What are the main reservations?
o Who are resisting most?
o Why do you think there is such resistance?
Is there resistance to Roma specific or Roma targeted projects in the city?
What instruments /mechanisms can we use to help change minds?
o Are we clear about the economic and social arguments for our
interventions?
o sometimes the social arguments are too difficult to win so we need to be
clear about the cost benefits of motivating inactive citizens?
o Social accounting/ social audits to measure and evaluate the full extent of
their activities.
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ANNEX 2. COMMON BASIC PRINCIPLES ON ROMA INCLUSION
Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion – as discussed at the 1st meeting of the
integrated European platform for Roma inclusion, April 2009
Roma people are disproportionately affected by social exclusion, prejudice and
discrimination. Roma communities have been part of European societies for centuries, often
marginalised and sometimes persecuted. Over the last two decades, it is apparent that the
socio-economic situation of many Roma people has stagnated or even deteriorated in a
number of EU Member States. Many Roma people experience unemployment, low income,
reduced life expectancy and poor quality of life. This represents a human tragedy for the
individuals concerned as well as an immense loss for society as a whole. Moreover, farreaching exclusion entails social instability and represents a problem in economic terms.
Therefore, the issue of addressing the problems which affect Roma people is increasingly
recognised as being extremely urgent in both ethical and practical terms. The European Union
recognises there is a need for more active and effective policies concerning Roma inclusion.
The practical delivery of these policies rests above all with the Member States and, in
particular, with regions and municipalities. Although the numbers and socio-economic
conditions of the Roma in individual Member States vary greatly, there are several common
denominators. Moreover, experience from several Member States shows that there are general
policy approaches which have proved to be useful and can thus be recommended to others.
Principle No 1: Constructive, pragmatic and non-discriminatory policies
Policies aiming at the inclusion of Roma people respect and realise the core values of the
European Union, which include human rights and dignity, non-discrimination and equality
of opportunity as well as economic development. Roma inclusion policies are integrated with
mainstream policies, particularly in the fields of education, employment, social affairs,
housing, health and security. The aim of these policies is to provide the Roma with effective
access to equal opportunities in Member State societies.
Principle No 2: Explicit but not exclusive targeting
Explicit but not exclusive targeting of the Roma is essential for inclusion policy initiatives. It
implies focusing on Roma people as a target group but not to the exclusion of other people
who share similar socio-economic circumstances. This approach does not separate Romafocused interventions from broader policy initiatives. In addition, where relevant,
consideration must be given to the likely impact of broader policies and decisions on the
social inclusion of Roma people.
Principle No 3: Inter-cultural approach
There is a need for an inter-cultural approach which involves Roma people together with
people from different ethnic backgrounds. Essential for effective communication and policy,
inter-cultural learning and skills deserve to be promoted alongside combating prejudices and
stereotypes.
Principle No 4: Aiming for the mainstream
All inclusion policies aim to insert the Roma in the mainstream of society (mainstream
educational institutions, mainstream jobs, and mainstream housing). Where partially or
entirely segregated education or housing still exist, Roma inclusion policies must aim to
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overcome this legacy. The development of artificial and separate "Roma" labour markets is to
be avoided.
Principle No 5: Awareness of the gender dimension
Roma inclusion policy initiatives need to take account of the needs and circumstances of
Roma women. They address issues such as multiple discrimination and problems of access to
health care and child support, but also domestic violence and exploitation.
Principle No 6: Transfer of evidence-based policies
It is essential that Member States learn from their own experiences of developing Roma
inclusion initiatives and share their experiences with other Member States. It is recognised
that the development, implementation and monitoring of Roma inclusion policies requires a
good base of regularly collected socio-economic data. Where relevant, the examples and
experiences of social inclusion policies concerning other vulnerable groups, both from inside
and from outside the EU, are also taken into account.
Principle No 7: Use of Community instruments
In the development and implementation of their policies aiming at Roma inclusion, it is
crucial that the Member States make full use of Community instruments, including legal
instruments (Race Equality Directive, Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia),
financial instruments (European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund,
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Instrument for Pre-Accession) and
coordination instruments (Open Methods of Coordination). Member States must ensure that
use of financial instruments accords with these Common Basic Principles, and make use of
the expertise within the European Commission, in respect of the evaluation of policies and
projects. Peer review and the transfer of good practices are also facilitated on the expert level
by EURoma (European Network on Social Inclusion and Roma under the Structural Funds).
Principle No 8: Involvement of regional and local authorities
Member States need to design, develop, implement and evaluate Roma inclusion policy
initiatives in close cooperation with regional and local authorities. These authorities play a
key role in the practical implementation of policies.
Principle No 9: Involvement of civil society
Member States also need to design, develop, implement and evaluate Roma inclusion policy
initiatives in close cooperation with civil society actors such as non-governmental
organisations, social partners and academics/researchers. The involvement of civil society is
recognised as vital both for the mobilisation of expertise and the dissemination of knowledge
required to develop public debate and accountability throughout the policy process.
Principle No 10: Active participation of the Roma
The effectiveness of policies is enhanced with the involvement of Roma people at every stage
of the process. Roma involvement must take place at both national and European levels
through the input of expertise from Roma experts and civil servants, as well as by
consultation with a range of Roma stakeholders in the design, implementation and evaluation
of policy initiatives. It is of vital importance that inclusion policies are based on openness and
transparency and tackle difficult or taboo subjects in an appropriate and effective manner.
Support for the full participation of Roma people in public life, stimulation of their active
citizenship and development of their human resources are also essential."
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ANNEX 3. LOCAL MAPPING REPORTS
City Partner Almeria
Integration of Roma population
AIM OF THE MAPPING EXERCISE
The overall aim of the local mapping exercise is to build a clear picture of the situation in of our city in
relation to the Roma population. In order to do it we have collected the following information:
The demographics, economic drivers, special characteristics.
The city of Almeria has a population of 200,000 inhabitants and is situated in the east side of the
Autonomous Region of Andalucía, the south-east side of Spain. The economy of the city relies on
services, especially on commerce (thanks to the flourishing port activities) and tourism (thanks the
Mediterranean coast, which offers several kilometers of beaches). Agriculture is also fundamental,
which has become an important source for the economy of the city thanks to the extensive cultivation of
fruits and vegetable under greenhouses. Almeria also counts on a University, which offers a wide range
of academic degrees. The city is also well connected to Europe thanks to its airport.
Roma population: most probably a best estimate. Need to gain understanding of
the size, locality, living conditions, levels of segregation, relationship with
contiguous communities.
Four areas (neighborhoods) in Almeria present social exclusion problems and all four of them present a
significant number of Roma inhabitants:
a) Chanca-Pescaderia - Casco Antiguo: this neighborhood is situated on the west side of the
city, very close to the historical and commercial centre, next to the fishing port. The upper side of this
neighborhood, traditionally distinguished by the caves-houses, nowadays almost disappeared, is
mainly populated by Roma people. A smaller part of the Roma population can be also found in other
streets of the above-mentioned area. In this geographical area there are around 4.000 residents with
Roma origins, representing the 25% of the inhabitants of the area.
The residents of this area suffer from high unemployment and high early school leaving rate,
characterized by a very irregular attendance to school. Residents rely on black economy, the majority
connected to illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
ÁREA DE PRESIDENCIA
DELEGACIÓN DEL ÁREA DE ASUNTOS SOCIALES, PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA Y
ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES
UTP/ jmt /
b) Fuentecica-Quemadero: This neighborhood is situated on the north-east side of the city.
Around 500 people with Roma origins live in the upper part of the neighborhood, in new houses
provided to them as a consequence of the re-housing of a slum area.
The problems of this area are quite similar to the ones above-mentioned, even if the Roma population in
this case represents a smaller percentage of the overall population living in the neighborhood.
c) Los Almendros: This neighborhood is situated in the northern part of the city, on the border with
the “Mediterranean Highway”, and it is formed by a series of duplex, built in order to find a solution
for the shanty town problems that since years were characterizing this area. At least 400 people with
Roma origins live there and represents a percentage very close to the total of the population living
there.
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Together with the above-mentioned problems already pointed out, this area is profoundly hit by the
sub-world that characterizes drug addiction.
d) Puche: the area is situated in the north-east side of Almeria, and bounds in its Eastern point with
the river that crosses the city, and on the western side with the railroad. Puche is well linked to the city
thanks to the recent urban development, which established new arterial roads of communication. The
neighborhood was constructed in three phases, through a process of housing built after the abolition of
settlements and shanty town problems in different places in the city.
Although in its origins the number of roma population dealt with 80% of residents, in current moment
it consists of 25% (approximately 2000 persons). It is necessary to mark out that as well population of
Roma, Rumanian and Bulgarian community settles the territory being not significant from the
quantitative point of view.
Nowadays as a result of collaboration between the City Council and Andalusia Autonomous
Community has become a special plan of remodeling which central theme is a construction of new
lodgments duplex type on parallel to existent parcels, where will be relocated the central part of the
district (with serious infrastructure problems, undertaking urban damaged spaces and in such a way
developing these spaces with new facilities that enable higher habitability).
The problems are similar to above described three zones, though there are difficulties of integration and
coexistence between various nationalities, different cultures, thus distinct modes of coexistence.
ÁREA DE PRESIDENCIA
DELEGACIÓN DEL ÁREA DE ASUNTOS SOCIALES, PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA Y
ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES
UTP/ jmt /
.Articulation of the key issues – the sub themes – access to key services, labour
market inclusion, and self-help programmes why they are an issue for your Roma
community.
The problems of the Roma community in the access to services and to labor market present a number of
predominant factors, such as scarce labor qualification, lack of personal motivation in order to increase
their personal and professional education, which could give them an opportunity to position
themselves in equal conditions with the rest of the population, thus increase their presence within labor
markets, as well as to raise the accessibility to the complex of services which are available to the whole
population.
There are various programmes designed to improve the access of Roma population to distinct
productive resources, in which predominates volunteer subscription and/or bounded to social
incentives, which results in lowering the motivation of the target group in solving the overall problem
of participating into social and labour market life.
2. – Policies, Programmes, Projects – to build a picture and provide an opportunity to showcase
innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve services for the general
population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health, Housing, Education and
Employment. The aim is to understand what know-how already exists in the city and how that can be
re-directed or reshaped to be relevant for the Roma population in the future. The objective is not to
gather massive amounts of information but rather to focus on a select few (two or three) under each
policy area which provide a good insight into the development capacity of the city.
What the city has achieved under each of the themes – what have been the results –
what are the success stories.
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It has been the work of various professionals in the social field (Social Workers, Psychologies, and
Monitors), which have given a possibility to many Roma people to be oriented towards normalized
employment resources, enabling in some cases effective entrance into the labor market. In the same
way, it has been possible to give advises on how to get access to housing, contributing to the
improvement of health and hygiene habits as well as habitability conditions. Another achievement can
be found in the change on the way to Roma families perceive what is called the assistance in formal
obligatory education , reducing in this way the absenteeism from school.
Have things been done for specific groups, for example women, young people.
Were they a success?
The city of Almeria has implemented specific activities with teenagers and young people, organizing
summer schools, and concrete programmes aimed to young people in order to change their attitude
towards employment. Continuous activities have been realized for women in school environment,
through the implementation of “mothers´ schools”, as well as promoting the active participation in
workshops for organization of leisure.
Who is implementing the projects – Local authority, public agency, NGO etc
In Almería, projects are developed as from the City Council as from Autonomous Community, though
in its majority they are managed in a direct way by different professionals hired by City Council for
their implementation in the specific areas/neighborhoods above mentioned, with the involvement of
Social Workers, Teachers and Animators in Centers of Social Community Services, located in different
areas of social work of the city.
In addition, some projects have been executed directly by specific associations of Roma population,
such as Fundación Secretariado Gitano.
What particular characteristic was the key to success?
The work carried out during the last years has enabled to install a good coordination with Roma
Associations present in the different city districts, which facilitates the development of a actions with a
large consensus and acceptance by Roma population.
What results have been delivered for Roma from the initiatives?
All carried out activities that we have described above count on the participation of Roma community.
Therefore, their results not only are totally available and transparent, but also are completely shared
and approved by the Roma community.
People and resources – to understand what social capital and resources are available
locally for the next phase of the project.
Almeria City Council has employed, in addition to social workers from social community services,
specific monitors for projects implementation, which stimulate active job search, compulsory school
attendance and amelioration of health/habitability conditions.
Independently from the actions implemented by local authorities, Fundación del Secretariado Gitano
and other associations, some of them specifically representing groups of Roma women, develop
initiatives supported by the Local and Autonomous
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AREA OF PRESIDENCY
DELEGACIÓN DEL ÁREA DE ASUNTOS SOCIALES, PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA Y
ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES
UTP/ jmt /
Administration.
What is the main focus of local activity?
Social workers, Teachers, Monitors, etc. who work for the Roma community, are involved in increasing
the grade of awareness on the resources available as well as facilitating their access, specifically
concerning employment, sanitary-hygiene conditions, education and housing.
Likewise the educational theme, both from a global and specific point of view, is strictly connected with
specific educational services for prevention of early school leaving.
Are there regional or national organisations delivering services?
In Almeria, there are as well Territorial Delegations of the Autonomous Community , such as the
Regional Ministry of Equal Opportunities and Social Welfare, which offer such services, which are
almost all funded directly by Roma Associations. The Housing and Urban Planning Regional Ministry,
through a public enterprise, is implementing rehabilitation projects in the neighborhoods of Chanca and
Puche, which of course touches the Roma population. These interventions are realized in cooperation
with the Municipality.
What physical infrastructure is available and accessible for local initiatives, for
example schools, community centres, health centres
The Municipality disposes of a network of Social Services centers distributed all over the city. The
majority of the actions are realized through this network and when it is required, by other organizations
specialized in education, infrastructures…
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ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
LOCAL MAPPING TEMPLATE
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to
build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve
services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health,
Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well as
outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying the
targeted population group.
HEALTH
Andalusian Government has the exclusive responsibility for disease prevention, support, care
assistance and rehabilitation; however, Local Social Services work in close cooperation with health
professionals, overcoat those in the Primary Care Centres located around the city.
Social Workers and the rest of professionals who compose the interdisciplinary team working in
Centres of Community Social Services work actively in coordination with Care Centres in order to
know the different health campaigns launched and to integrate them in the own programme of the
Centre with the aim of disseminate, raise public awareness and advice the whole population, specially
gypsies.
A specific example is the different vaccination campaigns where professionals of Social Workers stress
the importance of them to prevent future diseases encouraging population go to Health Centres to
increase population’s health quality.
Care coverage in the primary care is almost in all quarters that we have pointed in the first chapter.
Town Council has contributed in their corresponding infrastructures by cessing the plot of land, when
it was available, where then the Health Centres has been built.
City Council of Almeria puts special emphasis on the Prevention and social rehabilitation of drugdependent population. In that way, for the year 2010, we have drawn up and approved the II Local
Plan on drugs and addictions which represents a commitment on the prevention, with projects and
specific campaigns as “World day without Tobacco and the World day against consumption of drugs
by teenagers and young people” have been carried out in coordination with schools and social services
centres.
As far as social integration, we would like to point out that this Project let the labour integration of
people who have get out of psychic and physical habits.
From Centres of Social Services, by means of the work carried out by Social Workers, Workshops
relating to hygienic-healthy habits, ect, with teenagers, young people and women.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
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Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
health and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
EDUCATION
From Centres of Social Services and in coordination with Education and Welfare Department of the
Andalusian Government we are working on projects aimed at schooling by reducing the rate of
truancy; and at academic performance, it means, contribute to increase rates of school failure.
We are also working on Project that facilitate family and labour balance developing specific projects
aimed at helping truancy among children from 0 to 3 years old, carrying out summer schools from
Social Services, Mothers Schools and implementing Workshops on Social Abilities, home organization,
Hygienic habits…
The performance of these activities has been carried out by specialized monitors contracted to these
aims in coordination with Social Educators and community entertainers from Centres of Social
Services.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Different professionals have cooperated on the development of project, not only those contracted for
this aim, but also social workers. Target group of the projects are the real figures of the project success.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
A part from the above provided data about areas where roman population is more present, it have
been designed specific projects in which directly or indirectly target groups are gypsies.
The area of Chanca-Pescaderia is been implementing an intervention project on the social-Education of
Young gypsies, which takes into account the factors that we have above pointed out. In that way, we
are working tirelessly, in coordination with Andalusian Government, on every aspect of truancy.
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of
these interventions.
Families of absentee students have taken part in the same project. In this area, Parents schools are
boosted to make them aware about the importance of young people and teenager’s education. We
work in the pre-labour orientation and training. Finally, a Summer School for young people and
teenagers is developed. An important number of gypsies take part in it.
In the area of Fuentecica-Quemadero, a specific prevention and monitoring Project relating to Truancy
(financing by the Education Department of the Andalusian Government) has been implemented.
Moreover, Schools for Parents, Summer School and Workshops on Social abilities, organization and
hygiene are developed.
In the Area of Los Almendros we can specially stress the education aspect in which a Local
Kindergarten has been put at the service of the quarter. The main aim is the schooling of children
(mostly gypsies) from 0 to 3 years old. In this sense, we are working with Parents School to boost home
habits and organization.
In the area of Purche, we can point out our commitment with schooling by means of the monitoring
carried out by Workers and Social Trainers as far as truancy, labour orientation and performance of
the Summer School are concerned.
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HOUSING
In this chapter, we would like to stress that the Town Council has committed to improve citizen’s way
of life. We are supporting this topic, in coordination with the Housing Delegation of Andalusian
Government by means of agreements that have allowed an important improvement in the area of
Chanca-Pescaderia. In the last years, we are carrying out Special Plan of Internal reform (PERI)
allowing an important number of houses used to rehousing and to abolish shantytown in this area.
This plan has also covered gypsies’ population.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
In the line of these projects, Social Intervention Programmes have been developed. In these
Programmes Social Workers and Social Educators have designed Workshops and activities aimed at
launching coexistence guidelines and habits that allow to change perception and get a good adaptation
to a new situation, living in a decent house with new equipments, urban furniture, new acquisition
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
The creation of an interdisciplinary team composed by Social Workers and Social Educators devoted
to the above mentioned interventions in coordination with Centre of Social Services “Old quarter”.
Thanks the financial contributions from the Andalusian Government, we can say that a high
percentage of the intervention in the area, from the social point of way, has become an important
success for the whole city
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
living conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
At present, the transformation of Puche neighbourhood is being carried out. In this neighbourhood
there is around a 25% of gypsies. It is a comprehensive transformation to change the urban model.
More thank 150 attached duplex apartments are being built. All inhabitants are living at present in the
middle of the neighbour (in houses are in a very poor conservation due to bad plumbing
infrastructure, so they will be demolished). They will be rehoused in these duplex. After the
demolition, new equipment will be designed in these Plots of land (gardens and Parks)
This initiative, due to its complexity and competition matters as far as house building is concerned, is
managed by Housing Department of the Andalusian Government. However there is a cooperation
agreement with the Urban Planning Department of the City Council of Almeria to monitor the process.
Moreover, Local Social Services take part in this Project contracting a multidisciplinary team (Social
Workers and Educations) who work in coordination with the social staff from Andalusian
Government who is working in the development of this social intervention in the quarter.
EMPLOYMENT
In this section we make a special mention in local interventions and more specifically which refers to
its area of influence (Almendros Neighbourhood):
The construction of a Centre for Social Integration of about 2,000 square meters cofinanced by the
European Union with a high economic investment and whose main purpose is the generation of
structures that will support the training of unemployed people and the continuous updating and the
generation of new sources of employment.
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Due to its location this centre will help in a special way the residents of this area which are mostly
Gipsies. The social-demographic characteristics of this area were essential to he European Union
decided that this will be the optimum place.
At present the Centre is being finalized, for upcoming dates it will be put into operation. This will
improve preparation for the labour market access and help to provide a resource to generate new
employment opportunities increasing the number of employed people.
From the Community Social Services, and more specifically from the Information, Assessment,
Guidance and Counselling Service, the Social Workers in their daily work they advise and guide
individualized and customized to all citizens with difficulties in the field of employment: lack or
ignorance relating to contractual terms. Then they refer them to the relevant agencies capable of
solving
effectively
the
problems.
Moreover, from other areas, but especially from the Economic Development Area, there are specific
resources such as the Workshops of arts and trades (carpentry, masonry, ironwork, etc. ..) in which
students are people with social difficulties and serious problems of social exclusion. Thanks to this
action, for a period ranged from 12 to 24 months they receive theoretical and practical learning
increasing their chances of entering the labour market.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their chances of mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these
interventions.
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides
details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas
of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the
public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could
present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers
work well together.
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City Partner Bologna
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
City Profile
Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna Region in the Northern part of Italy, ranked one
of the most developed cities in Italy thanks to its strong industrial tradition, wide range of
highly developed social services and strategic location in the heart of the country, mid way
between Milan and Florence and at the crossing point of the most important highways and
railways in the country. Also home to the oldest University in the World, founded in 1089
and with rich cultural heritage, Bologna is considered to have amongst the highest quality of
life rankings in Europe.
The city occupies an area of approximately 140.7km2 and is home to a population of 372,256
with a population density equating to 2,645/km2, as at 2007. This represents a growth rate of
0% on the previous year and is split 46.7% male to 53.3% female. As at 2007 the number of
minors aged 18 or below totalled 12.86% and those pensioners over the age of 65 reached
27.02%. This compares with the Italian average of 18.06% and 19.94% respectively. The
average age of Bologna residents is 51 as compared to the country average of 42. In the 5 years
to 2007 the population of Bologna grew by 0% while Italy as a whole grew by 3.56%.
Bologna has the lowest unemployment rate in Italy at 2.9% and one of the highest GDP per
capita in Europe at Euro 35,156. Over the last 10 years the number of businesses has grown by
83% and the number of employees by 33% whilst it also boasts the highest rate of employed
women in Italy, totalling 63.2%. There is additionally an impressive record of educational
attainment with 60% of citizens reaching graduation and 26.2% attaining a university degree.
As at 2006, 91.88% of the population was Italian. The most significant immigrant group comes
from other European nations most notably Albania and Romania 2.82%, East Asia 1.5%
(mostly Filipino) and South Asia 1.39% (Bangladeshi).
Roma Population Profile
The people that would fall under the broad collective heading of Roma in Bologna fall into
several categories: Migrants who have come to the city from other EU countries, mainly Romania, and for
whom there is no official data. This migrant population can also be divided into several
categories:
•
those who come to the city for very short periods of time, usually two or three
months and have no intention to settle. They make money from begging,
temporary work and other black economy activities. Most of this community tend
to live in very transitory circumstances taking refuge in abandoned buildings or
erecting shacks and tents in remote locations away from public view where they
will camp out at night, returning to the city centre in search of work by day and
often in the city for only short periods before moving to the next location.
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•
Annex 3
economic migrants who arrive looking for decent employment. Some leave their
families in Romania as they plan to return to Romania after making some money.
Others come in search of a better life, they are here as families and have a longer
term plan to remain in Bologna. They are generally aged between 20 and 45, living
as married couples often with children. This group tend to take up residence in
abandoned premises, but they try to create better living conditions with beds,
cooking and washing facilities. Mostly they live without water but manage to
illegally source electricity. Recently a small number have been relocated into
social housing apartments as part of a municipal integration initiative.
The indigenous Sinti population who are Italian citizens, born in the city and
continuously resident there. They are mostly descendents of circus and show people.
There are 3 official camps in the city housing the Sinti population, which is estimated to
be around 250 people. The communities are made up of members of a few families and
are generally closed to outsiders. The living conditions are generally overcrowded and
they payment of electricity costs is an ongoing issues. Mostly the Sinti community are not
interested to leave or to live outside the camp environment, and the experience of some
who have moved into housing has been negative. Within the camp the educational
attainment levels are low, drop out from school is high, unemployment is very high, and
discrimination from the majority population is an issue. Mediators from the boroughs
work with the community to encourage and facilitate school attendance.
Challenges for the Roma
The most significant challenge faced by the Roma population in Bologna is to overcome both
the stigma attached by society to their way of life and the difficulties that it creates in terms of
access to social services such as education, healthcare and ultimately the mainstream
workplace. Those who seek to establish a long-term and integrated life is to help them
embrace the initiatives available to them without feeling that they are abandoning their
cultural heritage.
Challenges for the city
To establish integrated service provision, where all relevant services can work together to
ensure Roma communities’ have access and positive relationship with the service providers.
At the same time to educate the wider population about the cultural identity of the Roma
community and the value of Roma to the diversity of the city.
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URBACT II ROMA-NET project City Partner Bologna
City
Bologna
Department/
Organisation
Bologna Municipality
Name of author
Manuela Marsano with the collaboration of: Andrea Sassi, Stefano Di Petta,
Sonia Gamberini, Chris Tomesani, Cristina Zambon and the team of NLAO
Project.
10/03/2010
Date
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts
to build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to
improve services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of
Health, Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well
as outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying
the targeted population group.
HEALTH
The legal migrants have access to national health services, offered by the National Health Services
system. The not-legal migrant population can access to health care of National Health Services
system only for emergencies and first aid.
