INDEX Event – Roma Inclusion and Human Rights in Europe: Strengthening Civil Society Monitoring across EU and Council of Europe Frameworks
Time: 21 April 2026 | 11:30 – 14:00
Venue: Venue: European Parliament, Altiero Spinelli, Info-Hub
!!! Important: This event was moved to an earlier time due to room availability
Co-organised by ERGO Network and Council of Europe
External participation costs are not covered by the organisers.
Please note that participation may be subject to seat availability. We will confirm your place once your registration has been reviewed.
Agenda:
Draft Agenda
11:30 – 11:45 | Registration and coffee break
11:45 – 12:00 | Opening Remarks
- Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of the Council of Europe Roma and Travellers Division, Directorate General of Equal Rights and Dignity
12:00 – 12:30 | Presentation of the RIPE Index – Key Findings
Moderator: Isabela Mihalache, ERGO Network
Speakers:
- Lavinia Banu, Lead Researcher
- Ismael Cortez (Spain)
- Nesime Salioska (North Macedonia)
- Lynsey Kavanagh (Ireland)
12:30 – 12:50 | Panel I – Lessons Learnt in Civil Society Monitoring
Speakers:
- Marek Hojsik, Central European University, Roma Civil Monitoring
- Sergen Gül, vice chairman of Romani Godi and Roma studies expert: Data access and legal barriers – the Enlargement perspective
12:50 – 13:45 | Panel II – Aligning EU and Council of Europe Monitoring Frameworks
Moderator: Tamas Kadar, EQUINET
- Robert Rustem, European Commission against Racism and Tolerance, Council of Europe
- Elise Cornu, Head of Division of National minorities and Minority Languages (online)
- Jaroslav Kling, Fundamental Rights Agency
13:45 – 14:00 | Key Takeaways
- Mila Paspalanova, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Regional Office for Europe
- Julie Pascoet, European Network Against Racism
To celebrate International Roma Day (8 April), the Council of Europe organises Opre Roma! month from 1 to 30 April 2025, to raise awareness and highlight the challenges faced by Roma and Travellers in Europe. Events paying tribute to the contribution of the Roma language, culture and history to Europe`s heritage and cultural wealth take place in Council of Europe member States and in Strasbourg, under the aegis of the Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (ADI-ROM).