24 – 27 April 2023, Brussels
Policymakers, experts, activists and organisations concerned with persistent antigypsyism in Europe are planning to collaborate for Roma Week in the European Parliament and other EU institutions after the International Roma Day (8 April) and ahead of the Roma Resistance Day (16 May). The Roma Week 2023 is aligned with the objectives of the European Year of skills 2023.
In the framework of the Roma Week 2023, there will be a series of events focusing on how history affects the current situation of Roma in Europe and what are the prospects for the future.
The Roma Week 2023 is hosted by the European Parliament and European Commission and organized in partnership with Roma and pro-Roma civil society.
The reference to ‘Roma’, as an umbrella term, encompasses a wide range of different people of Romani origin such as: Roma, Sinti, Kale, Romanichels and Boyash/Rudari. It also encompasses groups such as Ashkali, Egyptians, Yenish, Dom, Lom, Rom and Abdal, as well as traveller populations, including ethnic Travellers or those designated under the administrative term Gens du Voyage and people who identify as Gypsies, Tsiganes or Tziganes, without denying their specificities. This terminology term was approved on 20 October 2010 at the high-level meeting on the Roma with the adoption of the Strasbourg Declaration by the Council of Europe and used ever since by EU and international institutions.
Description:
The Roma Week 2023 aims to build on the work done during previous Roma Weeks and on the broader work done on Roma equality, inclusion and participation, including the European Parliament Resolution on the situation of Roma people living in settlements in the EU from 26 September 2022. It calls on the Commission and the Member States to strengthen the active engagement and meaningful participation of Roma – especially Roma women, young people, and other underrepresented groups – in the development, implementation and monitoring of public policies and projects aimed towards them at the EU, national, regional and local levels so they can be actively involved in shaping the EU’s future and so they can contribute to changing perceptions in EU societies.
The Roma Week aims to do this by raising the voices of Roma people who need to be encouraged to take up the leadership step out of the victim position and by supporting civil society structures, and elected Roma officials in national Parliaments and municipal councils. Roma leadership in all spheres of society should be supported as an example of good practice for advancing social inclusion and the democratic participation of Roma.
This year, Roma Week is aiming to dive deeper into the phenomenon of antigypsyism and address the historical injustices Roma have been subjected to since their arrival in Europe and use them in order to reconstruct, rebuild and reclaim our Roma identity, fundamental rights, and agency.
The Week will consist of a series of events that will provide recommendations on combatting antigypsyism and continued structural discrimination, as well as promoting Roma participation and leadership. Each event will be sponsored by one or more MEPs and co-organised by civil society organisations and Commission services.
Objectives:
Platform to raise concerns and knowledge exchange: To facilitate exchange and capacity building between Roma, civil society, policymakers and officials.
National Roma Strategic Frameworks: Looking at the current EU Framework and addressing the shortcoming of the National Strategic Frameworks both in the EU and enlargement countries.
Advocacy for specific thematic areas: Different thematic areas including a general overlapping historical dimension of antigypsyism, anti-racism, participation, funding, green economy, digital agenda, and socially responsible procurement.
Revealing Roma history: The week will offer an opportunity to mark the 600th anniversary of one of the most significant historical documents that influenced Roma in Central Europe.
Campaigning against antigypsyism: The Week will be an opportunity for experts and activists on the issue to advocate for European and national policymakers to strengthen the implementation of measures fighting antigypsyism.
Investing in capacity building and upskilling: During the Week, there will be discussions with young people and representatives of civil society on how to best address capacity building and empowerment.
Addressing the situation of the Roma refugees from Ukraine in receiving countries.
Acknowledging through the Roma Award actors supporting Roma inclusion in the green and digital agendas
Attendees and speakers:
- Policymakers and officials from European and national levels
- Researchers, historians, and experts in different areas of life
- Civil Society
- Roma youth