As far as the illegal migrants is concerned, the surgeries are guaranteed by the “Confraternità della
Misericordia” and Sokos (Association for assistance of migrants and marginalised people): they
takes care of communitarian and extra-communitarian migrants, from the health point of view.
Between 1990 – 2005, some specific project has been realised for the migrant population resident in
reception centres with the aim of prevent TBC and breast cancer
Within Healthy Cities Unit Activities some main projects have been implemented:
•
'Heart and memory pathways': cardiovascular diseases and memory degenerative diseases in
elderly people
•
'Children Healthy Cities': promotion of physical activity and healthy diet; age group (0-14)
•
Addiction actions related to alcohol and substance use/misuse : primary prevention as well as
interventions in proximity to entertainment places attended by young people
•
to raise more awareness among citizens (empowerment).
These are year -based projects and deal with training /information labs and 'ad hoc' activities working
through skilled personnel (healthcare operators, personel expert in vocational education, Municipality
technicians, teachers) in co-operation with the third sector active at local level (social centres, category
associations: namely retired people, voluntary associations, associations enrolled in 'ad hoc 'lists envisaged by
the Municipality, social co-operatives and other non profit groups/organisations.
Yearly these projects envisage one single event or a series of event s on the occasions of the celebration of
WHO World health days and a confrontation/debate with other Italian cities and with WHO via the Italian
Healthy Cities network. The Municipality of Bologna is the co-ordinator of the Healthy Cities Programme,
promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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The Italian Healthy Cities Network is an association of municipalities, created in 1995 as a cities’ movement
and that in 2001 became a no-profit association.
The network promotes the role and the commitment of Italian municipalities in health policies at the local
level. The associated Cities (today more than 100), aim at building a shared path for the collection, analysis
and dissemination of best practices in health promotion, for instance as regards pollution, health prevention,
transplants and fund raising.
The Italian network is currently chaired by the Municipality of Bologna. The projects and the activities
promoted by Bologna within the framework of the network are conceived and planned in close cooperation
with the local Health Bodies, Public administrations, Universities, Schools, associations, and other public and
private actors involved in health promotion, by means of specific partnerships, targeted according to the
needs and the objectives of the actions.
The City of Bologna has in fact realised – within the framework of the Healthy Cities Network – many
conferences, information campaigns and projects of international relevance. The network also promotes the
Healthy Cities Award, given every year to the best practice as regards health promotion at the local level.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The reason of the success of the above described projects is due to the 'construction' of a network
developing more and more synergies among actors operating at a local territory level by enhancing
their specific know how and by recognising them a key role as interest group representative and as
'information channel'.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
Ongoing activities of the above described projects are already envisaged with a particular focus on:
• 'Heart and memory pathways': establish a technical and scientific committee in order to
develop a methodology validation system able to define the project as a 'health good practice’s
well.
• 'Children Healthy Cities': strengthen and map actions/actors of the third sector operating in
the field of health promotion at local health agencies.
• Addiction actions: 'piloting' of a across -sector network comprising Ministry of Health, Emilia
Romagna Region, the University of Bologna, police force relating to prevention and repression
actions in the 'night world'and relating to prevention initiatives in secondary schools.
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
health and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
Two pilot cases underway:
kid age group: 03-12, through distribution of ad hoc information material on pediculosis, by raising
awareness among students' parents/families also in order to support social integration of ethnic
minorities as well as through the scientific /technical support by teachers and community and
family paediatricians.
SRAP: Addiction prevention within Roma and Sinti communities
SRAP is a European project co-ordinated by the Municipality of Bologna and cofunded by the
programme Public Health 2008-2013. The project is currently in the final phase of the negotiation
process with the EAHC.
Its aim is to contribute to the prevention and reduction of use/abuse of legal/illegal substances
among young Roma, between 11-24 years old.
Based on the situation analysis and needs assessment, the specific objectives of the project are:
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To gain and exchange in Europe a better knowledge on the drug use patterns in young Roma
and identify the risk factors by performing a research action in all partners countries
• To develop and test an integrated methodology for prevention
• To sensitise the public health sector and the civil society to the distinct needs of young Roma
and promote the inclusion of Roma needs in health and prevention policies and interventions;
to promote the inclusion of this issue also in the research agenda and the adoption of evidencebased approaches to mainstream policy making34.
The project will bring added value to the existing scarce knowledge on the issue of prevention and
addiction in Roma communities by conducting a research-action in all the partners’ countries; the
project draws on the selective prevention approach to develop and test a methodology that
integrate the inter-cultural health approach and the life-based training adapted to the needs of
young Roma.
Our working hypothesis is that this method will contribute to improve the overall health situation
of the Roma communities by tackling some of the vulnerability factors.
•
Finally there are some projects, since 2005, regarding the education to health and prevention,
dedicated to families located in illegal settelments, in Bologna (Es PA – BO project dell'AUSL)
EDUCATION
Bologna has a long lasting tradition on child care and the network of structures and services is very
well developed since the Fifties. The early childhood centres and the nursery were firstly managed
directly by the Municipality and the integrative services (age 0-6) were numerous, innovative and
well organised.
Since the Eighties, the Municipality of Bologna has implemented the Network of didactic
Classrooms and territorial educational services, which are educational initiatives for children and
their families, realised for the support and with the help of Museums, Libraries and Artistic
institutions and organisations The didactic Classrooms are organised at University Libraries and
managed by employees of the Municipality.
The access to the educational system and all the educational services is for all, free of charge and
facilitated especially for the compulsory education. Some side services have been organised in
order to facilitate the access to these services by disadvantage children and therefore for Sinti and
Roma children: transportation services, cleaning of dresses and other helps (depending on the
needs) were provided by the staff of the Municipality.
Since 1985 the Municipality of Bologna has signed contracts and agreements, to improve the offers
of educational and child care services, with national and private early childhood centres and the
nursery. Therefore since them in Bologna there is an educational integrated system, which main
aim is to achieve the higher quality levels.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The strong and proactive territorial network of schools, institutions and local stakeholder has made
a decisive contribution to the success of this projects and programmes.
The strategies of the Municipality regarding the right to education, together with the contribution
and grants given to schools and families, to allow the access of pupils to private schools, if there are
not enough places in the public ones to if they so not have the economical opportunity to afford it.
The excellence of the educational system in Bologna is showed by the percentage of places
available:
• Nursery: 104% of the applications (children come also form outside the cities)
• Early childhood centres: 40% of the applications (one of the higher rates in Italy)
34
According to the EC’s Common basic principles on Roma inclusion all inclusion policies should aim to insert the
Roma in the mainstream of society. Where partially or entirely segregated policies exist, Roma inclusion policies must aim to
overcome this legacy.
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New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in
which these services/actions will be targeted.
NA
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success
of these interventions.
The Roma population can count on some tailored services, which help mainly to keep acceptable
the frequency of the children to school.
The project is called “LA RUOTA” (The wheal) and gives to the Sinti children the opportunity to
have a tutorship, which helps them for their home-works and to organise their spare time in a
positive and educational way.
The project is running since 1990 and the results of this project are quite good.
There is also a project running, co-funded by the Social Found for Immigrants of the Italian Welfare
Ministry and realised in partnership with local NGO’s. the project is called “Bersaglio Mobile” –
Mobile target, co-ordinated by the organisation CEFA and the partners are Bologna Municipality
and Bologna Province.
HOUSING
The housing policies set in motion by the Municipality of Bologna amount to a series of
interventions run by the Housing Policies Sector through public tenders and aimed primarily at
permanent and fixed-term rented accommodation.
The provision of housing interventions addresses user targets differentiated by income: public
dwellings at social rents for socially and economically disadvantaged persons; public and private
dwellings at assisted rents and economic benefits for persons with “intermediate income”, able to
pay rent but struggling to meet the high rents of the free market. Access to the different areas of
interventions and eventual transition from one to another depends, therefore, on citizens’ rentpaying capacity.
We illustrate below the main interventions set up by the Municipality of Bologna and two projects
exemplifying the innovative actions of social housing, the first realized by a non-property-sharing
cooperative in Bologna and the second created at the Villaggio Barona of Milan
Public Residential Building (ERP) dwellings are real estate units owned by the Municipality,
refurbished, purchased or created, wholly or partly with public contributions and intended for
rental at social rates without temporal limits. Management of the ERP patrimony is entrusted
to the Azienda Casa Emilia-Romagna (ACER) of Bologna. The ACER manages the ERP
patrimony with respect to: contracts, income, maintenance, condominiums, supplies and
services. As of now there are c.11,977 dwellings in the territory of the Municipality of Bologna,
corresponding to over 60% of the entire ERP patrimony in the Province. The Municipality
assigns ERP dwellings by means of an open ranking list. The list is updated every six months.
Citizens may apply for a place on the list who have:
1.
•
Italian citizenship or equivalent condition (staying permit);
•
residence or place of work in the Municipality of Bologna;
•
limits to ownership of estate rights;
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•
no previous assignments or contributions;
•
maximum and minimum economic limits for access assessed on ISE and ISEE35 values
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Municipal resources deriving from ERP accommodation rents are used to improve the public
housing patrimony and the capacity to respond to low-income families’ housing needs.
2.
The Municipality of Bologna has also instituted the subsidized rentfor the purpose of
assigning rented accommodation at prices below market levels. The assigned dwellings are the
property of the Municipality, but not ERP. n 2008 343 ERP dwellings were assigned, plus 29 for
emergency situations assessed by the Social Services. 251 of the 343 beneficiaries (73.18%) were
Italian citizens while 92 (26.82%) were foreign.
Assignment is made by a public call for applications, which establishes an open ranking list for
access to dwellings. Income requirements for access to the list identify a category of citizens with
average economic capacities, not qualifying for ERP assignment but encountering difficulties in
meeting market rent levels. Citizens may apply who have:
•
Italian citizenship or equivalent condition (staying permit);
•
Residence or place of work in the Municipality of Bologna;
•
Limits to ownership of real estate rights;
•
no previous assignments or contributions;
•
maximum and minimum economic limits for access assessed on ISE and ISEE values
TRAA Project
Funded by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the project’s aim is to facilitate the
access to Public Residential Building dwellings for no EU citizens.
At the end of 2008, the number of no-Eu families assigned of public dwelling were 1.036 (8,8%),
therefore it was necessary to act in order to help the integration and the civil cohabitation among
different cultures.
Thanks to the project budget, a number of social mediators have organised some laboratories
(computer, after-school activities, Italian and Arab courses, gymnastic), targeted at the population,
living in Public Residential Building
The project is managed by the “Development housing policies Office”, of Bologna Municipality
(Responsible : Mrs. Sonia Gamberini).
General Objectives
Support the idea of a “friendly community in a friendly building” by letting the neighbours
know, before be forced to facing cohabitation problems.
Test a new and transferable model of social mediation for the new housing settlements
To write off the impact of a settlement with 50% of foreigner population in an area with an
high level of foreigner inhabitants.
Specific objectives
Encourage the integration of the foreigners, training them as computer tutors of the
condominium;
The ISE is a parameter for determining the family unit’s economic situation (the sum of its incomes plus 20% of the entire family
unit’s properties). The ISEE relates the ISE to the number of components of the family unit on the basis of a scale of equivalence
set by the law.
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set a wireless area in the courtyard, in order to encourage the use of the public spaces and the
use of internet
Set up a web site of the condominium
Create an association of no EU citizens, which will manage an internet point and the computer
tutorship in the condominium
Results
Increasing awareness of all the local stakeholders on the importance of the projects aimed at
the social inclusion, in the new settlements, as condominium conflict prevention tool.
Good integration level among citizens of different nationalities.
The socialisation opportunity has totally reset the conflicts between joint owners and between
the community and the management of the condominium
The project is still running, therefore not all the results have already been achieved.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
Activities and projects aimed at the improvement of the housing services and the access to
housing
In order to improve the offer of public dwellings, both for subsidised rentfor and the Public
Residential Building (ERP), since 2005 the ranking is open. Therefor there is not a fix deadline to
submit the application. The ranking are updated every 6 months, therefore even the new comers
can receive a dwelling in a reasonable time. This service is managed by the Municipality (House
Department), Responsible Mr. Gianni Sgaragli.
General objectives
Decrease the number of dwelling assigned out of ranking, for emergency reasons. The update of
the ranking is every 6 months, therefore no exception are needed.
Specific objectives
The service is improving:
it is better for the citizen because the answer is quicker and it is better for the Municipality, because
the workload is better managed and there are less peaks
*******
Agenzia Metropolitana per l’affitto [Metropolitan Agency for Rented Accommodation] (AMA)
In order to make available an increased number of dwellings at prices below market levels the
Municipality, in association with the Province of Bologna, the ACER of the Province of Bologna,
numerous Municipalities in the Bolognese metropolitan area, owners’ and tenants’ associations and
employers’ associations, is participating in and promoting the Agenzia Metropolitana per l’affitto
[Metropolitan Agency for Rented Accommodation] (AMA), at obtaining dwellings also on the
private market.
AMA has a fund in order to garantee the owners, in case of problems with the tenants. The prices
of the dwellings are attractive for the tenants, but also the owners have a lot of facilitation and tax
breaks.
General objectives:
Keep down the cost of rents at city level,
Fight back the trend of the owners to keep the flats empty;
Limit the demand of new buildings, by the renting of the ones already existing.
increase the private-public collaboration for the improvement of the access conditions of the
citizens to the housing market
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Specific objectives
To give an answer to the “wraps grey” of citizens, whom have a too high yield in order to
enter in ERP ranking and too low in order to be on the free market economy;
to stimulate the owners to rent the empty apartments;
decrease the risks of tenant’s default for owners
Results
In one year and an half of activities, 100 contracts have been stipulated , of which 39 with
private owners.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Self-restoring project
In the Self-restoring project the activities of restoring are carried out from the same final users who,
constituted in cooperative, work in the construction site, offering a number of working hours. The
project in progress, set up by the Housing Policies Sector of Bologna, the first of its kind in Italy,
consists of restructuring Municipal buildings by the assignees themselves. Around 50
apartments are concerned, in 9 buildings owned by the Municipality of Bologna.
The construction sites are directed by a partner, selected by the Municipality of Bologna trough a
public tender.
The Municipality has identified, by public open tender, the entity appointed to realise the
intervention, represented by a Consortium of entities with different skills. The Associazione Xenia
(the leading entity) will deal with accompaniment to the house and social mediation, the Consorzio
ABN of Perugia will look after the technical-building, social and financial aspects, the Social
Cooperative ABCittà of Milan will be responsible for participation processes ensuring informed
involvement of the beneficiaries, the future neighbourhood and the territories.
This partnership means fielding a range of skills in the technical, building, social and
communication areas. A group of about 50 families will be selected by public notice. They will be
united in a Cooperative and will be called to participate actively in restructuring the dwellings,
making available the necessary time, labour and financial resources. Those with the necessary sums
can deposit them, those without these sums can accede to a loan with the assistance of the
Consortium. At the end of the works the dwellings will be assigned through an instance of granting
for a minimum period of 30 years, at the end of which the assignee will be entitled to remain in the
dwelling with a regular rent contract corresponding to the current subsidised rent contract.
Participants do not need specific technical skills. The constitution of the cooperative and all
necessary technical and administrative activities, as well as training the participants to realise
reconstruction work in the building site, are ensured by entities belonging to the Consortium.
The Self-restoring programme foresees a 70% of places for Italian applicants and 30% for foreigner
applicants.
3 main actions for housing and young people
C1.1.1
Looking for an house with new technologies
Specific web portal, mainly for University students, which helps the cross of supply and demand of
rents.
Rotation fund for “Key Money”
Rotation fund of 400.000€, in order to pay “key money” for houses, for young people (25-35).
C1.1.2
C1.1.3
Co-housing models testing
Restoring of a building (4 floors) to be assigned permanently to young people (20-35), ready of a
co-housing experience.
See information notes 1 - Hygeia Project – Bologna and
2 - An integrated Social Housing project: Villaggio Barona, Milan
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Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their living conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
During the last five years, the Municipality of Bologna has developed an action aimed at
overcoming the Roma people and refugees camps, as well as the temporary camps for immigrants.
According to this, legal immigrants living in our City have the right to participate both in the social
housing call for bids and in the flats at controlled rent assigned by the Municipality through an
open ranking . In fact only the socio-economic conditions are the criteria to be admitted to these
rankings .
More initiatives concerning the housing policies are addressed to those who don’t meet the criteria
needed to enter the social housing ranking or although they are in housing ranking, there are not
enough apartments to satisfy the needs, so far the Municipality has sublet apartments asking the
families to pay, 50% of the rent while the total amount to the landlord is in charge of the local
administration. This offer last four year per family.
Numerous Roma families make use of this offer, but the inadequate management of the
apartments due to a lack of technical and hygienic knowledge as well as the difficulties in
relationship with the other tenants and the overcrowding due to the indiscriminate hospitality
make the insertion in private apartments quite critic.
Moreover, the economic crisis and the lack of jobs often make unaffordable the payment of the rent,
worsen by the consumption and the tenants charges. This means that these families are at risk of
cease having the apartment because of delinquency (non-payment).
EMPLOYMENT
The Municipalities, in Italy, have not direct competencies in job and training policies. Despite this,
Bologna Municipality has signed an agreement with the Province, in order to open three
“Municipal Job Offices”.
The aims of creation of these offices, located in three Districts of Bologna, are:
Offer the service closer to the citizens;
improve the decentralisation of public employment services;
give to users a personalised performance
develop collaboration between Municipal Job Offices and territorial Social Services
give targeted intervention for the weakest segment of the population
offer a personalised training program
The offered services are various: they are finalised at the work placement or re-placement and, as
far as the firms is concerned, the search for employees.
The target is:
−
−
people seeking employment (not over 65), immediately available for work
firms looking for staff
More specifically, the target is:
•
Adolescents in right right-duty of training
•
Young people;
•
He/She unemployed;
•
Women in re-placement;
•
People already employees, who want to change her job
This services is co-funded by Bologna province (staff costs, hardware, furniture), Bologna
Municipality funds the communication activities and the information tools about the services.
Among other initiatives of Bologna Municipality, in the field of employment, we find the “Job
training grants”. The aim of them is to stimulate the coming out from a situation of difficulties and
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job hardship.
The Job training grants is not a real job contract, but is a training tool, which is part of an individual
project of social inclusion, aimed at achieving personal capacities in a business contest, in a social
and job contest.
Job training grant is an economic aid, which can be considered a starting point to get economical
autonomy. The grant is of 517€ (full time) and 259€ (part time job), the duration is between 3 and 9
months.
Moreover we can also mention some experiences on projects funded by ESF or on national,
regional resources.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The decentralisation of the service by the districts and therefore the proximity of the offices to the
residential place of the people looking for job is an added value for the service itself. This helps
people looking for job in the access and the utilisation of the service. Thanks to the proximity, the
information flow about the service is more effective and easy.
By the way, the economic general situation and the crisis doesn’t help the service in have really
good results, but this is a structural problem, which obviously has not much to do with the internal
organisation of the service.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
NA
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to
improve their chances of mainstream employment and an evaluation of the
success of these interventions.
ROI – project for an Operating Entrepreneurial Return
It’s a project for an assisted voluntary repatriation and job reintegration in the beneficiaries’ mother
countries. With “job reintegration” we mean the activation of job solutions or sustainable forms of
small family enterprise.
In short, the project aims are the following:
1. repatriation processes aimed at creating forms of self-sustenance in the country of origin;
2. valorisation of the potentialities of the country of origin and of the beneficiaries’ skills used in
the country of origin;
3. working out stable job solutions that can produce wealth within the emigration countries, so
that further departures will be discouraged
4. creating perspectives and jobs within the country of origin and relieve the hosting country
from the many people that, for many different reasons, cannot be included in the local labour
market.
2.
•
•
•
•
Targets/Aims
Developing, together with the beneficiaries, the repatriation plan and the individual job
reintegration plan
Training of beneficiaries as for literacy, where necessary, and for technical and accounting
management of a small enterprise.
Repatriation and job reintegration
Possibility, for families depending on the social services, to reach a self-sufficient economic
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stability.
Access, for the beneficiaries, to various forms of social credit in their country of origin.
The project was started in September 2008, by means of a pilot action on 5 Roma groups coming
from Romania. Today all these families live in their country of origin and at least 4 of them are
settled in a stable house of property and have a sufficient income to grant them a dignified living,
more than a simple sustenance.
The project is managed by the social cooperative “La Piccola Carovana”.
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides
details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
In Bologna, a part of the activities are carried out directly from the numerous services of the
Municipality, has a strong and consistent network of Third Sectors actors: co-operatives, association
etc…
Often there is a collaboration protocol or an agreement signed from one side by the Municipality
and from the other side by organisations of the Social Private. But in some way we assist to an
externalisation of some of the social services. Among the most active associations we have:
La Piccola Carovana
Sokos
La Cooperativa Dolce
La cooperativa sociale Nuova Sanità
There is something to be pointed out, which is important in order to understand the local situation,
at the city level: since last year, the Municipality of Bologna begun, through the decentralization of
Services to People to the Quarters, a Social Services reform, defining new organizational setups.
The reform begun in 2007 and it completed the system of delegated powers to the new Quarters of the
city – which were already dealing with services for children (including disabled minors) and for the
elderly – with decentralization of social services for minors, the disabled and adults, both Italian
and foreign36.
Running the services is entrusted to the ASPs (Aziende pubbliche di servizio alla persona [Public
Utilities for Services to People]). 3 ASPs were set up to ensure realization of the principal services
for social integration, acting as co-planners with the Municipality:
• an ASP dedicated to assisting the elderly and adults,
• an ASP dedicated to assisting the elderly,
• an ASP dedicated to assisting minors and the disabled,
A part of the services, offices, organisations, projects and activities already described in the
previous sessions, there is another municipal office, dealing with Roma population: the Urban
Safety Policies Office of the City of Bologna. This office constantly monitors the situations of life of
the Roma population living in the street, in shelters and abusively.
The purpose of this activity is to intervene on situations threatening the safety of the Roma people,
as often they camp near river areas at risk of flooding or they leave in dangerous buildings.
Moreover, the activity of the Office takes place in direct contact with local police; because one of the
objectives of the City Administration activities is to limit the dynamics that may lead to illegal
activities in situations of poverty and social marginalisation, such as : exploitation of children for
begging, prostitution, illegal activities against the property and heritage etc...
As a result of monitoring activities are carried on some different activities: help and housing
36
Specialized services giving information and advice, as well as reception for foreigners such as refugees and political
asylum-seekers are not devolved to the Zones but run by the Poveri Vergognosi [poor and needy] ASP.
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assistance (with the help of housing services and shelters), evacuation of squatters
(from land and buildings), in case the owner has reported the fact to the police, as required by the
Italian law.
The monitoring work is carried out through specific phases: detection of squatting, approach and
knowledge of the occupants and evaluation of the different situations (presence of children, sick
people, disable people, elderly, etc), understanding of dynamics, evaluation of illegal presence. The
choice of the interventions and the actions is always made after a careful evaluation, jointly with
other offices and with the political authorities.
The final phase is the reclamation of the abandoned building or land.
Caritas, Opera Nomadi, Various Religious Organisation currently deliver services.
We can say that all the services and infrastructure (ej. cultural, social, health, educational) are
available and accessible for Roma population and local initiatives.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy
areas of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different
tiers to the public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision
making that could present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of
where the different tiers work well together.
The Local policies are strongly influenced by the national and regional laws on migrations, schools
(a part of some activity of primary schools, managed directly by the Municipality or local
institutions), minors and families.
The training and job policies are directly managed by the Province and therefore the competencies
of the Municipality are residual jurisdiction.
The housing policies are also influenced by the national and regional law, but some of the
competencies are still of the Municipality and the health policies are managed at regional level, but
the Municipality of Bologna, being the co-ordinator of Healthy Cities Programme, promoted by the
World Health Organisation (WHO), is responsible for a lot of Health projects and actions.
Table of Responsibilities in social services provision refers”.
Please see the SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Good planning skills
Local administration very active
Clear planning idea
Good skills and knowledge in different fields
Many year’s experience
Institutional collaboration among the
districts, where the camps are located
A good amount of money already invested
The target is already use at an economic
collaboration with the districts
Weakness
To many actors
Scarce co-ordination of the numerous and
different actors
Often the activities are aimed at the solution
of an emergency, instead of adopting a long
period strategy
The project idea is only an idea
The project idea solves only part of the
solution
No participation of the target group to the
political life
There is not only one solution
The high amount of money invested has not
always been invested in a good way
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Opportunities
Resources and real estate of the local
administration
Good project idea
Overcome a paternalistic policy
Work with young people (3rd generation)
Restoring of building→the general community
will appreciate the job done
Innovation
Awareness of the necessity of the needs analysis
of every single clan or family
Overburden the target group
Annex 3
Threats
Actual politic situation in the city
Numerous policies, not integrated, but with a
paternalistic view
No involvement of the target group
There are no information about the
sustainability of the project idea
Involvement of both communities (Bolognese
and ROM) on the evaluation of the idea
Roma ≠ SINTI – each community has its own
specificity)
The project is addressed only to Roma
population
Risk of ghettisation
Evaluate and improve:
− Motivation
− Sustainability
− Feasibility
Paternalism
Stereotypes
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Information Note 1
Hygeia Project – Bologna
Intended users
Brief description
of project
Description of the
service
Activities
Result
Elderly people, young couples and disabled people
The Hygeia project takes its name from an idea by a 19th century British Utopian
who imagined a city where one could live without the burden of maintaining
one’s house and with strong acts of solidarity between inhabitants. The
Cooperativa Edificatrice Giuseppe Dozza, a collective property cooperative, has
tried to reintroduce this idea, submitting a tender to the Municipality of Bologna
in 1999 aimed at creating housing initiatives for elderly people, young couples and
disabled people. The idea was to construct, not a ghetto for a single category, but a
place of integration and sociality.
The Hygeia project was realized with the construction in Via dell’Arcoveggio,
Bologna, of 80 new rented dwellings with highly innovative technical content: “the
house that grows”. Solutions were identified that permitted enlargement of certain
dwellings by occupying, with fairly simple processes, surrounding spaces, already
constructed and roofed, initially for common use. These spaces already had preset
connections for electricity and other services with the dwellings to which they
were to be annexed. Many adjacent dwellings are organized and equipped to
allow exchange of a bedroom or a second bathroom where a change in the
occupying family makes it useful to reduce the dimensions of one to the
advantage of the other. In some cases the possibility is also foreseen of a direct
connection between a larger dwelling and a smaller one nearby, thus favouring
cohabitation between a young family and an older one. The project satisfies the
requirements of the BRICK proposal (Experimental Programme of Sustainable
Building Regulations for the City of Bologna), guaranteeing ideal conditions of
physical wellbeing as well as reduced energy consumption.
An integral part of the project is the Time Bank (Banca del Tempo), extended to all
the 5,000 members of the Cooperative, and thus not only to inhabitants of the
dwellings in Via dell’Arcoveggio. This encourages exchange of time at par
between members, facilitating the construction of a solidarity network between
inhabitants of the complex and the entire associative base of the Cooperative.
Building work began in spring 2002 and concluded in 2006. The housing complex
contains 4 buildings with over 80 dwellings as well as a common porter’s lodge, 4
common areas, a room for parties and collective games, a television, games,
reading and conversation area and a mini-kindergarten taking up to 15 children,
run by agreement with the Municipality of Bologna.
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Information Note 2
An integrated Social Housing project: Villaggio Barona, Milan
Intended users
Brief description
of the project
Description of the
service
Activities
Results
The lack of public housing policies in recent decades has led to a situation of
widespread unease among the population. In particular, families with low and
very low incomes and immigrants have been the most heavily penalized groups.
For immigrants, the housing problem is combined with that of work and
integration in the local community and service network.
Since 2003, 25 foreign families have been living within the ‘Villaggio Barona’
together with 55 Italian families in dwellings let at rents equal to a third of average
market levels. Many of these families, as a result of having a home and a friendly
social context, have been able to develop projects for work autonomy as well as
that of housing.
The Villaggio Barona is a development promoted by a charitable Foundation (the
owner of the area affected by the urban improvement development) and by
certain local non-profit organizations which currently deal with management of
the services present within the village: as well as houses let at reduced rents, the
village has an integrated low-cost hostel for students and young workers, a series
of socio-welfare services open to the city and a public park for the zone. Voluntary
and Cooperative associations involved in running the various services provide
those persons and families most in difficulty with a support network able to assist
in the different aspects of living. The charitable Foundation coordinates the
various activities, including assignment of dwellings, taking as its starting point an
agreement signed with the Municipality of Milan. The entire ‘village’ has not
benefited from public resources either for its building or its running: it is
economically self-sufficient.
The families lodged in the apartments are helped in managerial matters by other
supporting families living within the Village. The services for the elderly, children
and the physically impaired are aimed at the zone as a whole but may, if
necessary, be used also by the families living inside the village in the context of a
strategic network that gathers the resources available in the territory according to
a perspective of local welfare and neighbourly service.
Orientation and accompaniment within the system of public and territorial
services once the formally recognized status of “inhabitant” has been reached.
Around ten of the families living in the dwellings have found work inside the
village itself and their daily contact with these situations increases the
effectiveness of the supporting work done by the volunteers.
The Villaggio Barona’ houses a total of around 500 persons; 80 families have a
regular rent contract and can count on a territorial support network in case of
necessity. The development is not addressed exclusively to persons in difficulty;
the village is therefore seen as a resource and an opportunity for all those living in
the quarter and represents today one of the social and cultural points of reference
for the southern zone of the city of Milan.
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City Partner Budapest
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
MAPPING LOCAL ISSUES AND NEEDS
URBACT II ROMA-NET project City Partner BUDAPEST
Budapest is the largest city, centre of economic activity and historical capital of Hungary, a city of two
halves it straddles both banks of the River Danube. Commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful
cities in Europe and most idyllic and desirable places to live on the quality of life index, it boasts
numerous World Heritage sites and attracts in excess of 20 million visitors each year.
The city covers an area of 525km2 with a population of 1,770,000 people as at the last national census in
2001, equating to a population density of approximately 3,371/km2. This figure climbs steeply to in
excess of 3 million were you to include the Greater Budapest commuter area. As at the last census, the
number of minors aged 18 or below totalled 16.32% whilst the total number of pensioners reached
24.53%.
In common with most other cities in the developed world, Budapest has seen a marked transformation
in the breakdown of its economic structure over recent decades, this is characterised by the continuing
decline in the importance of both the primary and secondary sectors in favour of a more service driven
economy. As at 2001, the primary, secondary and tertiary sector contributions equalled 0.3%, 20.4% and
79.2% respectively. With a long established reputation for excellence in the field of Research and
Development this sector has continued to experience growth to the point where its importance far
exceeds that of other sectors. Despite policy initiatives aimed at reducing the divide between the capital
and the rest of Hungary, Budapest’s GDP per capita rose to Euro 20,000 which is more than twice the
country average.
As at the 2001 census the number of Hungarians in Budapest equated to 91.2%. The most significant
immigrant group comes from other European nations most notably Germany and Slovakia although
there is a total of 11 national and ethnic minorities registered, totalling 30,000 inhabitants.
Roma Population Profile
According to the national census figure, there is a Roma community approximating 12,000 inhabitants
in Budapest. This figure, however, relies upon self declarations as Roma, and experience has shown
that, due to the stigma attached to the Roma community, it is not representative of true numbers.
Unofficial neighbourhood surveys suggest the true Roma population is more likely in the region of one
tenth of the national number, equating to between 60 and 70,000 people.
The Roma population of Budapest experience considerable segregation from the wider community but
do tend to be settled in one of a few central districts of the city, often living without tenancy rights, in
socially depressed areas, and in conditions of significant hardship. Access to general social services such
as healthcare and education are also materially compromised for Roma. It is estimated that around 48%
of the working age community (67% men and 36% women), have jobs as compared to 42% in other
parts of the country.
The major challenges faced by the Roma population in Budapest concern the level of personal and
institutional discrimination they regularly encounter, particularly as the economic crisis deepens and
circumstances for everyone become more competitive. Continuing low levels of educational attainment
within the community result in low levels of literacy and a basic lack of the skills required to compete in
the mainstream workplace, and ultimately high levels of unemployment. Failure to gain access to basic
social services such as healthcare and adequate housing significantly impacts upon the Roma quality of
life and is even impacting their life expectancy.
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The main aim and key challenges for the city concentrate on breaking down the stigma attached to the
Roma community by promoting diversity through the dissemination of information about their cultural
heritage, eliminating discriminatory practices and providing for more inclusive social policy. There is a
strong committed to improving the awareness of available health services as well as encouraging equal
access to other social services particularly with respect to the numbers of Roma children in nursery and
continuing education, and adults in the labour market.
Policies and Administration
There is no specific strategy or department dealing with the Roma community in Budapest. There has
been a preparatory study conducted and a civil servant appointed to the implementation of an Equal
Opportunities Programme in the city. This has resulted in an action plan which is to be discussed by the
General Assembly of Budapest in the 1st quarter of 2010.
Expectations
The sheer number of countries with similar Roma related issues provides the social and economic
impetus to begin allocating resource to making improvements, working collectively will facilitate
exchange of expertise and good practices and enable us to define and roll out the initiatives that fit with
each city’s challenges. It is important that through the involvement of the Local Support Groups, the
views of the minority communities themselves are able be expressed and incorporated.
We have ongoing relationships with the Managing Authorities and Intermediary Bodies as a result of
the many social development projects implemented. The LSG is anticipated to include Budapest
Municipality, Budapest Roma Education and Cultural Centre, the Budapest Esely Nonprofit Company,
Rev 8 managing body of the Urban Social Regeneration project, Magdolna Quarter city regeneration
company, Budapest Social Resource Centre and the main Roma NGO’s from Budapest.
The Local Action Plans should be compatible with the aims of the Equal Opportunities programme so
that the project results can be incorporated into its future action plans and benefit from strong
connections established within the Local Support Group.
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ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
City
Budapest
Department/
Organisation
Name of author
Local Support Group / Budapest Chance Nonprofit Ltd.
Date
15th April 2010
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to
build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve
services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health,
Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well as
outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying the
targeted population group.
HEALTH
Similarly to education, employment, and housing the only plausible way for the development of
healthcare is through complex programs that are in accordance with related sector and professions.
The general health of a population is determined by lifestyle (approx. 40%), genetic traits (approx.
30%), environmental influences (approx. 20%) and healthcare (approx. 10%). This makes the
horizontal manifestation of healthcare very important. After the completion of planning and
evaluation the next step is the development of holistic healthcare approaches.
The sensory-motor development program is an important element of the project that aims to help
Roma children reach the educational level of their non-Roma peers and which also helps their
integration into various schools, lessening educational segregation. The primary goal of the project is
to help disadvantaged children in starting school; the secondary goal is the further professional
development of teachers.
Through professional training (that can be counted into university credit points) teachers will be able
to conduct current state and developmental evaluations, and after completing training they will be
qualified to conduct sensory-motor function training to small groups of children. This will help 5-7
year old children be successful in their school starting years. During this sensory-motor function
training, qualified teachers will select children in need of help, and with the help of assistants train
them in small groups, with two 45 minute sessions each week, to get them up to the level of their
similarly aged, non-disadvantaged peers. During the training which will be held in a relaxed
environment, children will receive age and need specific training which will help strengthen their
sense of responsibility and determination. Also, through the integration of verbal and movement
focused tasks, children will develop better body-consciousness and communicative skills. Thus,
children involved in the program will develop their skills with a better than average pace, their
sensory-motor function disadvantages will decrease, along with their difficulties arising from their
low sensory-motor skills, and these developments combined will help them perform better in school.
Teachers using their acquired skills taught in the program will perform regular objective checkups
every 6 months. With their examinations they can get an accurate picture of the children’s sensory-
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Annex 3
motor development level, which is a basic skill needed to perform well in a pre-academic and later,
academic environment. Currently the program is running in 8 institutions: three primary schools with
4 groups and five kindergartens with 7 groups.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Complex programs that are in accordance with related sector and professions (details in the previous
point).
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
None
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
health and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
None
EDUCATION
Formal education
The educational programs concerning the Hungarian Roma people can be divided three two groups:
educational institutions, scholarships and alternative pedagogic movements.
A part of the educational institutions requires students with Roma ancestry (eg. Kis Tigris), the other
parts only have a preference in accepting Roma students (eg. Gandhi Gimnázium). Those students
enrol into these schools, which were left out or did not get into any other educational institutions, due
to their ethnic affiliation, their bad material or social situation. These schools' aims vary from
increasing the chances of further studies for young Roma persons (eg. Kalyi Jag), to empowering the
passing of the high school graduation or a trade (eg. Gandhi Gimnázium). Among these educational
institutions we can find primary, secondary schools, day schools, boarding and distant education
schools too.
The outstanding educational programmes are:
1. The „Digitális Középiskola” programme (Digital Secondary School) ran since 2003,
providing opportunity for Roma students left out from education to obtain graduation by
distance education, using computers.
2. The „Tanoda programme” which came into existence in 2004, promoting the underprivileged
children's pastime after school to be spent usefully. The aim of the programme is to help the
improvement of the students' school results, and therefore to decrease the number of the
students who failed at their regular classes. In the year 2004 between 2000 and 2500 students
participated in the „Tanoda programme” and 50 establishment served as a site.
One part of the scholarships is targeted Roma programme (eg. MACIKA scholarship), the other part is
generally for the underprivileged ones. Among the under mentioned three scholarships the first two
are state founded, the third is foundation based:
1. The „Útravaló” (Send-off) scholarship programme came into existence in 2005. Mainly those
who would like to attain the primary school, technical school, maturity level may receive a
scholarship, but other talent supports are also obtainable. The most interesting feature of the
programme, that the student and its mentor also receive a scholarship.
2. The grant for educational applications of the Magyarországi Cigányokért Közalapítvány,
MACIKA (Public Funds for the Hungarian Gipsies, MACIKA) was created for the Gypsy
students with Hungarian citizenship. Its aim is to support school studies on primary,
secondary and higher levels. The condition to gain the support is the proof of the Roma
ancestry, and a moderately high study result average. The scholarship the send-off started by
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3.
Annex 3
the government is similar to a program; Romany may apply for this only though, and
provides a financial support only. This scholarship is similar to the programme started up by
the government, called „Útravaló” (Send-off), but this scholarship can be obtained only by
Roma students and it only provides financial support.
„Romaversitas Alapítvány” (Romaversitas Foundation) was formed in 1999. The Foundation
was established to support the talented Roma undergraduates' financial situation and identity.
Any Roma person can apply to the Foundation, who is attending any university or college in
Hungary. This fund enables university students to fully concentrate on their own studies,
which means they do not have to work besides their studies. Apart from the monthly
scholarship they also receive support covering their books and travels.
Moreover the College Council created the Social Fund that every student and the Foundation
too contribute to. This Fund provides instant financial support, when a student or its family
has greater expenses unexpectedly, and the monthly scholarship cannot cover that. Students
can also make use of the library, the documentation centre and the video collection, as well as
utilising the computers available.
Skills development is one of the important actions of the Foundation. The aim is to develop
self awareness, assertivity, social skills, verbal and oral skills and sense for stylistics. The
foundation provides linguistic training for every student according to their level of
knowledge, in the form of their needs. The minimal aim is the acquisition of the intermediate
language exam.
It is also available for students to require a consultant for their own scientific work, to work
with a tutor on developing their knowledge in a specific area or to attend any extracurricular
workshop organised by the Foundation. All by this the aim is to offer a platform for discussing
social and scientific issues, to create an open space for open communication as well as a
chance to get to know and accept one another.
Although the skills of the youth that belong to the group of the socio-culturally disadvantaged, often
do not meet the expectations of the schools the problem lies in the expectations, not in the youth.
School education is built on analytical, logic, verbal, sequential thinking and can not do anything with
those students whose global, visual, motoric, emotional skills are more developed. Developing these
skills of these young people targetedly on the one hand helps them to overcome the gap caused by
their repeatedly experienced throw-backs, on the other hand the status of theirs gets settled within the
learning groups due to the merits received according to their performance.
The educational program developed for the underprivileged children offers an efficient solution onto
the underachievement at school and on how to provide equal opportunities.
The program package covers four modules:
1. a complex instructional program (CIP)
2. intergenerational dialogue
3. differentiatedly organised learning
4. logic board game modul
The complex development program is based on cooperative learning methods applied in
heterogeneous groups. With the help of this method children learn the skills of how to create in a
community by cooperation, how to solve conflicts and their debating skills also develop while they are
taking up new knowledge. They are also able to internalise the wisdom and life experiences of the
parents within the frame of the school and their logic and strategic thinking develop remarkably too.
Fields of experiences:
1. Helyıkersztúri IV. Béla Elementary School (Using this program the 9th year in their own adapted
version. The effect can be measured not only on the classes and the output competencies, but also on
the newcomers input competences.)
2. Gyermekház (Childrens' House) Elementary School – Budapest
3. Molnár Ferenc Elementary School - Budapest
Non-formal educational programs
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For community and recreational development we advise the adaptation of a previously completed
complex urban rehabilitation project (Magdolna Suburb – Glove factory).
The goal of these programs is the strengthening of local and ethnic identity, and the mutual support
for integration. Thus, our projects give a parallel representation of the local – largely Roma –
communities’ cultural values, and the possible recreational activities and out-of-school training
opportunities for the middle-class. A further goal is the creation of new community groups through
the various programs offered, and the reintegration of the separated Magdolna suburb into the
cultural network of Budapest.
Community development youth programs open from 9 am to 6-7 pm every weekday:
- Football training every Saturday.
- Identity strengthening, intercultural and equal opportunities movie club.
- Party – teen disco
- Barter market
- Weekends: 3-4 hour family programs: handcrafts, theater, children’s dancehall etc.
- Child-Mother programs and different programs held for various local kindergartens.
The “Glove factory” doesn’t only provide closed skills development, but aims to gather the attention
of local youth by offering open, fun recreational activities. These open programs are necessary,
because according to our experiences youth are more likely to be interested in these activities, than
strict, thematic, time limited educational activities. During the afternoon local youth often come to the
community houses, mainly looking to spend time with similarly aged people, doing various
recreational activities like browsing the internet, karaoke, or table tennis. They also enjoy that during
these activities they don’t have to conform to strict rules. The seemingly totally open programs are in
reality lightly controlled by the two social workers of the community house, and aim at teaching the
children the necessary socialization level so that they can successfully participate in closed,
educational activities. During these open programs there is a better chance for talking, interacting with
the children, and getting to know specific problems that may impair their academic performance. The
popular dancing and sport programs are recreational activities rather than thematic trainings, but they
are still successful in teaching the children the necessary social skills for interaction in closed,
educational environments.
It would be wise to further distinguish these programs according to the targeted age group. The
programs are organized by several NGOs so different opinions and methods are always present.
All programs are for free. Because of the segregated residential situation, and because these programs
aim to reduce segregation, it is logical that even if some of the programs will require paying in the
future, the prices should be kept significantly lower than average prices for Budapest cultural events.
Besides EU support, regular activity providers should also be encouraged to participate in the
program. This would help in diversifying the available activities, and help preserve the social diversity
of the events.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Along the formal and non-formal educational programs, and the closed skill development/apart from
school programs there are existing open recreational activities.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
None
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of
these interventions.
None
HOUSING
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Annex 3
Magdolna program – socially sensitive area-based regeneration program
The so called Magdolna quarter is one of the socially and physically most deteriorated inner city area
in Budapest, with a 12 000 population housed in 5400 units. The proportion of public housing is
unusually high in the quarter amounting to 36 % of the housing stock compared to the city level data
which is around 8 %. The first stage of the regeneration program was implemented in 2005-2007 with
the support of the Budapest Urban Rehabilitation Fund, while the second phase is being carried out in
the framework of European funded ROP urban rehabilitation programs.
The aim of the regeneration is to improve the living circumstances and life chances of the local people
by including them in social, employment, education, community development and youth programs
and by upgrading the physical environment as well. To improve the housing conditions is an
important part of the program. The housing subprogram aims to renew the public rental buildings
and condominiums as well. It is important that the renewal of the public housing targets the
improvement of the housing conditions of the neediest households, who live in buildings fully owned
by the municipality and these are the most problematic buildings in the quarter regarding both their
physical condition (many small, substandard units) and the social attributes of the households.
The housing investments do not aim to fully renovate such buildings as it would be very expensive
but to renew the main technical structure of the buildings, to make them more attractive and to
improve the living circumstances for the tenants. A very strict condition of the participation in the
housing reconstruction program is that the communities of tenants have to take part actively in the
intervention both regarding the planning and the implementation process and also that they have to
take up responsibilities in the sustaining period as well. In the first stage of the program 4 buildings
were involved while in the second stage another 11 buildings.
The buildings had to apply voluntarily for the program then the local rehabilitation company (RÉV8)
started the negotiation with the tenant community of a building through a series of meetings. The
conditions of the involvement of a building were that 50% +1 of the tenant households had to agree on
the participation and then the tenants had to elect representatives, 3 persons in a building, with whom
RÉV8 could have direct every day connection. The tenants agreed with RÉV8 on the exact terms of the
renovation: the forms and concrete actions that the tenants’ community would implement and the
reconstruction works that would be the task of RÉV8. This agreement was included in a cooperation
contract made between the tenants’ community and RÉV8, with a schedule of implementation.
Bihari street program - socially sensitive area-based rehabilitation program
This rehabilitation program aims the renewal and modernisation of one block publicly owned building
with 96 substandard one-room units. The rehabilitation was implemented from the Budapest
Rehabilitation Fund. The aim of the rehabilitation program to renew and modernise the units by also
merging some of the units making two-room apartments more suitable for families. The rehabilitation
also included the establishment of a small social center on the same plot dealing with health, social
and employment problem of tenants with a special attention to prevent teenage pregnancy etc.
Unfortunately as the financing of the centre ended in the framework of the Urban Rehabilitation Fund
program and no other resources were matched the district municipality shut down this small center.
This means that families have to use the mainstream district social services, where there are less
capacity to deal with their complex problems. However the renewal of the building is going to be
finished in the near future.
It is important that none of the two rehabilitation project was designed as Roma programs, but in both
area the proportion of Roma families are very high, and in both project the soft programs were
designed with a special attention to the need of the most disadvantaged among them the Roma
families thus both projects can be seemed as ones that target the better integration of Roma families as
well.
Hálózat Alapítvány – Network Foundation of Budapest
The Hálózat Foundation was founded in 1993 with the aim to help for those who got into arrears with
housing costs. It provides two types of support for the needy households: one of them is a housing
allowance program that and the other one is the so called Crises Fund for those – mainly public
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housing tenants - who are threatened by eviction. The Foundation generate funds from the Budapest
Municipality and from those public utilities/ service companies that are owned by the Budapest
Municipality (water, sewage, district heating etc). The Foundation provides its support in addition to
the central and district housing allowance and arrear management schemes as generally the amount of
such supports are not too high and thus they do not mean sufficient help for the most needy
households especially that the housing expenditures have sharply risen in the last twenty years. The
programs of the Network Foundation has helped many households especially those who were
threatened by eviction among them many Roma families (though, again, it is not a Roma program).
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
None of the programs are Roma programs, but as they target the neediest households’ areas of the city
also they largely concerned Roma families.
As for the rehabilitation program the city municipality has launched the socially sensitive
rehabilitation programs with an integrated approach where not only the physical aspects of
regeneration / rehabilitation were taken into account but also the social etc need of the local people.
Therefore these pilot programs differed substantially from the other gentrification like rehabilitation
going on in Budapest which has significant pushing out effect concerning the poorer households of the
rehabilitated area. Though it has to mention that also the Magdolna project is in its initial stage.
In the Magdolna project the inclusion of tenants in the planning and implementation process had two
very positive results: first, it generated trust between the two parties (tenants and RÉV8) making the
tenants more committed toward the program and enhancing their personal and micro community
level responsibility. Such smaller programs on the long run can contribute to a better more cohesive
community on neighbourhood level as well.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
None
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
living conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
None
EMPLOYMENT
By founding Budapest Chance Nonprofit Ltd, the Municipality of Budapest has tried to open a
protective umbrella over the heads of unemployed people in Budapest who have dropped from the
labyrinth of the institutional system. The headquarters and three branch offices of the Service are
visited by 3.000–4.000 job-seekers annually for job opportunities, advice. On an annual basis, 800–
1.000 people of them are engaged in public employment by the Service. As depending on their
qualifications, they are employed in administrative, technical, kitchen, cleaning or gardening
positions at Budapest-based institutions. To workers, Budapest Chance offers mentoring services,
job-seeking counseling, whereas the integration of employees with Roma identity is closely
monitored. The organization renders services to public-benefit employees in a coordinated system
with the labour center and district governments.
The Service does not only organize public employment, but achieves increasing successes in finding
market workplaces for the job-seekers of Budapest. Formerly, it helped 80–100 persons annually to
find market jobs, while since 2007 200–300 job-seekers have received such assistance each year as a
consequence of the intensive methodological development.
“START UP” ROMA TRAINEE SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT OF BUDAPEST
Scholarship opportunity supported by EGT, the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the Local
Government of Budapest
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The purpose of this project is to have the inclusive institutional system of the Municipality of
Budapest offer opportunities for the obtainment of professional experience and work socialization
for career-starting/career-restarting young Roma people.
During the traineeship, thirty-five participants of secondary and higher level school qualifications
worked at the Municipality of Budapest and its institutions in positions that correspond to their
schooling.
Research done prior to the implementation of the project has shown that entrants have difficulties
in finding employment due to the lack of work experience and recommendations from previous
supervisors. The situation of Roma entrants is even more difficult because of the discrimination that
is present in all areas of life, but we have chosen them as the target group of our project because
they are significantly underrepresented in administration, in the local government of Budapest.
We were able to include 35 people into the project out of the 85 applicants. During the selection
process we were guided by two goals: to secure the transparency of the selection process and on the
other hand, we were trying to find the best matches between registered employer institutions of the
local government of Budapest and scholarship applicants – as our organisation's motto says: “The
right person to the right place”. Out of the 35 trainees 15 Out of the 35 trainees 15 young Roma
people have already succeeded by being employed.
It is also our purpose to help those employment policy professionals, decision makers who would
like to act on a national level to have more efficient ways of helping Roma people find employment.
Our special policy recommendations are the followings:
We suggest:
• the harmonization of trainings, various supports and employment help (twofold service
system, with two different functions: one provides help with continuing education, the
other helps those who would like to be integrated into the world of work; while the first is
provided by already existing ways of support and institutions, the other has to be given by
intern scholarship systems similar to “Start Up”,
• the extension of the scholarship system from the public sphere to the private and civil
sphere,
• the national extension of the scholarship system with the involvement of
local
governments,
• to ensure the widest possible access to information about subsidies and opportunities for
Roma people,
• the maintenance of the principle of publicity and transparency in order to reinforce the
social appreciation for the program,
• the time of the internship to be extended from six months to one year and the follow up
period from three months to six months,
• the matching of interns to workplaces to be based on the compatibility of competencies and
not on certification,
• a harmonized operation of the mentor, patron and coach systems,
• in order to find the most motivated participants also employers and mentors to be
screened,
• the scholarship system to be complemented by personally tailored trainings such as
language, IT as well as extra services such as housing support, travel support or living
expenses support.
BACK TO MARKET WORKPLACES - “Partnership for employment” model programme
However, public employment can be regarded only as a temporary solution; it cannot be selfsustaining, because it cannot give grounds to entrepreneurial activities. For personnel expenditures,
considerable supports (60–90%) can be obtained from the labour market fund. Employees have just
limited time periods (one year at the maximum) to take part in the program. The real way out of
their situations is their engagement in market workplaces. In order to have permanently
unemployed persons with less marketable knowledge and skills find their feet under the rigorous
market circumstances, a lot of various assistance is needed. In this field, labour centres have quite
moderate personnel and methodological capacities. Similarly, in international practices it is fairly
wide-spread that services orienting towards works are jointly organized by municipalities, national
employment services, non-profit organizations and employment associations.
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 3
Budapest is among the forerunners in this field. The “partnership for employment” model program
crosses organizational and administrative borders, is adapted to the demands of the clients in
Budapest and the special requirements of the labour market. The program is operated with
successful synergic effects, and has proved that the cooperation of different professions and district
can multiply the efficiency of the organizations concerned. This model effort has grown to be a
daily practice, thus offering an opportunity for the reinforcement of cooperation on the level of
micro-regions, closer collaboration of the experts of the social and employment sectors. The
professional methodology of the program has been supported within several European Union
projects, and therefore the method has become wide-spread across the country with the help of
MUNKAPOCS [WORKING LINK] trainings.
PROPER PEOPLE AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACES
A number of actions, EU-funded projects, and professional events contribute to the strengthening of
the trust of employers, because they are the ones to provide sustainable jobs. It is dependent on
their inclusive approach whether the disadvantaged job-seekers can take their part in economic life
as valuable labour force.
The Equal Opportunity Action Program of Budapest concerns approximately three hundred
employers owned by the Municipality of Budapest, and also reaches to a number of employers
seeking contacts via the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum embracing several hundreds of large
companies. The popularization of the good examples of open, prejudice-free, inclusive and
retaining workplaces largely support employers in identifying the appropriate employees and good
practices, as well as identified workers in finding easy ways of integration.
Budapest Chance has relied on the best HR experts to work out, collect and expose good employer
practices and the competitive edge being inherent in the equal opportunity policy. The past five
years have witnessed the publication of seven thematic methodological booklets in the “Tips and
Advice” series, as well as three additional booklets and one book in the “Inclusive Workplaces”
series for the open-minded experts of employers.
The target groups of the direct labour market and human resource services, as well as their
development are the unemployed and employers. The purpose of these services is the improvement of
the employability of the persons concerned, which is driven by supported employment, reintegration
programs and their development.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
“START UP” ROMA TRAINEE SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT OF BUDAPEST
The trainees have been given insight into their professions; get to know the lives and operations of
public service organizations. They could earn work experience in public services operated within
institutional frameworks in connection with services that can be organized in conformance to the rules
of public administration. In the meantime, at jointly attended trainings employers and Roma trainees
could mutually get acquainted with their cultures in order to suppress prejudices and strengthen
mutual trust.
Their work and integration was guided by patrons and mentors trained by the project, appointed by
the employer who knew the positions. In order to increase their competencies they participated in
personality development training, English and IT courses.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
None
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their chances of
mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
None
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 3
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides
details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
Name
N
Focus
Service
Local
Support of disadvantaged
groups,
child protection projects
Helps in social politics
encourages capital-district
cooperation, helps the
building of relevant databanks
1
Új Világ Egyesület
Healthcare, community development
2
Budapesti Szociális
Forrásközpont
Helps social workers, the local
governments and small companies
providing social services
3
Sukar Mővészeti
Egyesület
Culture, education
4
Városkutatás Kft
5
Rév8 Zrt.
Planning and managing of city
development programs
City rehabilitation
6
Budapest Esély
Nonprofit Kft.
Equal opportunities, diversity, social
work
Scholarships, employment
for the disadvantaged,
sensitivity trainings
7
Józsefvárosi Tanoda
Rehabilitation and after school care
for disadvantaged children
Afternoon school,
rehabilitation, out-of-school
activities
8
Romaversitas
Láthatatlan
Kollégium
Support for Roma university students
Scholarships, research
Social rehabilitation through
culture and education
research, support,
Residential politics, city development,
organization of conferences,
research of local government
trainings
financing
ROMA-Net Baseline
9
10
11
12
13
14
Magyarországi Roma
Parlament
Népház Khamarro
Klubmozi
és Kisebbségi
Kulturális Intézmény
Romano Kher
Fıvárosi
Önkormányzat
Cigány Szociális és
Mővelıdési Központ
Roma Polgárjogi
Alapítvány
100 Tagú Budapest
Cigányzenekar
Országos Kulturális
Egyesület
Maladype Találkozások
Színháza társulata
Annex 3
Defence of Roma rights
Defence of rights, cultural
programs
Cultural and free time programs
Cinema, conference room
Cultural and educational center
recreational activities
scholarships
Rights defence, culture preservation
Rights defence, education,
cultural programs
Culture preservation
Cultural programs
Culture preservation
Theatrical performances,
recreational programs
Regional
1
Magyarországi
Romák Ezoterikus
Társasága
Egyesület
Education,
support, employment.
The spreading of Roma
cultures through various
programs
National
1
Gandhi
Közalapítvány
Secondary school education
Secondary school diploma,
and higher level vocational
training
2
Kalyi Jag Roma
Nemzetiségi és
Számítástechnikai
Szakiskola
Increasing the school performance of
Roma children
Education, recreational
activities
3
Autonómia
Alapítvány
Employment projects, support for
Roma owned enterprises
Support and development of
small and medium sized
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 3
enterprises
4
Roma Diplomások
Szövetsége
Creation of professional concepts,
integration,
Research, conferences,
education
5
Talentum
Nemzetközi Tánc- és
Zenemővészeti
Szakiskola
Education, support for the gifted
Music, dance, theatre
training, secondary school
education
6
Közéleti Roma Nık
Egyesülete
Rights defence, support for private
enterprises
7
Romassist Egyesület
Education, integration, preservation
of customs
8
Országos Cigány
Önkormányzat
Legal support
Physical infrastructure available for local projects:
1 Community houses
2 Full-houses
3 E-Hungary locations
4 Glove factory
Legal support, campaigns
against human trafficking
and prostitution
Child support, training of
people working in social
services integration, cultural
support
Integration, education,
scholarships
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 3
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas
of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the
public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could
present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers
work well together.
In Hungary, sectored policy planning, decision making and execution of decisions is done on a threetier basis. On the national level, laws created by the parliament, and orders issued by the relevant
ministries are to be executed by the different ministries.
The so-called higher-level laws designate the roles of the central executive departments, and set out
the roles that are relegated to county/capital governments, and local governments.
Background units of the various ministries do support work, and help in strategic planning, and
execution. There are central departments with national jurisdiction that work in a decentralized
system. One such department is the National Employment Agency that performs its administrative
and civil services through local service centers. The middle level of sectored policy planning and
execution is held by the county/capital governments, in which the right to create and execute laws is
held by the local general assembly of elected representatives. Tasks that are delegated to these
governments by higher level laws are performed by the various departments and local government
founded bureaus.
The lowest level of sectored policy planning and execution is the local/district government, in which
the right of lawmaking is held by elected representatives. Higher level law delegated tasks are
performed by the departments of the local governments, and bureaus/agencies financed for this
reason. To ease the performance of their tasks, local governments can create “partnerships”. An
important fundamental principle is that laws created at the local level can not contradict laws created
on higher levels.
The county/capital and local/district level governments have to create strategies based on orders
given by higher level laws in fields such as the Social Service Concept, Local Development Concept,
Residential Political Concept, and Educational Concept. Further, these governments also have to create
strategies in the field of equal opportunities, such as the Local Equal Opportunities Program, Public
Education Equal Opportunities Program and the Anti-Segregation Plan.
Such programs and plans are to be sent by local/district government to county/capital governments,
which should integrate these into their own concepts. Unlike the other programs the Employment
Policy is mostly managed by a national level institution, the National Employment Agency.
Unfortunately, cooperation between the various levels of government is quite basic, which causes
serious problems in the planning and implementation of these programs. What causes further
problems is that because of overlapping jurisdictions, political arguing and the constant fight for
financing the effectiveness of governance is further reduced, a good example of which is the
relationship between the government of Budapest, and the district governments. Although effectively
speaking the districts are parts of the capital, because of the Hungarian local government system the
government of the capital can not in any way influence the actions and decisions taken by the local
governments in the fields of equal opportunities and desegregation. This poses serious trouble in all
sectors, but especially in education, residential policy and healthcare. Cooperation between same level
local governments is also very basic with no serious joint actions taken.
The majority of local governments doesn’t include local NGO-s in the decision making process, in
most of the times for example, the Local Roma Government has no word in the decisions that relate to
the Roma population.
There are some good examples too however.
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 3
Related to cooperation between district governments it is worth mentioning the “Partnership for
Employment Program” created by 3 inner and three outer districts, or the “Five Musketeers” pact
created by 5 south-Pest districts. In regards to the inclusion of the representatives of the Roma
community into the planning of actions that affect the local minority the government of Kispest can be
mentioned, which consistently includes representatives of the Roma community in its planning
operations.
To further the inclusion of NGO-s into the decision making process the government of the capital
created civilian workshops that give place to negotiations of the local governments with the local
NGO-s.
Another good is example is the capital financed Budapest Esély Nonprofit Ltd. which has been
supporting the districts’ employment programs for several years now.
A good example for the cooperation between various levels of government is the Capital Roma
Cultural Center, the creation of which was financed by the national government; its operational costs
are provided by the capital, and which is operating under the jurisdiction of the Capital Roma SelfGovernment.
City Partner Heraklion
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
HERAKLION MUNICIPALITY
LOCAL MAPPING
Heraklion is a city whose colourful history dates back thousands of years and in certain periods
has represented a major hub for economic activity in the region. It is the largest city and capital of
the Greek Island of Crete and is located on the central North coast where it maintains an
important shipping port and ferry dock.
Until the 1970’s, the main source of economic activity in Crete derived from the primary sector
specifically agriculture and livestock farming. More recently as tourism has flourished, the service
sector has come to dominate the economy and as at the 2001 census, provided employment for
71.9% of the working population in the Heraklion Municipality. There is no official
unemployment data available for Heraklion itself but it is thought to be comparable to the
national levels which in the 4th quarter 2009, approximated 10.3%.
The city occupies an area of approximately 109km2 and houses 137,711 residents, as at the last
census dated 2001.
Roma Population Profile
The Roma population in Heraklion Municipality consists of three groups:
•
•
•
the Roma greek citizens permanent residents of the Municipality,
the Roma greek citizens who move to Heraklion Municipality from other parts of the
country to live and work at the wider area for a certain period of time each year and
the Roma immigrants mainly from Albania, less from Bulgaria and Romania.
The Roma population of Heraklion Municipality tends to be spread throughout the city but there
are three districts/neighbourhoods that present serious concentration of the local Roma
population.
Data relating to the Roma population does not exist specifically for the city of Heraklion but
estimates can be made for the wider district to include the 2 neighbouring municipalities of Gazi
and Nea Alikarnassos where there is a significant greek Roma population of approximately 550,
housed on a permanent camp. A rough estimation concerning the total Roma population of the
whole urban district could be that there are about 1.500 people – with about 600-700 people living
at Heraklion Municipality.
For the majority of the Roma population in the wider Heraklion district – mostly the immigrants
and a significant part of the Greek residents, especially the camp’s residents – social exclusion
matters are crucial. They face unemployment or gain very low income, their housing does not
cover the basic standard of living, they face discrimination issues and they present law access to
educational, vocational and skill development opportunities. They make use of some of the
general social and medical services, but many such needs also remain uncovered.
Data concerning programmes and actions applied for the general population and, especially, for roma
under the areas of Health, Education, Housing and Employment
City
Heraklion Municipality
Department/
Organisation
Heraklion Municipality
KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete Agency
Name of author
Tsatsaki Emmanouela &
Kyriakakis Zacharias
Date
18/3/2010
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to build a
picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve services for the
general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health, Housing, Education and
Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that showcase
initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well as outlining how
the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying the targeted population
group.
HEALTH
Basic health services are provided by the public sector. There are two Hospitals operating at the city.
Apart from the basic public health services, the following health projects / programmes have been applied
for the general population of the city.
MUNICIPAL ORGANISATIONS:
Municipal Clinic:
It is a primary health centre, recently established by the Municipality. It provides services mainly to
people without health coverage, with low income and uninsured. The aim is to upgrade primary
health care and to support research in this area. It is implemented by the Heraklion Municipality, the
local University Hospital and the local Medical School.
7 Centres for protection of the elderly people (K.A.P.I.):
They are centres for primary social and medical care for the elderly at local level. They offer them
social work, nursing, medical care, occupational therapy and physiotherapy services. They also offer
them several opportunities for developing social life and organizing social events/ activities.
The medical and nursing services are an important part of these centres’ activity on the fields of health
care, prevention and advice.
They are active and successful for many years (some of them operate from the decade of 1980 while
more were created later to respond to the wider needs in each part of the city).
MUNICIPAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
6 “Help at home” & “Social care" Units:
They are structures for social and medical care at home for the elderly with low level of self-service
(for example with moving difficulties) and the disabled at local level. They operate in close
cooperation with the above mentioned KAPI and about in the same form of them, but the staff provide
the services at home. They offer social work, nursing, domestic/household help, medical care and
physiotherapy services.
There are 6 units (4 ''Help at home” units and 2 “social care” units).
The implementing agency is the Municipal Corporation of Heraklion “DEPTAI”.
They are active for many years and serious efforts are being made to ensure their financing for the
future.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Municipal Clinic:
As it is a new structure there are not important evaluation data. Through the interconnection with the
local University Hospital a high level of the services’ quality is expected to be achieved.
Centres for protection of the elderly people (K.A.P.I.):
The targeted and high quality services, the wide range of services/ activities, the local level operation,
the sufficient financing, the stability of the provision of the services / the continuous operation.
''Help at home” & ''Social care" Units:
The targeted and high quality services, the wide range of services/ activities, the local level operation.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
MUNICIPAL PROJECT EU FUNDED (PROPOSAL SUBMITTED NOT YET APPROVED):
“KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete”37 has submitted a proposal for funding in the EU national programme
“digital convergence technologies” with the title "Telematics and video-conference services of
KOINO.POLITI.A aiming at enhancing the programmes of inclusion for sensitive social groups".
The project aims at the incorporation of modern technologies and applications in certain organisations.
The ultimate target groups of the project are the elderly and disabled. The basic field of the planned
application is the health sector (computerization of data concerning the users of the services for better
services’ provision).
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their health
and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
Roma people who are insured or under the welfare insurance have access to the basic public health
services. Many are uninsured and face relevant problems. Serious relative problems are being confronted
especially by the Roma immigrants, who additionally face issues concerning legal matters (i.e. concerning
residence and work permits).
Roma people use the hospital services. They do not use the Centres for protection of the elderly people
(K.A.P.I.) or the ''Help at home” & ''Social care" Units. However, they are expected to use the Municipal
Clinic’s services in the future.
Health projects / programmes specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population were the following:
UNIVERSITY PROJECT EU FININCED WITH COOPERATION OF TWO NGOs, THE HEALTH
MINISTRY AND A LOCAL HEALTH STRUCTURE:
University of Ioannina – Project “School integration of Roma children” – Actions concerning health
promotion and health services38:
It was a programme developed by the University of Ioannina, under a greater programme of the
Ministry of Education, between 1997 and 2004 with the participation of many Greek Prefectures
including the Heraklion Prefecture (residents of Heraklion Municipality and Nea Alikarnassos
Municipality were benefitted).
This project (which mainly aimed at the school integration of Roma children) included actions on the
field of Roma children’s health.
The local actions concerning health were implemented by the local team of the project in cooperation
with the local team of a national NGO (MEDIN), the national team of the NGO “Médecins du Monde”
and the Region Health Structure.
It included the provision of medical services (mainly vaccinations), the collection of relevant data and
the Roma families’ information and sensitization for health promotion issues.
37
Heraklion Municipality of is one of the 44 members (Municipalities) of the Cretan Social Policy Network of Local Administrations,
«KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete», a trans-municipal, civil, non-profit company with activities spanning in the entire Region of Crete. It aims at planning
and exercising social policy actions.
38
Oikonomou Katerina, Dissertation- title: "Education of Roma children in Heraklion, Crete", Greek Open University,
Patra, 2006 and Meeting with a representative of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete – Social Work
Department (February 2010)
The project’s staff was responsible for organizing the action and collecting / keeping the relevant data
as well as for the Roma families education, the NGOs provided the medical volunteer professionals
and the public health structures provided the medical material.
NGO INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE HEALTH MINISTRY AND A
LOCAL HOSPITAL:
Medical support project39:
An action was implemented in the past by the local team of a national NGO (MEDIN) in cooperation
with the Health Ministry and a local public Hospital.
The project was applied at one of the Roma groups at a certain neighbourhood of the city. It included
the provision of medical services (mainly vaccinations) and the collection of relevant data.
The NGO team provided the volunteer professionals, the Health Ministry provided medical material
(vaccines) and the Hospital provided a mobile facility (ambulance).
This project was applied once after the end of the above mentioned University project.
The above mentioned actions (which mainly provided medical care for Roma children) were well
implemented and many Roma people were benefitted by them. However, they were separate actions – not
continuous – not joined – not syntonised. Problems have been recorded, such as the phenomenon of the
same children being vaccinated twice with the same vaccination, but not taking the next necessary ones.
Also the relevant data is usually not appropriately followed and updated, due to both (a) the discontinuity
of the interventions and (b) the Roma’s movements and their general difficulties in keeping official
documents.
A NEIGHBOURHOUD MUNICIPALITY’ S SOCIAL & HEALTH STUCTURE EU FINANCED:
Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Socio - Medical Centre for Roma40:
This centre was established from the middle of 2006 by the Municipality, under an EU funded project
of the Managing Authority of Crete Region.
Ιt offered social and medical services exclusively to Roma people. Although it aims to cover Nea
Alikarnassos Municipality Roma residents’ needs, it has also provided medical services to some Roma
residents of Heraklion Municipality.
This centre is still active. However, it faces serious financing problems and its financing for the future
is not ensured.
Such centres were established and operated at many other cities and they are considered to be a very
good practice at national level. At these centres Roma people worked as mediators, contributing a lot
to the information of the Roma population and the communication with the Roma population.
39
40
Contact with a representative of the National NGO MEDIN (February 2010)
Meeting with representatives of the Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Socio - Medical Centre for Roma (February 2010)
EDUCATION
Basic education services are provided by the public sector for the general population, concerning primary,
secondary and university education.
Apart from the public education basic structures, the following education projects / programmes have
been applied in the city:
MUNICIPAL ORGANISATIONS:
Youth Prevention and Advice Centre (KESAN)41:
It is a municipal organisation which operates from the early ‘90s and has now (from 2005) formed
(together with other organisations) a non-profit organization named KESAN-Heraklion Centre to
prevent drug use.
The ultimate goal is to prevent the use of psychoactive substances and act in the field of health
promotion in the community. This is achieved by raising awareness of young people, students,
parents, teachers, young social scientists, health professionals, volunteers, local officials and the
general public through educational meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences at school level –
using modern experiential methods.
Municipal Library:
It contributes to the general public’s education by carrying out seminars on a variety of subjects
(history, society, science, etc).
PREFECTURAL ORGANISATIONS:
Centre for Adult Education42:
It operates from the year 2006 and it provides various adult educational / training opportunities for
the general population, on both (a) professional qualification and (b) leisure activities areas. Basic
themes are: (a) the languages learning and (b) the computer usage learning. The centre also provides
counseling opportunities for immigrants as well as Roma. It operates at prefectural level – many
Heraklion Municipality’s residents attend its seminars.
Commission of Folk Education43:
It operates from the early ‘90s and it provides various adult educational / training opportunities for
the general population, on both (a) professional qualification and (b) leisure activities areas. The
languages learning and the computer usage learning are some of the subjects of the provided
seminars. It operates at prefectural level – many Heraklion Municipality’s residents attend its
seminars.
MUNICIPAL, PREFECTURAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED44:
Vocational Training Seminars:
A great number of such seminars have been implemented on all fields of vocational training as well as
on the greek language learning. These seminars were often organised for the whole prefecture with
41
Meeting with a representative of the Heraklion Municipality Centre for Youth Consulting and Education – Centre for prevention drug use
(February 2010)
42
Contact with a representative of the Prefectural Centre for Adult Education of Heraklion (February 2010)
43
Meeting with a representative of the Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of Heraklion (March 2010)
44
Heraklion Municipality is a member of prefectural and regional organizations (such as KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete, Heraklion Development
Agency) which (a) play an important role in the planning and the implementation of EU funded projects that include training / educational actions
and (b) have created a local authority Vocational Training Centre named “Cretan Development”.
wide participation of Heraklion residents, as Heraklion is the prefectural urban centre.
The seminars were attended by employed and mostly unemployed people of the general public but
also by members of a variety of socially vulnerable population groups.
Responsible for their implementation were the public and private Vocational Training Centres active
at Heraklion prefecture (either on their one or with the participation of other local organisations).
Other organisations also implemented such seminars. The basic responsible Managing Authorities
were the special services of either the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance or the Crete Region.
The structure of the majority of these seminars was the same (about 300 hours, including practice
learning).
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Youth Prevention and Advice Centre (KESAN):
The targeted and high quality services, the stability of the provision of the services / the continuous
operation, the focus on the school community as well as on neighbourhood and certain districts level.
Municipal Library:
The special- interesting subjects.
Centre for Adult Education & Commission of Folk Education:
The vast relevant needs, the local planning.
Vocational Training Seminars:
The vast relevant needs, the local planning, the fact that the participants were subsidised.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
MUNICIPAL ACTIONS (THROUGH MUNICIPAL ORGANISATIONS):
Education of Volunteers:
The Municipality of Heraklion intends to contribute to the field of volunteers’ education.
Cooperation with many NGOs is being established. The future plans include:
- development of more systematic cooperation with the voluntary organizations active in the wider
urban area
- technical support actions for voluntary organizations (the municipality will provide infrastructure
and technical means for better and more efficient action of voluntary groups)
- planning and implementation of seminars for training volunteers on various issues
- actions for the connection of volunteers with voluntary organisations of their subject-matter
PREFECTURAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
Vocational Training Seminars:
The Municipality through other organisations (as a member of them) or through other partnerships is
likely to promote the planning and implementation of Vocational Training Seminars under various EU
funded projects, for the period 2007-2013.
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of these
interventions.
Roma people have access to the public sector’s basic education services. However, the participation rate is
very low. Attempts have been made with the aim to facilitate Roma’s basic education. The following projects
tried to act on that direction.
PREFECTURAL INITIATIVE45:
At the middle of the ‘90s decade, a prefectural initiative was implemented in order to help Roma
children participate in primary education schools. At that time a Roma children school operated at one
neighbourhood of Heraklion Municipality and actions were implemented towards appropriate
adjustments of the educational practices and towards the sensitisation and the technical support of
Roma families. Many Roma children attended this school’s programme.
45
Meeting with a representative of the Amnesty International – Local team of Heraklion (March 2010)
UNIVERSITY PROJECT EU FUNDED:
University of Ioannina – Project “School integration of Roma children” - Actions concerning
education46:
It was a program developed by the University of Ioannina, under a greater programme of the Ministry
of Education, between 1997 and 2004 with the participation of many Greek Prefectures including the
Heraklion Prefecture (residents of the Heraklion Municipality and Nea Alikarnassos Municipality
were benefited).
The actions of the project concerning education were the below mentioned:
1) Records of local data of Roma population and children
2) Production of teaching material for Roma children’s education
3) Training of teachers, in collaboration with the Primary Education Secretariat, for the smooth
integration of Roma children in the school community
4) Social support actions of Roma families
5) Raising awareness of local community actions on relevant issues
This project was successful and really helped connecting the Roma population with the available
primary education structures. At the time of this project’s operation many Roma children attended
primary education at several local schools.
As for adult education, data about relevant projects follow.
PREFECTURAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
Action plans concerning vocational training and counselling for Roma47 48:
They were addressed to unemployed Roma people. At least two such action plans have been
implemented during the last decade at Heraklion Prefecture, under an EU funded programme of the
Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
For the implementation of each of these projects two organisations were involved: (a) a Vocational
Training Centre and (b) an Accompanying Supporting Services Centre. The first provided greek
language training and training on a certain professional subject and the latter provided counselling for
vocational integration issues (vocational guidance, job-quest techniques’ learning, empowerment, etc).
About 15-20 Roma people participated in each project (many were residents of Heraklion
Municipality). The participants were additionally subsidised.
The implementation organisations were:
- on behalf of the Accompanying Supporting Services Centres, the Prefectural Commission of Folk
Education of Heraklion and the Heraklion Development Agency
- on behalf of the Vocational Training Centres, the Cretan Development Vocational Training Centre
and other private ones.
The local employment offices of the national employment organisation (OAED) participated in the
projects’ implementation by informing and forwarding Roma unemployed people.
46
Oikonomou Katerina, Dissertation- title: "Education of Roma children in Heraklion, Crete", Greek Open University,
Patra, 2006 and Meeting with a representative of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete – Social Work
Department (February 2010)
47
Contacts with representatives of (a) the Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of Heraklion (March 2010) and (b) Heraklion Development
Agency of Heraklion SA (March 2010)
48
These projects acted on the field of employment as well.
Roma adults participated in the above mentioned action plans. They do not attend the other adult
educational / training projects – those of the Centre for Adult Education or the Commission of Folk
Education.
As for other actions concerning the Roma population and referring to educational issues in general, the
following project has also been implemented.
AN NGO PROJECT EU FINANCED:
Action concerning the development and the promotion of communication tools49:
It was an innovative project which was implemented by the local Non-profit Organisation
“Metamorphoses” and was financed by the National Organisation “General Secretariat for Youth”.
It included the production and the promotion of an audio-visual material for the Roma population.
This material was made from the Roma people themselves and this fact makes the project special.
Actions for the sensitisation of the local population (participation in conferences, manifestations, etc)
followed and showed that this audio-visual material really works well on the direction of the
communication between the Roma population on the one hand and contiguous community on the
other.
Now, the Non-profit Organisation “Metamorphoses” has moved forward to additional actions concerning
the promotion of the material in certain primary education schools – in cooperation with the Heraklion
Prefecture Primary Education Secretariat and certain local Primary Education Schools.
HOUSING
NATIONAL ORGANISATION:
Projects of the Labour Housing Organisation:
They are projects run at national level (also at Heraklion Municipality) for the insured/ employed in
the private sector. This organisation is the basic greek one on the field of housing social policy. Under
certain conditions it provides houses or housing loans or rent subsidies. There are special actions for
people having many children or disabled.
49
Meetings with representatives of (a) the Heraklion Non-profit Organisation “Metamorphoses” (February 2010) and
(b) the Heraklion Prefecture Primary Education Secretariat (February 2010)
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
Projects of the Labour Housing Organisation:
For example, the housing loans projects are successful as the conditions for their payment are indeed
better than the ones run only by the banks.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
There are no municipal housing programmes plans for the city’s general population. The projects of
the Labour Housing Organisation are continuous.
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their living
conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
NATIONAL PROJECT MANAGED BY THE MUNICIPALITY:
Project for Housing Loans Allowance for the greek Roma population50:
The project was implemented from the Ministry of Interior and the Municipality twice during the last
decade. It concerns propitious conditions for housing loans for the greek Roma people whose living
conditions were inadequate.
For the 1st phase (2003), many people applied for the loan and an important percentage of them took it
(exact data couldn’t be found).
For the 2nd phase (2007), 108 applications were submitted, however only 5 people finally took the loan.
One of the main reasons for many not proceeding at the approval phase or the phase of the loan
undertaking was the bureaucratic procedures and the difficulties of Roma people to respond to the
relevant requirements – though the procedures were on purpose more simple than the general ones.
Also, the height of the loans was low (60.000 euro) and this was a disadvantage51.
The same project was implemented at the other interested Municipalities – at Nea Alikarnassos
Municipality as well52.
In specific, at Nea Alikarnassos Municipality where the Roma camp is settled, except from the housing
loans project which had large response, other projects have been run in the past for the camp
residents’ housing53 without reaching the intended results. Governmental or other local organisations’
(such as the Eastern Crete Development Organisation (OANAK)) attempts with the aim to create an
organised residential area – having the appropriate infrastructure (for electricity and water supply as
well as drainage and refuse / garbage collection) did not succeed.
50
Meeting with a representative of the Heraklion Municipality Social and Cultural Secretariat (February 2010)
Meetings with representatives of (a) one of the Heraklion Municipality Roma population groups (the Roma greek citizens permanent residents of
the Municipality) (February 2010) and (b) the Amnesty International – Local team of Heraklion (March 2010)
52
Meeting with a representative of the Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Planning, Development and Social Policies Secretariat (February 2010)
53
Meeting with a representative of the Amnesty International – Local team of Heraklion (March 2010)
51
EMPLOYMENT
The Greek public employment organisation (OAED) with its prefectural offices, is responsible for the basic
employment policy. During the last years these public services are being improved and they have been
supported by EU funded projects. Apart from these, many other organisations have been active on the field
of employment.
MUNICIPAL PROJECT EU FINANCED:
Social and Supportive Services’ Office:
The Office is a structure under an Operational Programme of the Health Ministry, operating from
2006.
The
managing
agency
is
”KOINO.POLITI.A.
of
Crete”.
The Office is addressed primarily to the unemployed, but also to every socially vulnerable population
group (disabled, single parents, immigrants, homeless, users of psychotropic substances, etc) for
support
to
face
professional
and
social
integration
difficulties.
The provided services include information, social support and counselling on issues such as
employment, training, allowances and connection with other social care services.
The Office will continue to operate until 2011 and possibilities for its future operation will be
examined.
REGIONAL AND PREFECTURAL PROJECTS EU FINANCED:
2 Regional Projects under Community Initiative “EQUAL” concerning the development of social
economy54 55:
Heraklion Municipality is member of the Heraklion Development Agency S.A. and
”KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete” who actively participated in the Development Partnerships (a) “Active
Citizens” and (b) “KRI.K.O.S. (Social & Economical Development Partnership of Crete)” that
implemented two Equal projects on the field of Social Economy Development: (a) “Open paths for
social economy development” and (b) “Incubator for the Development of Social Economy”. The
projects aimed at tackling unemployment and generating employment opportunities.
In specific, the two projects, which followed one another from 2001 until 2008, developed serious
action on creating new social enterprises, supporting the existing ones, studying social economy
issues, building relevant transnational cooperations and contributing to the raised national dialogue
on the theme. The involvement of the Local Authorities played an important role in the projects – the
local authorities contributed a lot to the projects’ success.
The coordinator organisation for both regional partnerships was Heraklion Development Agency S.A..
The Managing Authority was a Special Service of the Ministry of Labour & Social Insurance.
54
55
Contact with a representatives of Heraklion Development Agency of Heraklion SA (March 2010)
For more http://www.equal-krikos.gr/
The projects’ implementation area was the whole region.
No new social enterprises were created at Heraklion Municipality, though efforts had been made on
that direction. However, Heraklion Municipality was benefitted by other parts of the projects having
gained a lot concerning relevant know-how and having been connected with important relevant /
qualified organisations.
Several Regional or Prefectural Projects on the form of “Accompanying Supporting Services”
concerning manifold support to unemployed56:
The main aim of the Accompanying Supporting Services is the social and employment support of
unemployed people, so as to promote their entrance into the labour market.
Several such projects were implemented during the last decade. They included actions on fields such
as empowerment, development of professional skills, job-quest techniques’ learning and enterprise
building issues. They also included actions for the local community sensitization on unemployment
and relevant social issues.
Mainly, they were addressed to unemployed of socially vulnerable population groups but, lately,
unemployed people of the general population also were benefitted.
The utter aim of the projects was to promote the beneficiaries to soon join one or more other training/
employment programmes or opportunities (training programmes, gaining professional experience
programmes, salary subsidization programmes, subsidization of people for building new enterprises,
gaining jobs in the public or private sector).
The coordinator organisation for the partnerships that run these projects was either Heraklion
Development Agency S.A. or Heraklion Prefecture or the Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of
Heraklion.
There was close cooperation with the public employment organisation’s (OAED) offices as well as
other agencies - also employers in some cases.
The Managing Authority was either a special service of the Ministry of Labour & Social Insurance or
that of the Crete Region.
The projects’ implementation area was either the region or the prefecture - including Heraklion
Municipality (many Heraklion citizens were benefitted).
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The local-level planning, the specialized staff, the cooperation with specialized organizations, the
political will to act effectively on employment issues.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
MUNICIPAL PROJECT:
Social and Supportive Services’ Office:
This office, mentioned above, had been funded until the end 2008 by the Ministry of Health and Social
Solidarity. Since then, it is being funded by the Municipality of Heraklion which will keep funding it
until the end of 2011, given the fact that it is an essential programme dealing with employment and
other social issues.
56
Contacts with representatives of (a) the Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of Heraklion (March 2010) and (b) Heraklion Development
Agency of Heraklion SA (March 2010)
MUNICIPAL ORGANISATION:
Information Office for employment and entrepreneurship:
Recently "Information Office of Employment and entrepreneurship» was established. Basic staff has
been hired and there are plans for its enlargement. It is the first attempt of the Municipality to act on
the field of employment support on a permanent basis, apart from EU funded projects. The target of
the office is the provision of valid information to all citizens interested concerning employment issues.
This office is highly linked with the above mentioned office (the Social and Supportive Services’
Office, which practically operates as a part of the Information Office for employment), for as long as it
will be active.
An innovative service is being provided under the cooperation with the “KOINO.POLITI.A of Crete”
agency. It is the utilisation of an electronic website platform which operates on the field of joining job
opportunities (of the public and private sector) with job demands. The platform allows direct access to
information 24 hours a day. The professionals will help people who have little or no knowledge on
internet usage to take advantage of this platform and, also, information will be sent directly to them
via
e-mail
and
mobile.
PREFECTURAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
Employment support projects:
The Municipality through other organisations (as a member of them) or through other partnerships is
likely to promote the planning and implementation of employment support projects under various EU
funded projects, for the period 2007-2013.
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
chances of mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these
interventions.
Roma people have access to the public sector’s employment services. However, not many of them take
advantage of these services. Few of them took advantage of special projects such as the ones mentioned
below.
PREFECTURAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
Action plans concerning vocational training and counselling for Roma57 58:
They were addressed to unemployed Roma people. At least two such action plans have been
implemented during the last decade at Heraklion Prefecture, under an EU funded programme of the
Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance.
For the implementation of each of these projects two organisations were involved: (a) a Vocational
Training Centre and (b) an Accompanying Supporting Services Centre. The first provided greek
language training and training on a certain professional subject and the latter provided counselling for
vocational integration issues (vocational guidance, job-quest techniques’ learning, empowerment, etc).
About 15-20 Roma people participated in each project (many were residents of Heraklion
Municipality). The participants were additionally subsidised.
57
Contacts with representatives of (a) the Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of Heraklion (March 2010) and (b) Heraklion Development
Agency of Heraklion SA (March 2010)
58
These projects acted on the field of education as well.
The implementation organisations were:
- on behalf of the Accompanying Supporting Services Centres, the Prefectural Commission of Folk
Education of Heraklion and the Heraklion Development Agency
- on behalf of the Vocational Training Centres, the Cretan Development Vocational Training Centre
and other private ones.
The local employment offices of the national employment organisation (OAED) participated in the
projects’ implementation by informing and forwarding Roma unemployed people.
NATIONAL PROJECTS EU FUNDED:
Project for financing Roma for building new enterprises59:
This project was applied once, in 2007, and offered financing of a part of a new enterprise’s budget.
It was implemented under a greater EU funded programme of the Ministry of Development and it
was managed by the Hellenic Organization of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Handicraft
(EOMMEX) S.A, which is a non-profit public organization operating under the Ministry of
Development. The financing was approved for 6 Roma at local level. There are no data available
concerning the progress of the corresponding new enterprises.
A NEIGHBOURHOUD MUNICIPALITY’ S PROJECT EU FINANCED:
An action plan which included counselling, vocational training and employment support was
implemented in 2006, at Nea Alikarnassos Municipality, with the participation of Roma people. The
Managing Authority was that of the Crete Region.
AN TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT EU FINANCED:
URBACT II Project MILE (Managing Migration and Integration at local Level- cities and regions)60:
It was implemented between 2007 and 2009 with the participation of: (a) Municipality of Nea
Alikarnassos, (b) Heraklion Development Agency SA and (c) Region of Crete.
The target groups were the immigrants and the Roma.
The project included the Local Mapping as well as the production of an Action Plan: “Integrated
Intercultural Intervention in Nea Alikarnassos and the wider urban area (Establishment of Education
and Culture Centre)”. The participant organisations were also benefitted by useful transnational
exchanges.
59
http://www.eommex.gr/Article.aspx?id=11790
Meetings with representatives of (a) the Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Planning, Development and Social Policies Secretariat (February 2010)
and (b) Heraklion Development Agency of Heraklion SA (March 2010)
60
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and working with the local Roma communities in the city,
describes their main focus and provides details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
At Heraklion Municipality today the organizations that are active and working with the Roma population are the following:
Name
Type
Are of intervention
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Local public Hospitals
Prefectural organisations
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Metamorphosis
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Primary Education Secretariat of
Heraklion Prefecture
(&
Local
Primary
Education
Schools)
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Social Solidarity Secretariat
Heraklion Prefecture
of
Union of citizens against racism and
xenophobia of Heraklion
Amnesty International – Local team
of Heraklion
Social and Supportive Services
Office of Heraklion Municipality
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Heraklion Municipality
of
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
of Folk
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Prefectural organisations
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Centre for Adult Education
Heraklion Prefecture
Prefectural Commission
Education of Heraklion
Non
Governmental
Organisation
(under
establishment)
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Project (structure so far
financed by EU Funds and
lately by the Municipality,
till at least 2011)
Heraklion Prefecture
Employment Offices of the national
employment organisation (OAED)
Heraklion Prefecture
Role regarding the Roma population / Actions now
Social support and provision of benefits
(for general population – including the Roma)
Continuously working with many Roma people of Heraklion Municipality.
Medical support
(for general population – including the Roma)
Continuously working with many Roma people of Heraklion Municipality.
Special actions in certain local schools (in a pilot basis) for the sensitisation of pupils
regarding the Roma population
Advocacy for human rights (meetings with authorities, documents, etc) Actions for the sensitisation of the local population
(for general population – including the Roma)
Now working mainly with the Roma residents of the camp at Nea Alikarnassos
Municipality.
Employment and Social support
(for general population – including the Roma)
Available, but few Roma people approach the office.
Educational programmes for general population – Special programmes for Roma
especially for learning the Greek language
Available, but no Roma people approach the centre.
Educational programmes
(for general population – including the Roma)
Available, but no Roma people approach the centre.
(for general population – including the Roma)
Employment support, unemployment benefits, information and forwarding to other
special employment, training, counselling actions.
Available, but few Roma people approach the office.
Greek Red Cross
Department of Crete
–
Regional
Union “Oasi tou pediou”
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Crete Region
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
(for general population – including the Roma)
Support in urgent needs / in crisis circumstances: “material” help, advise,
connection with organisations.
(for general population – including the Roma)
Support in urgent needs: street work, advise, connection with organisations
As it is indicated, almost all of the organisations deliver services for all citizens and for the wider urban district, including the neighbour Municipality of Nea
Alikarnassos where the Roma camp is located. Most of the NGOs are now occupied with issues concerning the camp. Moreover, two of the above mentioned
organisations (the Centre for Adult Education and the Commission of Folk Education) can implement programmes for Roma but Roma people do not make use of them.
Also, we have to underline that at Heraklion Municipality there is not a municipal organisation responsible for the Roma population in particular.
At the neighbour Municipality of Nea Alikarnassos there is a certain organization providing services to the Roma population exclusively.
Name
Socio - Medical Centre for Roma of
Nea Alikarnassos Municipality
Type
Project (structure so
financed by EU Funds)
far
Are of intervention
Nea
Alikarnassos
Municipality
Role regarding the Roma population / Actions now
Social support and medical support
(only for Roma - mainly the residents of the certain neighbour Municipality)
More organisations were active at the city in the past:
Name
Social Solidarity Secretariat
Heraklion Prefecture
of
Local public Hospitals
Socio - Medical Centre for Roma of
Nea Alikarnassos Municipality
Primary Education Secretariat of
Heraklion Prefecture
(&
Local
Primary
Education
Schools)
Amnesty International – Local team
of Heraklion
Type
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Prefectural organisations
(public sector)
Project (structure so far
financed by EU Funds)
Are of intervention
Nea
Alikarnassos
Municipality
Role regarding the Roma population / Actions in the past
Social support and provision of benefits
(for general population – including the Roma)
Medical support
(for general population – including the Roma)
Social support and medical support
(only for Roma - mainly the residents of the certain neighbour Municipality)
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Actions for helping the Roma children education
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Advocacy for human rights (meetings with authorities, documents, etc) Actions for the sensitisation of the local population (conferences, manifestations,
etc)
(for general population – including the Roma)
Heraklion Prefecture
Heraklion Prefecture
Metamorphosis
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Production of an audio-visual material for the Roma population Special actions in certain schools for the sensitisation of pupils regarding the Roma
population Actions for the sensitisation of the local population (participation in conferences,
manifestations, etc)
Municipal organisation
Heraklion Municipality
Management of a national project for housing loans for Roma
Management of a national project for housing loans for Roma
Social and Cultural Secretariat of
Heraklion Municipality
Planning, Development and Social
Policies
Secretariat
of
Nea
Alikarnassos Municipality
Ministry of Interior
Municipal organisation
Nea
Alikarnassos
Municipality
Ministry
Greece
University of Ioannina
University
Greece
Prefectural organisation
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Prefectural Commission
Education of Heraklion
of Folk
MEDIN
Médecins du Monde
Region Health Structure
Ministry of Health
Eastern
Crete
Development
Organisation (OANAK)
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Regional organisation
(public sector)
Ministry
Interprefectural
organisation
Societe Anonyme
Management of a national project for housing loans for Roma
Special programme for the education of Roma children – including actions
concerning health
Educational programmes for general population –
Special programmes for Roma (education and consultative services and actions for
the sensitisation of the local population)
Greece
Medical support actions for local Roma population
Greece
Medical support actions for local Roma population
Crete Region
Medical support actions for local Roma population
Greece
Heraklion
Prefecture
Medical support actions for local Roma population
&
Lasithi
Employment Offices of the national
employment organisation (OAED)
Prefectural organisations
(public sector)
Heraklion Prefecture
Region of Crete
Prefecture of Heraklion
Region
Prefecture
Crete Region
Heraklion Prefecture
Development Agency of Heraklion
Prefectural
organisation
Societe Anonyme
Heraklion Prefecture
Nea Alikarnassos Municipality
Municipality
Centres for vocational training
Private or public ones
Nea
Alikarnassos
Municipality
Heraklion Prefecture
Past plan for the housing of the residents of the camp at Nea Alikarnassos
Municipality
(for general population – including the Roma)
Employment support, unemployment benefits, information and forwarding to other
special employment, training, counselling actions.
Partner at one Urbact II project (MILE) concerning immigrants and Roma.
Support of educational, health and housing initiatives for Roma.
Partner at one special programme for Roma: (a) consultative services for vocational
and social support and (b) actions for the sensitisation of the local population
Partner at one Urbact II project (MILE) concerning immigrants and Roma.
Partner at one Urbact II project (MILE) concerning immigrants and Roma.
Several programmes for vocational training for Roma
Hellenic Organization of Small and
Medium Sized Enterprises and
Handicraft (ΕΟΜΜΕΧ)
Non-profit
organisation
Greek Red Cross
Department of Crete
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Crete Region
Non
Governmental
Organisation
Wider urban district of
Heraklion city
Municipal organisation
Heraklion Municipality
(for general population – including the Roma)
Information – sensitization on issues concerning the prevention of drug use.
University
Crete
Research activities on Roma issues and other supportive actions.
Technological Educational
Institute
Crete
Research activities on Roma issues and other supportive actions.
–
Regional
Union “Oasi tou pediou”
Centre for Youth Consulting and
Education
of
Heraklion
Municipality
University of Crete – Several
Departments
Technological Educational Institute
of Crete – Social Work Departmant
public
Greece
Special subsidization project for the creation of new enterprises by Roma.
(for general population – including the Roma)
Support in urgent needs / in crisis circumstances: “material” help, advise, connection
with organisations.
(for general population – including the Roma)
Support in urgent needs: street work, advise, connection with organisations
Some of the organisations that were active in the past and now do not deal with Roma matters may be active in the future. Also, some that are now active may
not continue to deliver such services in the future, as they are projects for which the future finance is not ensured.
The main focus of local activity is on the following issues:
1. Social support and provision of benefits
2. Actions for the sensitisation of the local population
3. Advocacy for human rights
4. Educational and training programmes
There are no regional organisations delivering services to Roma now.
In the past, the Region of Crete has participated in an Urbact II project for immigrants and Roma (MILE).
There are no national organisations delivering services to Roma now.
In the past, the Ministry of Interior has delivered housing services, the Ministry of Health has acted in health projects,
national NGOs have supported several actions, a national organization concerning entrepreneurship has delivered
financing support for new enterprises and a University delivered education services at national level through a national
prorgamme of the Ministry of Education.
-
The infrastructure of the above mentioned Municipal Employment, Social and Medical Services
Municipal halls for meetings and conferences
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas of
education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the public
administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could present
obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers work well
together.
Greek Administration Tiers:
- Ministries – national level (government ruled)
- Regions (government ruled)
- Prefectures (self-administration/ self-government)
- Municipalities (self-administration/ self-government)
In many cases the different tiers act separately. A cohesive plan for Roma has not yet been developed.
Different organisations have occasionally well worked together, but there is no close and ongoing
cooperation between all relevant organisations. There are gaps and sometimes overlap. Therefore, problems
and obstacles have appeared and may appear in the future.
There is strong interaction of the national policies and structures with the city. As it is referred above, many
projects / programmes for the general population as well as the Roma population are provided by
prefectural organisations under national policies or by national organisations.
URBACT II - MILE Project (for immigrants and Roma):
Three organisations worked well together. One of them stands at region level (Region of Crete) and two of
them stand at municipal level (Nea Alikarnassos Municipality and Heraklion Development Agency members
of which are all the Municipalities of Heraklion Prefecture).
Action plans concerning vocational training and counselling for Roma:
For their implementation organisations of different tiers worked well together. For example the prefectural
offices of the public employment organisation OAED informed the eligible persons, who were registered in
their records. Heraklion Development Agency (members of which are all the Municipalities of Heraklion
Prefecture) provided the counselling services.
Project “School integration of Roma children” - Actions concerning education and health:
For its implementation organisations of different tiers worked well together. The whole project was financed
by a national project of the Ministry of Education. A regional health structure participated in the
implementation of health actions. Also, the prefectural Primary Education Secretariat contributed a lot to the
implementation of actions concerning primary education adjustments.
REFERENCES
Interviews – through meetings & other contacts with representatives of the following organisations - groups:
Meetings:
(1) Heraklion Municipality Centre for Youth Consulting and Education – Centre for prevention drug use (February 2010)
(2) Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Socio - Medical Centre for Roma (February 2010)
(3) Heraklion Prefecture Primary Education Secretariat (February 2010)
(4) Heraklion Prefecture Secondary Education Secretariat (February 2010)
(5) Amnesty International – Local team of Heraklion (February 2010)
(6) Heraklion Municipality Social and Cultural Secretariat (February 2010)
(7) University of Crete – Sociology Department (February 2010)
(8) Technological Educational Institute of Crete – Social Work Department (February 2010)
(9) Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Planning, Development and Social Policies Secretariat (February 2010)
(10) Heraklion Prefecture Social Solidarity Secretariat (February 2010)
(11) Heraklion Non-profit Organisation “Metamorphoses” (February 2010)
(12) One of the Heraklion Municipality Roma population groups (the Roma greek citizens permanent residents of the
Municipality) (February 2010)
(13) Union of citizens against racism and xenophobia of Heraklion (February 2010)
(14) Movement “United against racism and fascist threat (February 2010)
(15) Heraklion Regional Department of Greek Red Cross (March 2010)
(16) Union “Oasi toy pediou” – Heraklion (March 2010)
Other contacts (phones – e-mails):
(17) National NGO MEDIN – Local team of Heraklion (February 2010)
(18) Prefectural Centre for Adult Education of Heraklion (February 2010)
(19) University of Crete – Psychology Department (February 2010)
(20) Vocational Training Certre “Cretan Development” (February 2010)
(21) Heraklion Municipality Family Care Centre (March 2010)
Group LSG Meeting (March 2010) with the participation of the following organizations:
(1) Heraklion Municipality Centre for Youth Consulting and Education – Centre for prevention drug use
(2) Nea Alikarnassos Municipality Socio - Medical Centre for Roma
(3) Heraklion Prefecture Primary Education Secretariat
(4) University of Crete – Sociology Department
(5) Heraklion Non-profit Organisation “Metamorphoses”
(6) Heraklion Development Agency of Heraklion SA
(7) Prefectural Commission of Folk Education of Heraklion
(8) KOINO.POLITI.A. of Crete Agency (Cretan Social Policy Network of Local Administrations)
Oikonomou Katerina, Dissertation- title: "Education of Roma children in Heraklion, Crete", Greek Open University, Patra, 2006
Equal in Greece (on line) http://www.equal-krikos.gr/
Hellenic
Organization
of
Small
and
http://www.eommex.gr/Article.aspx?id=11790
Medium
Sized
Enterprises
and
Handicraft
(on
line)
City Partner Karvina
Integration of Roma population
Place – the aim is to build a clear picture about the city and it requires the following information:
•
The demographics, economic drivers, special characteristics.
The city with more than 62 thousand inhabitants is situated 18 km east of Ostrava on the northern
edge of the Beskydy foothills in the valley of the river Olše. A part of the northern border of
Karviná forms also a border with Poland.
For several decades Karviná and its surroundings has been one of the areas with a high
concentration of coal mining and related industry, nevertheless its business and tourist importance
has been substantially strenghtened. There is the Darkov Spa in Karviná which is famous all over
the world for the locomotive apparatus treatment. Karviná is not only a spa city but also a
university city with the Faculty of Business Administration of the Silesian University in Opava. An
industrial zone was also established in the city offering a landed estate fully equipped with
infrastructure providing enough space for spatial solution of production halls with a possibility of
their future expansion. The whole estate is owned by the city of Karviná which enables a fast and
reliable solution of the investors´requirements. At the moment eight companies have been carrying
out a business activity in the locality which substantially boosts the employment and industry in
the city (for example Shimano Czech Republic, s.r.o., Mölnlycke Health Care Klinipro, s.r.o., Dexon
Czech, s.r.o., SEJONG Czech s.r.o.).
•
Roma population: most probably a best estimate. Need to gain understanding of the size,
locality, living conditions, levels of segregation, relationship with contiguous communities.
There are altogether six socially excluded localities in the city of Karviná.
1st Locality in Karviná – Nové Město (the biggest locality)
It is a quarter situated on the periphery of the city with a housing development of brick houses
predominantly consisting of 2-room flats of second-class category. Some of the houses and
gradually the whole streets are inhabited now almost exclusively by Roma families mostly with a
lot of children. The estimated number of Roma inhabitants living in this locality is 1980 out of
which 1295 are children.
The most serious problems in this area are high unemployment rate estimated up to 90%, illiteracy,
long-term dependence on social welfare benefits, high rate of indebtedness, moving of families due
to benefits seizure and housing loss (related to unsuitable sanitary conditions, molesting of
neighbours, unfavourable epidemiologic conditions), irregular school attendance of the children
and the connected petty criminality and light drugs taking.
2nd Locality on Rudé armády street, Karviná – Hranice, so called „Vagonka“
It is a street on the periphery of the city with a housing development of storeyed brick houses. The
flats are predominantly of third-class or fourth-class category where mostly Roma families with
high number of children live. The number of Roma inhabitants in this locality is estimated to be 186
out of which 92 are children.
Problems afflicting this area are for example high unemployment rate reaching up to 100%, low
level of education, high indebtedness rate, social welfare benefits seizure, low quality of housing
due to the occupants, insufficient sanitary conditions, mess in the surrounding area and spatial
isolation of the locality.
3rd Locality – lodging house „Průkopník“ on Úřednická street nr.2051 in Karviná – Doly and „temporary
shelter“ U Barbory 1651 in Karviná – Doly
There are two buildings, the first one is a lodging house for those who do not pay the rent and were
evicted from the flats. That building is in a good condition because the occupants follow the house
rules. The other building serves as a temporary shelter illegally occupied by the Roma families, it is
very messy. In both buildings there are approximately 127 Roma people out of which 85 are
children.
Problems of this area are illiteracy, dependence on state social welfare benefits, 100%
unemployment, high rate of indebtedness at the moneylenders, spatial isolation, zero activity of the
inhabitants when solving their problems, passive acceptance of help.
4th Locality – accommodation center „Předvoj“
The accommodation center is situated in the city quarter of Karviná – Nové Město. It is used by
individuals as well as by families but only by those with one child. 28 Roma people live there out of
which 6 are children.
Illiteracy, high rate of unemployment, high rate of indebtedness are the basic problems of those
people.
5th Locality – lodging house in Petrovice u Karviné
Although the lodging house is not situated right in the city quarter of Karviná there are people
with their permanent address in Karviná which is only fictional because those people lost their
place of living by their way of life. There are 23 Roma people out of which 8 are children.
Unemployment, illiteracy, high rate of indebtedness, zero activity of the inhabitants when solving
their problems and spatial isolation are the problems afflicting that area.
6th Locality – hotel house Petrovice u Karviné
The hotel house provides accommodation mostly to long-term employees of private companies but
the first floor of the building is occupied by predominantly Roma families with children. There are
42 Roma people out of which 14 are children.
Problems of the area are illiteracy, long-term dependence on state social welfare benefits, spatial
isolation and expensive rent.
•
Articulation of the key issues – the sub themes – access to key services, labour market inclusion,
and self-help programmes why they are an issue for your Roma community.
Problems for the Roma community are based mostly in their unwillingness to solve problems, in
their passive approach to their unemployment and a favourable system of social welfare benefits in
the Czech Republic. Many of them are in the long term dependent on social welfare benefits and
such situation is convenient for them.
This process has already started with the first information request which needs to be rounded off with a
synopsis and articulation of the situation of the Roma population in each city. It is also important that
each city can provide an articulation of how the sub-themes reflect issues for Roma living in their city.
Policies, Programmes, Projects – to build a picture and provide an opportunity to showcase innovative
initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve services for the general population, or
specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health, Housing, Education and Employment. The aim
is to understand what know-how already exists in the city and how that can be re-directed or reshaped
to be relevant for the Roma population in the future. The objective is not to gather massive amounts of
information but rather to focus on a select few (two or three) under each policy area which provide a
good insight into the development capacity of the city.
•
What the city has achieved under each of the themes – what have been the results – what are
the success stories.
Thanks to the work of field workers we are able to say that the city has helped some Roma
people to find a job, others were able to find a place to live, the fatal indebtedness has been
broken in some families which asked for an installment plan with the help of field workers and
are trying to solve their difficult situation. The attitude of some families towards the
compulsory school attendance has also changed and the parents now observe their children´s
regular school attendance.
•
Have things been done for specific groups, for example women, young people. Were they a
success?
Every year there is a summer camp for children, tournaments, forums about drugs, intimate
hygiene and many others. For young women there are forums about pregnancy, childbirth and
intimate hygiene. For the adults and children there are many other free-time activities.
•
Who is implementing the projects – Local authority, public agency, NGO etc
Drom-Roma center with its seat in Brno employs a health-social worker who works in excluded
localities of Karviná. The city of Karviná employs also four field workers. They coact with the
health-social worker as well as with local non-profit organizations.
•
What particular characteristic was the key to success?
The health-social worker employed by the Drom center as well as the field workers were
chosen from the Roma population. That substantially simplified the communication among the
Roma people and the social worker.
•
What results have been delivered for Roma from the initiatives?
The Roma citizens have at their disposal permanent help of the city represented by the field
workers. They offer them consultancy free of charge, access to the authorities (if necessary they
can accompany them to the authorities, help them fill-in the forms and explain the regulations
and laws). The field workers help Roma people in difficult situations.
People and resources – to understand what social capital and resources are available locally for the next
phase of the project.
•
What organisations are already active and working with the local Roma community?
The city of Karviná with the help of state grants employs four field workers.
DROM – Roma center with its seat in Brno employs a health-social worker who works in the
city of Karviná.
Other organizations working within the city are the civic association „Roma Association of the
North Moravia Region“, the civic association Lačho lav, the 21st patrol Royal Rangers, DDM
Juventus Karviná, Silesian Diacony, Democratic Roma Alliance of the Czech Republic, NNO
Oáza, Kometa, Pohoda and others.
What is the main focus of local activity?
Field workers focus primarily on the following tasks:
To improve an overall awareness of available public and social service in the localities.
To improve communication between the authorities and clients.
To help the clients to solve their indebtedness by drawing up an installment plan.
To help by arranging a place to live.
To improve sanitary habits of the clients.
To monitor the compulsory school attendance of the client´s children.
To organize quality free-time activities not only for the youth but also for the adults.
To help clients find permanent jobs and many other tasks.
•
Are there regional or national organisations delivering services?
In Karviná the service for Roma citizens is offered by the city of Kaviná and respective local
organizations. On the national level there is for example the Government Committee for
Ethnical Minorities.
•
What physical infrastructure is available and accessible for local initiatives, for example
schools, community centres, health centres
Local initiatives have for example the Roma culture and social centre where they organize
various parties, forums and also entertainment projects. They coact with doctors –
gynaecologists and pediatrists – who take part in forums of vaccination, hygiene and other
topics. The schools in the city also closely collaborate with field workers. They check the
compulsory school attendance and in case of its omission the field worker informs the parents
immediately and they solve the situation together.
Public Sector – to understand and briefly set out how public sector responsibilities are divided in the
key policy areas of education, health, housing and employment. This should help to articulate how far
reaching the network needs to extend to be effective e in this complex policy field. The aim is not for a
large and complex analysis but to showcase the potential complexities of partnership working in each
city.
•
Are there different tiers to the public administration in each city;
Certain problems are within the power of the city, others are within the power of a solution on a
governmental level. For example a financial support of the state is necessary for certain projects. It
also depends on the effective legislation. For example according to the effective legislation of the
Czech Republic it is not possible to record or mention the numbers of Roma citizens. If any number
of Roma citizens appears it is only an expert estimate.
•
Are there divisions in decision making that could present an obstacle to future development;
An excessively favourable social policy which demotivates Roma people to find a permanent job
could be the obstacle of the future development. That is how a long-term dependency on state
social welfare benefits starts in many Roma families. Such situation is very comfortable for a lot of
them.
•
Are there particular strengths and examples where the different tiers work well together.
The schools in the city very closely collaborate with field workers. They check the compulsory
school attendance and in case of its omission the field worker informs the parents immediately and
solve the situation together. If the agreement is not enough the field worker for example picks up
the children in the families and accompanies them to school.
The field workers also closely collaborate with the doctors. They visit the families with pediatrists
and explain the necessity to have their children vaccinated regularly, they teach the families the
basic sanitary habits. They also organize together educational and informative forums about drugs,
hygiene, pregnancy and other topics.
If there are outstanding amounts of money for the rent the city informs the field workers who solve
the situation with the families trying to prevent them from homelessness.
The field workers collaborate with local employment office and job agencies working within the
city. They look for suitable educational and retraining programmes for their clients increasing their
possibility to find a job.
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
LOCAL MAPPING TEMPLATE
City
Karvina
Department/
Organisation
Statutory City of Karvina
Name of author
Composite authors, contact person – Sarka Kubicova
Date
1th March 2010
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to
build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve
services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health,
Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well as
outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying the
targeted population group.
HEALTH
One of the projects is the project SASTIPEN realized by DROM (Roma center with its seat in Brno). In
the statutory city of Karviná there is a health-social worker within the project who works in the
excluded localities. The activity of the health-social worker is a big contribution not only for the
citizens in the excluded localities but also for the city itself. The health-social worker closely
collaborates with the Roma problems social worker, with the field workers and primarily with
pediatrists, specialized doctors, general practitioners, with the department of social-legal protection of
children, with the department of social affairs, with the health insurance companies and other
institutions.
The department of social-legal protection of children at the Municipality of Karivná with the help of
grants from the Government of the Czech Republic arranges the activities of field workers in the
excluded Roma communities. Four field workers work in the city on the basis of a work agreement for
the volume of 80 hours a month depending on the grant amount. Thus the city also gave the
unemployed Roma people the possibility to assert themselves on the job market.
The field workers work in six localities where there is the highest number of Roma citizens.
At present all the field workers including the health-social worker coact with the city on the tasks
determined by a work group established for the problems of unadaptable citizens in the locality of
Karviná – Nové Město.
Last year the field workers had 533 clients out of which 62 joined the installment plan. Except the
practical solution of the problems they also take preventive actions such as trips, clubs of interests,
sporting games, summer holiday camps, public education forums for example with the Police, medical
officers, doctors – gynaecologist, etc.
The collaboration of the Department of social-legal protection of the children with the Silesian Diacony
is aimed at the assistance in socially threatened families. The Silesian Diacony obtained the
commission to the social-legal protection of the children. Since then the collaboration has been on a
very good level. The social assistance helps to monitor the proper care of the parents for their
underage children, it activates the families to solve their problems, it helps the families to set up an
installment plan and sees to its keeping, it tutors children from the socially poor families. It also takes
part in the organization of free-time activities for children with the help of the city field workers.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The assets and positive factors of the health-social workers work is the fact that on the basis of their
education they can competently advise their clients who trust them maximally. It is proved by the fact
that new clients ask for the help of a health-social worker.
As for the field workers their success at work is surely supported by the fact that the people interested
in this job were selected from the Roma population. It creates a faster acquisition of the field worker
mutual trust breaking the barriers between the city worker and the client. This fact helps to solve
difficult situations of the clients faster and in a more effective way. The ones who were selected from
the applicants for the field worker were those who had no problems with the authorities and also they
had to comply with other requirements such as clean penal history and willingness to improve and
develop their qualification. That is how they can serve as an example to the families.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
The field workers closely collaborate with non-profit organizations. First of all it is the civic association
LÁČKOLAV and the civic association „North Moravian Roma Association“. They also collaborate
with the Democratic Roma Alliance of the Czech Republic, Silesian Diacony Karviná, health-social
worker of the Roma organization DROM Brno, NNO OÁZA, Kometa, Pohoda and Royal Rangers. The
results of this collaboration in 2009 were the following activities. Forums on such topics as „Bedbug in
houses or how to prevent their appearance“, „Drugs“, „I am going to the maternity hospital“ and
„intimate hygiene of young girls and women“. Other events organized on the basis of the help of field
workers and non-profit organizations are for example the International Roma Day which took place in
the Roma Cultural and Social Centre, International Children´s Day which took place also in the Roma
Cultural and Social Centre, one-week summer camp for children from socially disadvantaged
environment, children´s carnival in the Roma Cultural and Social Centre, Christmas party in the Roma
Cultural and Social Centre, football tournament, forum with sportsmen or with a lawyer, visit to the
Sea World – aquarium in Ostrava, concentration camp in Poland, bobsleigh track in Mosty u
Jablunkova, etc.
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
health and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
The health-social worker is at the disposal of all the citizens of the statutory city of Karviná.
Nevertheless the performed activities are often aimed at the Roma population of the city. The healthsocial workers help people to find a specialist and aslo a general practitioner, accompany clients to the
doctor´s, help them to arrange rehabilitation, sanatorium, and spa. They also organize forums with
specialist doctors, inform the citizens of healthy diet, healthy regime and hygiene. They also help
people to place the infirm clients to a medical institution for long-term ill patients, to retirement homes
and institutions with permanent care service. The city health-social workers visit the Roma families at
home where, based on the suggestion of pediatrists, they ask the citizens to vaccinate regularly their
children and to keep a healthy diet and hygiene.
During the collaboration of the Municipality of Karviná Department of social-legal protection of
children and the civic association „North Moravia Roma Association“ with the civic association
LÁČHOLAV and 21st patrol of Royal Rangers a summer camp was organized with the participation
of 37 children from socially and culturally disadvantaged environment in the locality of Karviná –
Nové Město.
The mentioned subjects took part in the financing of the summer camp not only financially but they
also sent many of their members to work there as councellors of individual camp groups who
provided a very rich and interesting programme.
The field workers and the social worker for the problems of Roma community also took part in the
summer camp.
The children were led towards their personal hygiene and to clean their rooms which was daily
rewarded by points and awarded at the end of the camp.
EDUCATION
The Department of social-legal protection of children at the Municipality of Karviná with the help of
grants from the Government of the Czech Republic arranges the activities of field workers in the
excluded Roma communities. Four field workers work in the city on the basis of a work agreement for
the volume of 80 hours a month depending on the grant amount. An important part of the work of
field workers is also the effort to lead the parents towards the providing of proper school attendance
of their children and to take part in increasing quality of spending the children´s free time. They help
to organize tournaments for the children, summer camps, forums about drugs, intimate hygiene and
many other activities. The field workers prepare also forums and free-time activities for adults and
thus broaden their general knowledge. They organize educational excursions for the adults, for
example visits to the Polish concentration camps. If the children have any problems with their
compulsory school attendance the field worker contacts their parents and tries to motivate the parents
to look after their children´s regular school attendance. If there si still a problem with the school
attendance the field worker personally accompanies the children to school.
The collaboration of the Department of social-legal protection of children with the Silesian Diacony is
aimed at the assistance in socially threatened families. The Silesian Diacony helps to monitor the
proper care of the parents for their underage children, tutors the children from socially poor families.
It also takes part in the organization of free-time activities for children in collaboration with the field
workers of the city.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The field workers in case of any problem with school attendance accompany the children to school.
For example in the peripheral area of Karviná - Doly there are families who have problems sending
their children to school. The field worker goes there, picks up the children and accompanies them to
school by bus.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Considering the fact that the estimated number of Roma people in all of the six localities is 2386 out of
which 1500 are children (while last year the number of Roma people was estimated to be 1879 out of
which 1258 were children) it is evident that it is essential to focus on the underage part of the Roma
population. It is also possible to increase the future literacy rate and the connected employment rate of
the Roma population by checking the regular school attendance.
The field workers tutor the children and accompany them to school improving their school attendance
and their school results which helped to increase the number of potential students of apprentice
schools and high schools.
The children copy the life values and habits from their parents and from the environment where they
grow up. That is why it is necessary to focus on the underage children and create their sense of
responsibility and tidiness in order to prevent many problems and mistakes which they often make
when they are adults by their careless behaviour. And the same applies to petty delinquency,
inappropriate behaviour in the public, lack of interest in the regular school attendance of their
children, irresponsible and often unnecessary indebtedness and their overall attitude to their lifestyle.
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of
these interventions.
During the collaboration of the Municipality of Karviná Department of social-legal protection of
children and the civic association „North Moravia Roma Association“ with the civic association
LÁČHOLAV and 21st patrol of Royal Rangers a summer camp was organized with the participation
of 37 children from socially and culturally disadvantaged environment in the locality of Karviná –
Nové Město.
The mentioned subjects took part in the financing of the summer camp not only financially but they
also sent many of their members to work there as councellors of individual camp groups who
provided a very rich and interesting programme.
The field workers and the social worker for the problems of Roma community also took part in the
summer camp.
The children went to the woods where they learnt to identify herbs from which they prepared tea,
they learnt how to tie-dye, paint on the glass, paper and fabric, they made wrist bands. They learnt
new songs by the camp fire.
Policemen of the City Police in Karviná visited the children at the camp, familiarised them with their
everyday work and showed them all their equipment and tools they use.
The children not only spent some time in nature in the mountains where they would hardly go with
their families but they also spent the time very actively. They extended their abilities of collaboration
and communication at the camp.
HOUSING
The activity of the field workers in the excluded Roma communities is financed from the grants of the
Czech Republic Government. Depending on the amount of the grant there are 4 field workers working
in the city. The field workers focus on leading the clients to keep the optimal sanitary conditions in
their flats, houses and the surrounding areas. Last year they helped 12 families to find a place for
living.
The field workers accompany Roma clients to the authorities and institutions such as the District
Office of Social Security in Karviná, suppliers of electricity and natural gas, RPG flats and others.
Considering the fact that the number of Roma inhabitants has been substantially increasing in the last
year it is necessary to continue in the process of helping to find a place to live for the numerous Roma
families. After the Roma people had come moving from Slovakia and other parts of the Czech
Republic the capacity of a possible accommodation was not enough and so a new one, this time the
sixth problematic area was created. The Roma settled in a lodging house where they are unable to pay
the high rent. That is why the rent is paid by the city. Nevertheless this demotivates them to find other
adequate place to live or at least to try to pay the rent themselves. This problem needs to be solved.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
The field workers provide every two months a big container for the socially excluded localities. Local
people have the possibility to clean the mess themselves and have the garbage taken to the disposal
site. They also help to organize temporary job mainly in the time when there is an excessive number of
bedbugs in the locality.
They also inform the clients of the effective rules of flat allocation and about the new amendment of
the Rent Act, etc.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
The field workers inculcate the clients about their obligation to pay the due amounts of money, they
help them to draw up requests for the installment plans, requests for the penalty remission of the due
amounts for the rent and thus they help them solve their difficult housing situation and prevent them
from the eviction. Due to the loss of accommodation the families move together to one flat and in such
flats of two rooms there are up to 20 people illegaly. The field workers help to prevent those situations
by their work.
They also help to arrange accommodation in asylum institutions and lodging houses even outside the
city of Karviná and thus they prevent the homelessness.
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
living conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
Considering the fact that the number of Roma families has been increasing it is necessary to continue
in the work of field workers. Families from Bohemia and Slovakia which cannot orientate themselves
in the new environment come to Karviná without any place to live and so they demand considerable
help and support of the field workers in the area of housing as well as in the area of communication
with the authorities. After moving they get into a difficult situation which they are unable to solve on
their own.
EMPLOYMENT
The Department of social-legal protection of children at the Municipality of Karviná with the help of
grants from the Government of the Czech Republic arranges the activities of field workers in the
excluded Roma communities. Four field workers work in the city on the basis of a work agreement for
the volume of 80 hours a month depending on the grant amount. Thus the city also gave the
unemployed Roma people the possibility to assert themselves on the job market.
The field workers focus on their work performance outside in the field for example they lead their
clients to a more effective handling with their money, they motivate the clients to pay their debts and
lead them to prevent them from the debts.
They help them to communicate with the authorities, to fill in the forms and to orientate themselves in
the legal regulations. They motivate them to find a job and to take part in retraining programmes.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The field workers inform he Roma citizens about the events in the city, about the possibilities to take
part in retraining programmes, about the procurement of employment not only at the employment
office in Karviná but also in job agencies, they help them to find and get a job.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Last year the filed workers helped six clients to find a job. The estimated unemployment rate in the
locality of Karviná-Nové město is 90%, in other five problematic localities it is almost 100%. The Roma
people work mostly within the so called black economy and illegally at the seasonal jobs. It is
supported by their high rate of illiteracy. The Roma people mostly have only basic education, only a
few finished secondary school without passing A-levels exam.
The field workers mediate the offer of retraining programmes of the Employment office and other job
agencies.
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their chances of mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these
interventions.
The Employment office cannot (according to the effective legislation) keep files of the number of
unemployed Roma people. That is why it cannot organize educational and retraining programmes
which could be aimed at the groups of unemployed Roma people. This situaton is solved individually
and it always depends on the attitude and the recommendation of the Employment office to the
particular client. It means that the Employment office individually recommends retraining
programmes and offers adequate jobs. The field workers are very important here. Considering the
high rate of unemployment in the city which in January 2010 was 16.47% it is quite a big problem to
find a job for a person only with basic education.
•
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides
details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
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The city of Karviná employs four field workers with the support of state grants. Their work is
aimed at the topics described below.
DROM – Roma centre with its seat in Brno employs a health-social worker working in the city
of Karviná
Civic Association „North Moravia Roma Association“
Civic Association Lačho lav – The institution provides social-legal consultancy (also in filed) as
well as free-time activities for children.
21st patrol Royal Rangers – it deals with free-time activities of the children aimed at the life in
the nature, health and safety and at the social area.
House of children and youth Juventus Karviná
Democratic Alliance of Roma of the Czech Republic – offers general consultancy for the
people from Roma community
NNO Oáza – The main aim of their activity is to offer a meaningful and valuable use of free
time of the children and the young people, to prevent negative influence which affects them
and to provide a background for their free-time activities.
Kometa – a free-time activity centre for the young people accessible throughout the whole
year. Daily centre where the young people from the neighbourhoods in Karviná can
meaningfully spend their free time
Free time centre POHODA – an institution for children and youth. The main aim is the social
prevention and socialization of an individual. The objective is to protect the children from the
pathological social phenomena as prevention from a possible dysfunctional development of
their personality and behaviour.
Roma agency – this institution provides consultancy service for the Roma people in difficult
life situation.
Minorities integration centre Karviná – the centre deals with the position of pupils and
students with social disadvantagedness and cultural difference in the educational process and
improving their integration into the society.
Roma cultural and social centre – the institution organizes cultural, enlightenment and
educational activity aimed at the youth, prevention of criminality. Use of free time of the
children and young people and their education (clubs – dancing, music, working on PC).
The field workers particularly focus on the following tasks:
To improve an overall awareness of available public and social service in the localities which
helps to remove gradually the consequences of social exclusion.
To improve communication between the authorities and clients. To accompany the Roma
people to the negotiations at the authorities, to explain the correspondence, documents, forms
and to help them fill them up.
To help the clients to solve their indebtedness by drawing up an installment plan and by
doing so helping the clients to pay the due amounts.
To help them arranging a place to live by means of rental or in asylum houses or in lodging
houses. To try to find a rental or municipal flat for some families and thus to help prevent the
homelessness.
To improve sanitary habits of the clients and thus improve the sanitary conditions at their
homes and the surrounding areas.
To monitor the compulsory school attendance of the client´s children and in case of its
skipping to help the parents and accompany the children to school.
To organize quality free-time activities not only for the youth but also for the adults.
•
To help clients find permanent jobs and many other tasks.
•
In Karviná the service for Roma citizens is offered by the city of Kaviná and respective local
organizations. On the national level there is for example the Government Committee for
Ethnical Minorities.
•
Local initiatives have for example the Roma culture and social centre where they organize
various parties, forums and also entertainment projects. They coact with doctors –
gynaecologists and pediatrists – who take part in forums of vaccination, hygiene and other
topics. The schools in the city also closely collaborate with field workers. They check the
compulsory school attendance and in case of its omission the field worker informs the parents
immediately and they solve the situation together
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas
of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the
public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could
present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers
work well together.
•
Certain problems are within the power of the city, others are within the power of a solution on
a governmental level. For example a financial support of the state is necessary for certain
projects. It also depends on the effective legislation. For example according to the effective
legislation of the Czech Republic it is not possible to record or mention the numbers of Roma
citizens which sometimes causes problems for example during the preparation of individual
projects focused on Roma citizens.
•
What could be an obstacle of the future development is an excessively favourable social policy
which demotivates Roma people to find a permanent job. That is how a long-term dependency
on state social welfare benefits starts in many Roma families. Such situation is very
comfortable for a lot of them.
•
The schools in the city very closely collaborate with field workers. They check the compulsory
school attendance and in case of its omission the field worker informs the parents immediately
informs the parents and solve the situation together. If the agreement is not enough the field
worker for example picks up the children in the families and accompanies them to school.
The field workers also closely collaborate with the doctors. They visit the families with
pediatrists and explain the necessity to have their children vaccinated regularly, they teach the
families the basic sanitary habits. They also organize together educational and informative
forums about drugs, hygiene, pregnancy and other topics.
If there are outstanding amounts of money for the rent the city informs the field workers who
solve the situation with the families trying to prevent them from homelessness.
The field workers collaborate with local employment office and job agencies working within
the city. They look for suitable educational and retraining programmes for their clients
increasing their possibility to find a job.
•
•
•
•
On the national level there are announced grants from which it is possible to draw subsidy for
the mentioned problems (the target group is the Roma population – people threatened by
social exclusion). The applicant can be the city or a non-profit organization. Nevertheless the
administration of those projects is quite difficult and the procedure to draw funds from the
grants is complicated.
City Partner Košice
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
KOSICE - LOCAL MAPPING
City
Košice
Department/
Organisation
Strategic Development Department / Košice City Council
Name of author
Ladislav Perháč
Date
20/April/2010
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to
build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve
services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health,
Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well
as outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying
the targeted population group.
HEALTH
The city of Košice in the recent 5 years has implemented several projects aimed at assistance to
marginalised groups living in the city, among others the following:
-
In 2008 the city implemented within the social program a social-legal protection project
for the children and social care aimed at prevention of social-pathological phenomena
among children and youth for the basic school pupils at the Podjavorinska Basic School
of Luník IX Roma housing estate of the city of Košice.
The project «My Family« („Moja rodina“) was implemented in 2009 in cooperation with the
non-governmental organization working with the Roma citizens at their housing estate Luník
IX. By way of regular meetings the selected groups of the women meet renowned specialists
in different fields of family life, such as household financial management, partnership
relations, healthcare etc. Every participant had the possibility to tell his/her opinion through
the discussions, conversations and to get the needed information for their family affairs
management. The project aimed also at better knowing and understanding each other
mutually.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
Both of these projects have been designed and implemented under the decades of experience
working with marginalised, disadvantaged citizens.
The approach respected the special conditions of the target group their vulnerability and sensitivity,
often mistrustfulness against the majority inhabitants.
The projects succeeded to persuade the Roma citizens about the need of cooperation and
communication and about the mutually advantageous outputs coming out from the project activities.
The practical follow up of the projects lies in edification of the target citizens especially concerning
the highly disadvantageous Roma women, enhancing their health conditions and general awareness
of these vital issues.
This strategy, based on empathy and trust between the coordinators and the target group has
promoted the professional and interpersonal communication that allowed the establishment of the
aid relationships that might be used up in the future also.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Since 2009 our city has implemented under the cooperation of the Social Development Fund the
project of The Field Social Work. The project aims at socially disadvantaged locations in Košice.
Thanks to subsidy from the Social Development Fund we have succeeded to employ two field
social workers and two of their assistants. These people implement the initiated field social work
successfully in the location of Luník IX.
Operational program: Employment and Social inclusion
Approved subsidy: 48 633,34 EUR
Activities: Providing advisory to clients in connection with the settlement of their unfavourable situation
- Purposeful individual social work with the client in his/her natural environment and searching activities
- Accompanying the client
- Renewal and adaptation of the family relations of the child taken out from the family under a court
decision
- Raising social mobility of the client, abilities to organise one’s life individually
- Tender procedures for raising the numbers of the field social workers and Associations of the field social
workers.
Last year the city has applied for another subsidy aimed at improving the Roma citizens welfare
situation:
OPERATIONAL PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIÁL INCLÚSION
Title: Strengthening the field social work at Košice housing estates Luník IX and Na Demetri
(Both are residential areas with prevailing majority of Roma citizens.)
Aims of the project intent:
- Improving the field social work aimed at changing the target group members´ attitude to
work, education and quality of the life of the Roma community in the concerned location,
- Improving the field social work by means of raising the social workers, raising the quality of
their work conditions, making the work of the Community centre more efficient and creating
a bridge between the majority citizens and the citizens of Luník IX, and Na Demetri.
Maximal amount of subsidy:
500 000 EUR
Amount of cofinancing ( minimally 5 % from the overall costs):
25 000 EUR
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their
health and health services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
In 2007 the Mayor of the city opened the newly established Community Centre (Komunitné centrum)
in the LUNÍK IX housing estate. There are employed 6 full time community workers having
considerable experience in dealing with marginalized communities and settlement of their problems.
Their task is to provide consultation, advisory services for the disadvantaged groups – unemployed;
the unemployment rate exceeds 95% among the Roma population here. The community workers
check also the school attendance of the Roma children as absenteeism is a widespread phenomenon
here, and try to help the citizens who are in default with the payment for the rent of the flats, the
community workers try to find them employment opportunities to work off their debts.
- Košice plans to implement a project «Building up a polyfunctional health and leisure time centre»
serving for the citizens of LUNÍK IX, Košice
Implementing authority: City Council Košice
EDUCATION
Košice has recently applied for a new educational program aimed at the Roma children within the
REGIONAL OPERATIONAL PROGRAM:
Improving the educational-pedagogical process of Roma children at the residential area of Luník
IX
Aims of the project intent:
- Enhancement of rooms of the basic school for the needs of the teaching process,
- Improving the elementary education on the housing estate Luník IX,
- Improving the quality of the environment and the quality of the education provided,
- Raising the number of the pupils, finishing the complete basic school education.
Maximal amount of the project subsidy:
3 320 000 EUR
Amount of cofinancing ( minimally 5 % from the overall costs):
166 000 EUR
OPERATIONAL PROGRAM EDUCATION:
Raising the quality of the educational process at the level : teacher – pupil – parents
Aims of the project:
- Enhancing the results of the pupils from socially disadvantaged environment,
- Raising the educational process towards the executors of the education, raising the efficiency of the
didactic methods accepting the socially-culturally different environment and including these special
features into the educational proceedings,
- Overcoming the communication barriers,
- Creating positive social climate at school,
- Improved communication between teachers – pupils – parents.
Maximal amount of the project subsidy:
Amount of cofinancing ( minimally 5 % from the overall costs):
500 000 EUR
25 000 EUR
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
These two projects include active participation of the teachers and the children and continuous
interaction between these target groups.
As education is considered to be a key issue in improving the life standard of these marginalised
groups - the project addressed Roma children first time in this way, it allowed children to participate
in finding solutions giving them a feeling that their voice is also important in searching for the
efficient ways of improvement of their lives.
It was a great contribution for the social inclusion and development of children from vulnerable
territories.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
None
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their inclusion in mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of
these interventions.
The Košice City Council has organised several times a voluntary action “Clean your Environment”
where the city officials from the environmental protection department organise a whole day cleaning
work, so called “brigades” where the local citizens clean their flats and the surrounding area,
collecting plastic bottles and other rubbish thrown in the area of the whole housing estate.
Concurrently with this work deratization and disinfection works are organised regularly to enhance
the hygienic standard of the residents living in this housing estate.
HOUSING
Košice city council has started an aid program assisting the social integration of the Roma people
providing them new dwelling units in Luník IX residential area. The aim of the project is to raise the
living standard of the residents in the new flats, and to achieve the longest possible sustainability of
their original state in 15 low standard container flats (steel sheet construction) in Luník IX. By way of
intensive community and field social work to influence the families as a whole and to help them also
by means of advisory and lectures, through regular visits in the container flats, to check and correct
the payments for the rent and the management of the entrusted property. The results of the project
will be evaluated by the end of June 2010.
This program aims to eliminate the quarters of slums having under-standard hygienic and socialeconomic conditions which in Košice cause a considerable problem.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
The special element of this special dwelling settlement rests in the quick construction type and the
sustainability of the flats with the low rate of the rent and low maintenance costs.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
The Action Program planned for the Roma citizens housing issues counts on construction of new
flats and the building and implementation of the projects will involve also the concerned Roma
citizens.
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their living conditions and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
The Action Program planned for the Roma citizens had implemented a new project – building up
new flats for the Roma citizens. The high demographic rate and the great percentage of devastated,
practically uninhabitable flats raised the issue of a new construction type flats. As an alternative there
were built up a new type of flats from containers, steel sheets.
All these flats are equipped by kitchen unit, water tap and electrical cooker. All of them have shower
and other necessary hygienic equipments. The heating is done through electric convectors. Because of
the construction system of the flats – easy steel bearing construction with panelling – the flats are
easy and quick to construct.
The rent will be socially tolerable which means - the lowest income will be enough for paying the rent
without any extra payment for the services. The city started this project with the aim to provide the
Roma citizens flats without the risk of making debts in the follow up of granting them residence.
EMPLOYMENT
The Košice City Council cooperates with the largest companies established in the city - such as the
US Steel JSC, the city industrial parks in finding the solution for the alarming employment problem
of the Roma citizens.
The US Steel steel-works company management undertook to employ every year a certain number
of Roma citizens for the services of the company.
Besides this, the city council tries to involve the unemployed Roma citizens in the so called
activation works. The concept of activation works means - keeping in touch with the labour market
the group of people who have lost their work, and they have become in the long-term unemployed.
This is the basic concept of the government policy defining the publicly useful work which means
mostly cleaning and building adjustment works of the dwelling areas including infrastructure
building and ensuring the local police patrol for raising the safety at the concerned areas.
This approach increased the competitiveness of individual access to the labour market, through the
integration efforts which annually involves several dozens of people depending on the possibilities
and needs of the employing companies.
The city is one of the organisers of the World Championship 2011 in ice hockey where there are a lot
of new employment possibilities. Košice counts on the improvement of the Roma unemployment also
by involving our Roma citizens in connected works.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which
these services/actions will be targeted.
Great industrial companies can include to their strategy and employment policy the sponsorship of
the marginalised communities.
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve
their chances of mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these
interventions.
NA
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides details
of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
•
Roma community Centre - working mainly with women and children. The organization works
directly with the Luník IX residents, i.e. prevailingly Roma community.
•
Roma press agency aiming at work with Roma projects, mainly Roma women and children
issues, their adaptation integration into the society. RPA – The Roma Press Agency or Mecem
(mass media centre) includes a number of different projects. MECEM launched recently two
new Web sites dealing with Roma community issues. Besides the older www.rpa.sk, there are
new portals www.romovia.sk and www.mecem.sk. The portal romovia.sk focuses more on
culture. It brings information about the history of the Roma and focuses on the problems of
poverty, Roma women, the Roma language and literature.
•
Professional Commission at City Council for dealing with the problems of the Roma
minority living in the territory of the city Košice mainly in the following issues
Health-care improving the hygienic habits of the target population, getting sponsorship for
the health centre, - cooperation with the NGO’s and local associations to facilitate the access of
the population to better healthcare and health services.
Education – cooperation with all public schools and kinder gardens mainly with high density
Roma residential areas
.
Housing – Cooperation in settling dwelling problems, finding, building up flats for lowincome citizens and big families with many children.
Employment – Supporting the marginalised citizens´ applications in labour offices, mediation
of works at home labour market and EU markets also. Local resources to give support to
young and adult unemployed to achieve the labour market.
Projects implementation. Aiming at settlement of the aroma population economic, social
integration and improved relations with the majority population.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas
of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the
public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could
present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers
work well together.
The Košice City Council has developed a strategy of social interventions in vulnerable territories. The
city considers the Roma integration a huge challenge, in terms of the city policies and social cohesion,
challenging new methodologies and solutions for the burning social problems, as poverty and
exclusion. New participation methods are being used, involving the population, access to mainstream
services and social support and positive action. Important feature is the improved image of the
concerned groups in the majority’s view. The Roma representatives are involved in designing of
public social projects.
The social closure of the Roma Community represents an obstacle to the planned assistance and
changes and especially to the opportunities created in the society, and makes it difficult to improve
their situation, requiring the identification of new strategies. The low skilled, unqualified labour force,
low education level are also critical areas. Most individuals never attended any higher education, have
no professional qualification which practically excludes them from the labour market. To face this
situations the intervention has to aim at improving the public opinion on this marginalised community
and it is necessary to provide them helping hand especially in the employment issues and education.
This is the purpose of founding the Professional Commission in city Košice for settlement of Roma
national minority living in the city. The members are renowned Roma specialists in social work,
media, and culture. The city management hopes to get the first results also by the support of this
project.
COMUNE DI UDINE
City Partner Udine
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
LOCAL MAPPING – UDINE
PLACE
The demographics, economic drivers, special characteristics.
Udine is an ancient historical city in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region of North Eastern Italy, which
in recent years has experienced something of a renaissance in both its industrial and academic capacity.
The city occupies an area of approximately 56km2 and is home to a population of 99.071 inhabitants
(up-date 01.01.2009), with a population density equating to 1,769km2, as at Jan 2009. This represents a
growth rate of 1.2% on the previous year and is split 46.8% male to 53.2% female. As at 2007 the
number of minors aged 18 or below totalled 14.36% and those pensioners over the age of 65 reached
24.27%. This compares with the Italian average of 18.06% and 19.94% respectively. The average age of
Udine residents is 47 as compared to the country average of 42. In the 5 years to 2007 the population of
Udine grew by 1.48% while Italy as a whole grew by 3.56%.
With levels of unemployment at approximately 4% (2008) as compared to country averages of
almost double that, the city boasts a relatively strong economy, dominated by the tertiary sector and
recognised as an important centre of commerce. In line with the Region as a whole, Udine enjoys a
favourable GDP per capita [i.e. 21.399 (2008), in the Province of Udine € 21.262 (2008)] that generally far
exceeds the EU average, unlike Italy’s more Southern regions. The inflation rate is under control,
following regional and national inflation levels (3,4% on average).
In the 3 years to Jan 2009 the number of foreign citizens in Udine had risen by close to 9% (8.812) to
12,3% (12.156), split 50.1% male to 49.9% female. The most significant immigrant group comes from
other European nations most notably Albania, Romania and Serbia.
Roma Population Profile
The Roma community61 in Udine currently stands at 330, representing a total of 85 family units. Of
this 330 total, a significant proportion, currently 100 people or 26 families, 55 of whom are under 21
years of age, are housed unlawfully on the city’s largest, and Italy’s oldest, unregulated camp62.
61
We use the term “Roma people” even though aware that definitions with reference to “Roma
issues” are incomplete, simplifying and often stigmatising. We will use this wording including Sinti
or other self-defining Roma groups.
62
Italy was defined “camp-land” by a European Roma Rights Centre Report in 2000: ERRC,
Campland. Racial segregation of Roma in Italy, Country Report Series n. 9, October 2000. In the
late ‘80s and early ‘90s, 10 out of the 20 regions in Italy adopted laws aimed at the “protection of
nomadic cultures” through the construction of segregated camps.
Over the last 50 years Roma families have gathered on this area of State property, between the
station and a cemetery in the North Eastern part of town, and have settled, without permission, in
either caravans or pre-fabricated houses which have no access to standard public services such as
sanitation. There are 5 other such stop-camps spread across the municipal area. Fewer than 100 people
are settled in permanent social housing and despite the use of housing mediators to smooth the way for
those concerned, the experience has not been a positive one.
History: hints
1950s: First settling of Roma people coming from the nearest concentration camps where Balkan people
were confined during the II World War. They settle down in an vast area in the countryside, at that
time detached from the town, property of the Ministry of Defence and used by the Army to drill the
troops. The camp is also baptized “Metallic Village”, first for the plate-barracks left by the British Army
for homeless families at the end of WW II, then for the presence of caravans and hutments of nomadic
people.
After the forced removal of Roma people from Naples camp (November 2009), Udine camp is now the
eldest in Italy.
1960s: First residences are issued by the Municipality to Roma people living in the camp. This time the
Municipality does not worry about these first Roma groups settling down in the nearbies of the town,
because of their detachment from the town.
1980s: the urban area enlarges and Roma families within the camp and in some other parts of the town
increase, do the Municipality intervenes. Baths, WCs and 2 common fountains were built in the camp.
1987: first anti-Roma action in Rome (burning of caravan in an illegal camp) takes the question
of “security” in the spotlight and the Municipality of Udine, too, begins to ask itself about the
presence of Roma people and its potential consequences on the life of the town.
1988: it’s the “Roma year” for Udine and Friuli Venezia Giulia Region: the Regional
Administration issues a regional law titled “Law for the protection of Roma culture in FVG Region”.
Although for several aspects it was quite a far-sighted law63, since 1993 it has never been refinanced.
Special schools for Roma children were active in the ‘80s, with separated timetable and
programmes, often without heating in the classrooms.
1990s: the Ministry of Defence sells the area of the camp to the Ministry of the Interior: the camp is still
State property.
1991: the Municipality stops issuing residences in the camp, with worse consequences upon
health care registration and school application.
1998: forced removal of an illegal settling (via Friuli) and the removed families move to the
camp, with which traditionally there has been conflictuality.
1999: State civil property legal action against the Municipality of Udine: State property asks the
Municipality to pay for the rent of the area, unlawfully occupied by people who are resident in
Udine. Sentence passed in 2009 discharges the Municipality from any responsibility. A Regional
63 Regional Law 11/1988 foresees the protection of Roma cultural values and historical identity, the promotion of mutual respect
and of cohabitation; it finances Municipal and local Authorities projects aiming at buying of bettering camps (transit-camps or
stop-camps), as well as initiatives favouring social solidarity co-operative societies, educative and training plans, in order to facilitate
Roma social inclusion, with special care for children, on one side, and for activities of knowledge and support of Roma minority
group. Moreover, the Regional Law establishes a regional Council on Roma culture protection, including Roma people
representatives.
Commissary (1999-2000) relieves the Municiality of Udine from responsibilities in dealing with
Roma people on its territory and confirms the Municipality implemented all pertaining
interventions.
2000/2001: 2 projects elaborated by the Municipal Administration
Roma settlements in Udine
1.
feasibility study on the implementation of a
stop-camp (in compliance with Regional Law
11/1988): the Municipality locates an area in
between a graveyard and a railway in the
General Town-Plan and singles out it for
Roma people occupation, but this provision
has never been implemented;
2.
feasibility study on the location of certain
areas as “O-zones” (Regional Law 11/1988)
dedicated to mono-parental settling, never
applied.
2001 Prefect (local Government Representative) stops
all forced removals.
Policies and Administration
The
formation
of
the
2008-2012
Administrative Mandate has identified that the Roma
community slip through the existing social services
net and prescribe the need for a unified strategy for
Roma integration. As such, it has allocated resource to
the integration of the Roma community in the form of a dedicated councillor who has studied their
situation thoroughly and acts as an intermediary in their dealings with all external institutions and
associations.
There are additional projects focusing attention on mediation in social housing and integration
of the Roma juvenile population and although there is no specific designated department, various
sectors of the Municipal Administration, including Social Services, Education Services, Registry Office,
Town Planning, Municipal Police and the Mayor’s Office are involved with addressing Roma related
issues.
Expectations
Above all it is hoped that this project will promote the strategic sharing of knowledge and
exchange of experiences, methodologies and good practice from other local initiatives, regarding the
social inclusion of the Roma community. We will benefit from considering the relevant issues in a wider
trans-national context with respect to European and International Human Rights legislation and may be
able to exploit our strong partnership to qualify for European funding of local integration policies.
Through the existing council affiliation with members of the Roma community, it is fullyintended that they be involved in the Local Support Group. A meeting to discuss the ROMA-Net
project has already taken place to outline the initiative and several local voluntary associations have
committed their support and pledged their continued involvement. In addition, local Health Services,
Social Services and the Juvenile Policy Service will be included in the working group to ensure that all
needs are met.
It is critical in this process that the first aim of the Local Action Plan is to fully involve the final
beneficiaries, those being the Roma community. Any Plan which does not involve them from the very
inception of the process risks failure to tackle the core issues.
SOCIAL SITUATION
a) Italian citizenship
The members of Roma community in the camp are all Italian citizens.
b) Residence and living conditions
Since 1991 (census-year when Udine reached 100.000 inhabitants), the Municipality stops
issuing residences in the camp, but for few registrations owing to social assistance reasons.
Now 32 people in the camp do not enjoy residence and cannot therefore have access to basic
health care or children’s health care (as a consequence: frequency of pathologies such as
bronchitis, asthma, diarrhoea).
Missing residence makes school enrolment very difficult: pupils are temporarily registered and
are compelled to prove their residence registration or at least their application to obtain it.
There is a high level of social exclusion and a worrying worsening of living conditions in the
camp. There are also some dangerous situations, such as electricity wires for caravan
connection hanging down from a crooked bracket pole and running close to water.
Adults support families collecting scrap-iron or begging for alms.
c) Children, teen-agers and schooling
Children and teen-agers of under-21 represent half of the people living in the camp and few of
them accomplish compulsory school.
d) Relationship with “native” population
People living in the nearby to the Roma-camp often complains about burning of rubbish, thefts
and fights attributed to Roma community members.
e) Detachment from the camp
From 2003 to 2008 the Municipality
Some initiatives were proposed against the camp and its inhabitants (public demonstrations,
signature collection, …), without a clear proposal about alternative solutions.
The Municipal Administration now in office believes that loosening the relationship with the
camp would mean banish Roma people from possibilities of effective social inclusion (for
individuals as well as for families) or from information about their chances to obtain social help
and support. As a consequence, marginalisation would rise and social safety would creak.
So, the Administration strongly supports positive actions and involvement of native and Roma
communities in discussing and deciding projects moving away from a logic of geographical and
social ghetto.
PRESENT ISSUES
a) Law cases
1.
The State property started legal proceedings against the Municipality to oblige it to clean
the camp; the law establishes that the area has to be cleaned every 5 years and Udine
Administrative Authorities, under this mandate, cleaned it from August to October 2008;
2.
request by the State to pay a 5-years’rent for the illegal occupation of the camp, on the basis
that local Administration is “competent and responsible” for the population illegal living
there: the Judge states that the Municipality of Udine is not responsible for an illegal
occupation, therefore is not compelled to pay for the requested rent. Recently, the
Municipality met the representatives of the Prefecture and of the State property and was
assured about their commitment to solve the camp’s situation, by receiving the whole area
without paying any rent, but with the possibility to realise amenities for the same amount.
The agreement is not defined yet, but the opportunity to talk and think together about that
is meaningful and innovative.
3.
b) Social services and economic measures granted by the Social Service
1. Territorial Socio-Educational Service: it is assured by the Social Service to children and
teen-agers facing difficult social and family situations, risking psycho-social distress; it is a
preventive solution, aiming at granting to child/teen-ager and to their families the
conditions for their harmonic development, at home or at school, individually or in group,
in co-operation with schools, health services and the Social Service of the ministry of
Justice: 11 children living in the camp enjoy the service in 2008/2009; a Roma educator
takes care about social mediation at school.
2.
Poverty Fund: it is a temporary economic measure and it aims at preventing, overcoming
or reducing personal needs due to low wages, social problems, non-autonomy conditions,
in order to promote social re-integration and inclusion: 37 people enjoyed the fund in 2009,
with monthly monetary contribution from € 150 to € 625.
c) Requests of council houses and housing solutions outside the camp
2008: 3 families
2009: 16 families
People in the camp can be moved away only if there are effective housing solutions outside of
it: there is an area which could be arranged, but now lacks of sewage. Meanwhile, Social
Services are working together with associations to find houses for those who voluntarily accept
to move with their families.
To summarise, the major challenges faced by the Roma population in Udine emanate from
both their physical isolation and social exclusion from the rest of society.
Living on a camp without basic amenities is not a lifestyle choice that is widely understood or
accepted by the general population and thus has contributed to a fear and mistrust of the Roma people
which often results in abusive treatment by other communities. The Roma community themselves
suffer the discomfort of extremely degraded living conditions and as a result of their lack of residency
rights or official registration, they fail to qualify for the most basic of social services such as general
healthcare and education.
This results in poor health and high levels of illiteracy which as young Roma people become
increasingly isolated and marginalised, has a direct correlation with the high levels of unemployment
and petty crime rates being experienced. Whilst there have been some attempts to establish social cooperatives providing gardening services, there is no investment in the development of sustainable good
jobs and as a result, the main source of income generation has been the collection and disposal of illegal
waste.
The key challenges for the city in relation to the Roma population revolve around solutions to
the identified issues. The problem of illegal habitation in camps must be addressed by providing
alternative acceptable and more integrated solution. It is hoped that the relationship between the Roma
people and other communities can be improved through education and knowledge sharing with
regards the Roma way of life as well as the provision of mediation services for disputes. A strategy for
informing and providing assistance with education, housing and job opportunities is necessary.
Articulation of the key issues
With relation to what explained above, it is evident that thinking about specific actions within
the key sub-themes of the project “ROMA-NET. Integration of Roma population” is a meaningful
resource for trying to overcome challenges through a Local Action Plan.
Access to key services
Making the contact between Roma people and public services easier, avoiding forms of
discrimination.
Labour market inclusion
Promoting the overcoming of barriers in the access to the local labour market;
making vocational training more accessible;
providing for materials to start activities and informing about how to start an activity;
proposing forms of self-management of places where Roma live.
Self-help programmes
Promoting involvement within the Project network, particularly in the Local Support Group;
enhancing Roma self-entrepreneurship ;
reinforcing positive experiences, i.e. co-operatives.
Moreover, it would be extremely important to implement these actions that the Project may
focus on the process of involving the Roma community as a transversal aim of the Local Action Plan:
this would enhance the efficacy of the Project’s actions.
ROMA-NET Integration of Roma population
LOCAL MAPPING TEMPLATE
City
Udine
Department/
Organisation
Mayor’s Office
Social Services Department
Name of author
Antonella Nonino, Anna Andrian
Date
February 2010
ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS – the following report attempts to
build a picture and showcase innovative initiatives that the city has already put in place to improve
services for the general population, or specific segments, under the key policy areas of Health,
Housing, Education and Employment.
With respect to each policy area, we have selected examples of specific projects / programmes that
showcase initiatives previously applied by the city, describing the aims, purpose and results as well as
outlining how the project was managed, who was responsible for implementation and specifying the
targeted population group.
HEALTH
Health premises in Udine are recognised as part of an excellence standard in the Region and in Italy.
The Hospital has been active for 700 years and the modern structure and organisation was built in
1924. In 1993 the Hospital was acknowledged by the Government as of “national importance and high
specialisation”.
Health services are organised in Local Health Authorities and Health Districts: the Health Agency of
Udine includes 62 Municipalities (335.000 inhabitants) and offers basic medial assistance, specialised
services, prevention / mental health / dependence services, emergency care; the District of Udine
takes care of diagnosis, basic care, rehabilitation, health education and prevention.
Health services work networking with other public bodies and with private and voluntary
associations.
Some examples of programmes / projects run by institutions, with the co-operation with associations:
1. Healthy Cities: WHO project born in 1986, aimed at improving health conditions, mainly for
children and old people, ensuring access to good quality health services and enhancing both
private and public contribution. Udine joined the international partnership in 1995 and so far
managed projects about health prevention, healthy alimentation, physical activity, smoke
prevention, school mobility and safety, sexual education, environment protection, research
and study (i.e. the elderly in Udine, health maps, Vancouver Protocol and age-friendly cities).
2. Agenda 21: international action plan supporting sustainable development. Udine is a partner
since 1996, trying to develop successful urban and extra-urban policies, elaborating a Local
Action Plan aimed at improving the quality of life in the city, with special attention to health,
social cohesion and culture.
3. Protected dismissal from hospital: managed by Hospital, Health District and Social Services,
aimed at promoting care continuity between hospital and home, mainly for old people,
though the co-operation of different services, in order to support the families.
4. UdineBike: bike sharing project for people moving by bike within the city. Bicycles are placed
in specific spots (i.e. station, squares, parking).
5.
6.
Voluntary services: the Municipality co-ordinates more than 60 association to offer small
services in ordinary life (do the shopping, medicines from the chemist’s, little house-repairing,
small transport, information, company, aggregation places) to old people living alone and
without family supports, or to temporarily non-self-sufficient people, or to people with
economic problems; the Health Department included voluntary health clinics for migrants,
aimed at health prevention and screening after their first arrival.
Overnight street service: the Social Service Department promotes an overnight street service,
realised by the local Caritas through an educator and voluntary people, aimed at offering
support and basic necessaries to homeless people or people who find themselves in heavy
distress situation.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The following elements contributed to the success of the projects mentioned above:
a) a strong commitment of the Municipality and of other institutions, such as the
Hospital and the Health District, both from the political side and from the technical
one, resulting in shared methodologies and good practices;
b) a profitable co-operation between public bodies and private/voluntary association,
with an on-going process of community work;
c) the voluntary participation of citizens in planning and implementing the activities.
New health project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these services/actions
will be targeted.
The programme is to enhance the efficiency of what is on-going, reinforcing the features dealing with
community work, in order to involve in the process not only institutions or associations, but the same
final beneficiaries.
The LSG members propose to reinforce some prevention measures, such as health screening for
women and children, as well as training for mothers and parents, information about health services
and implementation of voluntary nurse service.
Health projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their health and health
services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
Health care for Roma population has not been organised through separate projects, however Health
Authorities have been active in the Roma camp and in other Roma settlements, in order to ensure –
quite successfully – that children are vaccinated and to take care about the hygienic aspects.
Emergencies are covered by the Hospital, as for the whole population.
The expectation would be to extend the role of the Health Authorities dealing with the wider aspects
of health protection for the camp and promote a better access to health education information, since
over the years it has proven to be difficult to positively engage the camp community and to keep them
interested in any initiatives.
EDUCATION
At national level, primary and secondary schools join European projects dealing with intercultural
issues, environmental matters and twinning. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Administration
implements plans to widen the educational supply, involving Universities, School Directions and
single schools, mainly supporting information, intercultural awareness-raising, after-school services,
cultural and linguistic mediation.
Some examples of programmes / projects run by institutions, schools, also in co-operation with social
co-operatives and associations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Local Socio-Educative Service: assured by the Social Department of the Municipality to
children and teen-agers facing difficult social and family situations, risking psycho-social
distress; it is a preventive solution, aiming at granting to children/teenagers and to their
families the conditions for their harmonic development, at home or at school, individually or
in group, in co-operation with schools, health services and the Social Service of the Ministry of
Justice: 11 children living in the camp enjoyed the service in 2008/2009; a Roma
mediator/educator takes care about social mediation at school.
After-school services: homework support, aggregation and leisure activities, individual
capabilities reinforcing, mainly for Italian and migrant pupils with school problems, often
promoted by the Municipality or by the school through Regional funds and implemented by
social co-operatives or associations.
Cultural and linguistic mediation within primary and secondary school: aimed at offering a
first linguistic support to children whose migrant families have just arrived, in order to
include them in the ordinary school classes.
Promotion of the participation to aggregation centres to make socializing among youngsters
easier.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The following elements contributed to the success of the projects mentioned above:
a) a strong involvement of the Municipality and schools;
b) a profitable co-operation between public bodies and private/voluntary association,
with an on-going process of community work;
c) the involvement of migrants’ associations, specialised in linguistic mediation and
intercultural education, which helped building trust among institution.
New education project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
The Municipality is committed to improve the Local Socio-Educative Service and, starting from 2010,
to start the implementation of an integrated educative service, with strong social features, aimed at
supporting adult people in distressed situation (homeless, evicted, facing economic problems, lacking
family or friendly supports): this is quite a meaningful project, since it arises from an experimental
programme involving – for more than 2 years – different institutions and many associations, such as
the Municipality of Udine, the Health Authorities (Health District, Departments for Mental Health, for
Dependences and for Prevention), the Ministry of Justice and associations working for marginalized
people. They shared views and planned an innovative and integrated form of intervention in an area
where services have been not co-ordinated so far, trying to offer a better service to final beneficiaries.
The LSG members propose to enhance support services and training courses and measures. Some
project ideas have been presented by UNICEF and other associations.
Education projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their inclusion in
mainstream education services and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
A Mediation service has been set: a Roma mediator / educator works at primary school and within the
Local Socio-Educative Service; she is considered as a facilitator on primary schooling of Roma
children.
Specifically, for Roma children and teenagers, one of the priorities – through the ROMA-NET project –
is to think and implement strategies and practices to grant continuous education from the very
beginning, with a strong link to primary and then secondary schools. Moreover, the plan involves
prevention of Roma youngsters from dropping-out and enhancement of vocational training, as a
bridge to labour market.
Thanks to regional funds, the Social Department manages a specific project aimed at promoting the
integration in the labour market of young Roma people, mainly under 21-years-old. The project,
named “Lacio Drom”, focuses on the following actions:
1. educative accompaniment to labour and social inclusion;
2. working measures;
3. vocational training;
4. collaboration with Confederations/Organisations of Crafts, Small and MediumSized Enterprises, with the Ministry of Justice and with private voluntary
association.
Aware of the obstacles faced by Roma youngsters at school and at work, the projects wants to tackle
on one side education and training and on the other working measures, in order to try to remove
barriers coming from poor education, dropping-out, lack of information, labour discrimination.
It is an experimental project the aims of which are very close to ROMA-NET objectives, so the
Administration is trying to find the way to integrate one into the other.
Since 2006, the Youth Agency of the Municipality of Udine managed working measures for teen-agers
and 3 Roma youngsters joined the programme, with very good results, mainly in co-operation with the
aggregation centres in the city.
HOUSING
Housing is a key issue when dealing with marginalized people, since together with good health
condition and decent job, proper housing is one of the elements characterizing the individual well
being.
Recently, due to economic crisis, renting and loaning costs became crucial problems, affecting middleclass and, heavily, weaker categories of the population, even lodged in Council Houses.
The Regional Administration promotes policies and projects about social housing and economic
support, both for natives and for migrants.
Within the Social Services Department, he Municipality of Udine introduced two specific Units,
namely the Receiving Co-ordination and Social Inclusion Interventions Office and the Immigration,
Social housing and citizenship rights promotion Office, mainly dealing with:
- planning of reception policies for migrants and natives;
- coordination with institutional and associative resources;
- organisation of employees training;
- collaboration with services taking care of violence/harassment on women;
- promotion of education, support and social inclusion of detainees and former-detainees;
- coordination of the local Round table on Immigration;
- implementation of international cooperation projects.
Some examples of programmes / projects run by institutions, schools, also in co-operation with social
co-operatives and associations:
1.
Social Housing Agency: since 1994, a local association (called Vicini di casa, meaning
“Neighbours”) manages original actions and measures to support disadvantaged people
needing house or shelter, i.e. social rent, house restructuring, temporary housing solutions,
information about private market opportunities and help with the first duties when renting or
loaning house. The association, in close collaboration with institutions and with professional
employees, implements technical, social and economic services, in order to make the access to
housing services easier to those facing problems. Between 2008 and 2009, the Social Housing
Agency realised 1690 contacts in Udine and in its neighbourhood, registering an increasing
rate of requests from Italian people – mainly problematic (socio-sanitary problems,
unemployment, debts, ), which represents a difference with respect to the previous decade,
when migrants were the most interested by housing difficulties – mainly for linguistic reasons,
low wages, discrimination. The service is implemented in collaboration with Social Services
and private agencies.
2.
Overnight shelter: from September 2006, the Municipality and Caritas manage an overnight
shelter, aimed at homeless and marginalized people reception at night (from 22.00 p.m. to 7.00
a.m.). On average, the overnight shelter receives 100 people per year, Italian and migrants,
with different individual situation, from forced eviction to economic problems, from homeless
condition to temporary family crisis, from recent migration to lost of job. This service proved
to be precious for the methodology used: the personalised project, made by the Social Service,
by educators/operators together with the interested person, represents the base for reciprocal
collaboration and for the strong commitment about reaching one’s own possible autonomy.
3.
Receiving communities: resources for the Municipality and the neighbourhood, receiving
asylum seekers and refugees, as well as unaccompanied minors, both autonomously and
through Ministerial or regional funds (e.g. Centro Balducci, Casa dell’Immacolata, San Pio X,
San Domenico, SPRAR).
4.
The Municipality manages apartments for marginalized people and has keeps in close contact
with the local Council Housing Agency. Many meetings with the Direction of the local Council
Housing Agency have been organised, resulting in some indications about Roma families
living in Council houses. After these indications and after evaluating each individual
situation, a Council House Mediation service has been set up. Working for the whole
community, this service proved to be efficient in providing information, reducing conflicts,
preventing discrimination and promoting mutual knowledge in the houses.
In the Municipal apartments for marginalized people have been received 3 families travelling
on the Municipal territory.
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects include.
The following elements contributed to the success of the projects mentioned above:
a) the commitment of the Municipality and of the local Council Housing Agency;
b) a profitable co-operation between public bodies and private/voluntary association,
with an on-going process of community work, mainly regarding the criteria for
receiving people in difficult housing conditions;
c) the involvement of social agencies and associations ready to propose and manage
innovative solutions.
New housing project/programmes in the pipeline and the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
In the context of the Social Housing Agency, it would be useful to set out and develop an Observatory
on housing resources and needs, so to have a thorough and precise view of what exists and to plan
social answers better. The Regional Administration has not financed this action yet.
Moreover, the vision is to promote not previously “dedicated” apartments or ghetto-areas (i.e. for
mental ill, or deviant, or marginalized people) but to focus on the individual needs in order to find out
a proper solution.
Housing projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their living conditions
and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
Recently, 5 Roma families obtained council houses and in 2008 the camp’s area was cleaned up by the
Municipality.
But some of the most worrying issues for the Municipality are making the camp’s area safe,
overcoming illegality and finding alternative housing solutions, respectful of one’s own choice.
EMPLOYMENT
According to its institutional responsibilities, the Municipality of Udine has been active in promoting
employment, mainly through individual projects for marginalized people set up in a networking
process, that is in collaboration with economic and social territorial subjects.
This commitment is even more reinforced in an economic crisis period, when the poor people rate rises
and when “new poors” emerge due to unemployment.
Many projects were promoted in the last decade, for instance:
1. Job information desks: places located in institutions or in associations where people can get
information about job supply and can offer their competences; first dedicated to migrants,
then they spread their services to everybody. For example, the family assistant desk receives
foreign as well as native supply.
2. Training courses: the Municipality favours the organisation of training and vocational courses
by training centres, above all for youngsters and unemployed people;
3. “Socially useful jobs” in the Municipality for unemployed people;
4. vocational measures;
5. social co-operative institution assistance and vocational measures activated in co-operatives
(grass-cutting, green-house, waste collection, house furniture removal, …)
Special elements that contributed to the success of the projects.
The following elements contributed to the success of the projects mentioned above:
a) European funds (Integra, Equal, ESF);
b) collaboration with educational/training organisations;
c) public/private collaboration.
New employment project/programmes in the pipeline the priority areas in which these
services/actions will be targeted.
Together with health, house and training, employment is one of the pillars of a thorough social policy
and is represents a crucial issue in a critical socio-economic period.
The Municipality is committed in reinforcing a close relationship with the economic categories and
with local social agents in order to shape some measures limiting the worst effects of the crisis on
disadvantaged people and preventing other categories from sliding into poverty.
In the context of LSG meetings the Province of Udine described some hints about a project to enhance
Public Useful Jobs, aimed at promoting the labour inclusion of people who are unemployed or with
very low income; the project wis planned to start next Autumn.
Employment projects specifically targeted at the city’s Roma population to improve their chances of
mainstream employment and an evaluation of the success of these interventions.
-
Lacio Drom project;
Vocational measures for youngsters.
ABOUT LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND RESOURCES
The following section identifies the organisations both regional and national, already active and
working with the local Roma communities in the city, describes their main focus and provides
details of the physical infrastructure available and accessible for local initiatives.
-
1)
2)
3)
4)
-
National level: e.g. OsservAzione, Opera Nomadi, Sucar Drom, Law Department –
University of Florence, not delivering services, but providing for studies and
researches dealing with Roma issues (physical segregation, community
discrimination, childrens’ education, …)
Local level: no specific associations or organisations are active for the local Roma
community, but single professionals are working with Roma people
Main focus of local activity:
make the area safe;
overcoming illegality;
take care about children’s education and youngster’s vocational training;
proposing alternative housing solutions.
Local initiatives at this stage could be organised within the camp or in its
neighbourhood, as well as in schools, and with the collaboration of the members of the
Local Support Group.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The final section briefly explains how public sector responsibilities are shared in the key policy areas
of education, health, housing and employment. Where possible, highlighting the different tiers to the
public administration in each city and identifying if there are divisions in decision making that could
present obstacles to future development or particular strengths/examples of where the different tiers
work well together.
-
-
Levels: Municipality (political trends) / quarter-suburbs (local representation)
Local committees could obstacle the main political decisions on Roma camp, by
organising demonstrations and complains;
National level: discriminatory strategy (fingerprints proposals, forced removals in
Naples, Milan, Rome; removal from schools; camp-policy without credible solutions) –
see Report “Security a la italiana – Fingerprints, extreme violence and harassment of Roma
in Italy”, European Roma Rights Centre, 2009
Regional level: unapplied Regional Law, no policy, economic contribution available;
Far-sighted local initiatives can nowadays hardly enjoy national or regional support.
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 4
ANNEX 4. LIST OF DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO
General
Factsheets
on
Roma
History
:
General
Introduction.
graz.at/index.php/history/general-introduction/general-introduction
http://romafacts.uni-
National Strategy Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010 – country reports.
http://ec.europa.eu/social/keyDocuments.jsp?type=3&policyArea=0&subCategory=0&country=0&ye
ar=0&advSearchKey=nsr+spsi&mode=advancedSubmit&langId=en National Action Plans on Social
Inclusion 2008 -2010
Policy Department Economic and Scientific Policy, The social situation of the Roma and their improved
access to the labour market in the EU, an Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
(EMPL). http://www.romadecade.org/5014
Roma and Travellers in Public Education – National Focal Points of the Racism and Xenophobia
European
information
Network
(RAXEN).
2006
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/material/pub/ROMA/EUMC_2006_00350001_EN_REV.pdf
European Roma Rights Centre, The impact of legislation and policies on school segregation of romani
children, 2007, http://www.errc.org/db/02/36/m00000236.pdf
Open Society Institute, Public Heath Fact Sheet; Left Out: Roma and Access to Health Care in Eastern
and South Eastern Europe 2006 http://195.66.163.162/download/roma_rhp_fact_sheet.pdf
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf
Petrova Dimitrina (2003) Between a Myth and A Future Who are the Roma? In Social Research
Volume 70 No. 1 (spring 2003) http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=1844
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf
The Situation of Roma EU Citizens Moving to and settling in other EU Member States’ 2009
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Roma_Movement_Comparative-final_en.pdf
The
Review
of
the
European
Union
Phare
Assistance
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/how-does-it-work/financialassistance/phare/evaluation/interim_en.htm
to
Roma
Minorities
OCSE Status Report 2008 on the Implementation of the Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma
and Sinti within the OSCE Area http://www.osce.org/odihr/18148.html
The
Review
of
the
European
Union
Phare
Assistance
to
Roma
Minorities
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/how-does-it-work/financialassistance/phare/evaluation/interim_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/themes/urban_en.htm provides information about the
EU Urban Programmes
European Roma Rights Centre, The Glass Box - Exclusion of Roma from employment, 2007,
http://www.errc.org/db/02/14/m00000214.pdf
Communication from the Commission to the Council - Draft Joint Employment Report 2004/2005
{SEC(2005)67}
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0013:FIN:EN:DOC
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 4
Open Society Institute, Public Heath Fact Sheet; Left Out: Roma and Access to Health Care in Eastern
and South Eastern Europe 2006 http://195.66.163.162/download/roma_rhp_fact_sheet.pdf
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in the
European
Union
Comparative
report
–
October
2010.
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/Roma_Housing_Comparative-final_en.pdf
European Commission bulletin The Roma in the European Social Fund 2007-2013, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/roma_en.pdf
Decade
action
plans
for
country
http://romadecade.org/decade_action_plans
members
can
Information about the Lisbon Strategy can be found at
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/tl/soccul/eincl/index_en.htm
and
specifically
on
the
social
inclusion
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/poverty_social_exclusion_en.htm
be
found
objectives
at
on
Council’s Conclusions on Inclusion of the Roma 8 June 2009
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=761&langId=en
The Decade Watch Report. http://www.romadecade.org/decade_watch_update_2007
Public Health Programme – Roma Health
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/roma
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=518&langId=en&eventsId=206&furtherEvents=yes
Information
about
the
EU
http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/themes/urban_en.htm
Urban
Programmes
Employment and Roma
European Roma Rights Centre, The Glass Box - Exclusion of Roma from employment, 2007,
http://www.errc.org/db/02/14/m00000214.pdf
European Roma Rights Centre, Employment Activating Social Assistance Schemes Not Working for Roma and
Travellers, 2007, http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2806
European Roma Rights Centre, Positive action as a tool in promoting access to employment, 2006,
http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/getdocument.aspx?logid=5&id=e75102af-4a36-417f-ad74-daba60e4aa01
Ionescu M., Cace S., Employment policies for Roma (focus on Romania), 2006, Publishing House, Bucharest
Zimmermann K. Et al., , Study on the social and labour market integration of ethnic minorities, 2007, DG
Employment, Ethnic minorities in the labour market: an urgent call for better social inclusion, 2007,
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental_rights/pdf/hlg/etmin_en.pdf
Education
Consortium of MOSAIC, Manual for social inclusion by education, 2005, www.mosaic-eu.org
ROMA-Net Baseline
Annex 4
Council of Europe, Recommendation No R (2000) 4 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the
education of Roma/Gypsy children in Europe, 2000,
http://www.coe.int/T/DG3/RomaTravellers/documentation/recommendations/receducation20004_
en.asp
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, Roma and travellers in public education, 2006,
http://fra.europa.eu/fra/material/pub/ROMA/roma_report.pdf
European Roma Rights Centre, The impact of legislation and policies on school segregation of romani children,
2007, http://www.errc.org/db/02/36/m00000236.pdf
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), Migrants, minorities and
education, 2004, http://fra.europa.eu/fra/material/pub/comparativestudy/CS-Education-en.pdf
Health
Cace S., Vladescu C., The health status of Roma population and their access to health care services (focus on
Romania), 2004, Publishing House, Bucharest
Council of Europe, Recommendation Rec(2006)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on better
access to health care for Roma and Travellers in Europe, 2006,
http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/documentation/recommendations/CMRec(2006)10accessh
ealt h_en.asp
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, Breaking the barriers - romani women and the
access to public health care, 2003, http://fra.europa.eu/fra/material/pub/ROMA/rapport-en.pdf
European Roma Rights Centre, The Disgrace of Health Care for Roma in Europe, 2006,
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/roma/articles_publications/publications/ambulance_
2006 1004/ambulance_20061004.pdf
Open Society Foundation , Left Out: roma and access to health care in Eastern and South Eastern Europe,
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/roma/articles_publications/publications/leftout_2007
042 0/leftout_20070423.pdf
Buceanu M., Roma Sanitary mediators between necessity and innovation: Romania, Moldavia, Spain, Ireland,
France,
http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/romatravellers/stabilitypact/activities/Moldova/Buceanuhealthmediatorr
eport _en.asp
Housing
Council of Europe, Recommendation Rec(2005)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on improving
the housing conditions of Roma and Travellers in Europe, 2005,
http://www.coe.int/T/DG3/RomaTravellers/documentation/recommendations/rechousing20054_en
.asp
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2004,
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