Main tasks

Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the Committee is instructed to:

(i)              study, analyse and evaluate the implementation of policies (national programmes and/or action plans) and identify good practices of member States concerning Roma, with a view to promoting implementation of relevant Council of Europe standards and contributing to the European database on policies/good practices for the integration of Roma set up by the Council of Europe;

(ii)             exchange information, views and experience on member States’ policies, good practices and measures relating to Roma at national, regional and local level, and in the context of relevant instruments of the Council of Europe, in order to assist member States in the development and implementation of effective policies for Roma integration, with due regard to the relevant standards and instruments of the Council of Europe and bearing in mind the specific situation in each member state;

(iii)            prepare recommendations, advice and opinions for the Committee of Ministers, including ad hoc opinions on emerging issues requiring urgent attention;

(iv)            draw up guidelines for the development and/or implementation of policies which promote the rights of the Roma, taking into account the findings of the relevant monitoring and other mechanisms of the Council of Europe;

(v)             keep under review the situation of Roma in member States in the light of relevant legal instruments of the Council of Europe, without pursuing activities relating to monitoring;

(vi)            prepare, review and evaluate its programme of activities and working methods and report back to the Committee of Ministers; receive reports and opinions from the relevant Council of Europe bodies and structures on any matter falling within these terms of reference.

The Committee will seek synergies with the work of other international organisations active in this area, in particular with the European Union.

Pillar/Sector/Programme

Pillar: Human Rights
Sector: Promoting Human Rights
Programme: Promoting social inclusion and respect for human rights: Roma

Expected results

Policies and practice are developed within member States to enhance social inclusion and respect for human rights of Roma:

(i)            National policies of at least 12 member States are examined each year through the Committee’s thematic work.

(ii)           The follow-up to previous thematic reports, focusing in particular on policy changes, implementation of relevant CM recommendations and other instruments, and on the replication of identified good practices, is examined once a year.

Composition

Members:

Governments of member States are entitled to appoint representatives of the highest possible rank and with the following qualifications:

-     have specialised knowledge of the various issues relating to Roma (legal status, discrimination, health, education, employment, housing, social policy and political participation);

-     have direct experience of the Roma populations, their culture and way of life;

-     have a deep knowledge of the policies on Roma in their country and have a good knowledge of policies in other member States;

-     be in a position to serve as focal points between the Council of Europe and the authorities of their countries about any decisions, documents or recommendations drafted or adopted by the Committee;

-     be in close contact in their country with the Roma populations and the NGOs working in this area;

-     be able to speak and read in at least one of the official languages of the Council of Europe.

If a government designates more than one member, only one of them is entitled to take part in the voting.

The Council of Europe budget will bear the travel and subsistence expenses of one representative from each member State (two in the case of the state whose representative has been elected chair).

Participants:

(i)         The following committees may each send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of the corresponding CoE budget sub-head:

-        the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH);

-        the European Committee for Human Dignity, Equality and Social Cohesion (CDDECS);

-        the Steering Committee for Education Policy and Practice (CDPPE);

-        the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ);

-        the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR);

-        the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities;

-        the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

(ii)        The Parliamentary Assembly may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of its administrative budget.

(iii)       The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of its administrative budget.

(iv)       The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of its administrative budget.

(v)        The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of its administrative budget.

(vi)       The Council of Europe Development Bank may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of its administrative budget.

(vii)      The Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote and at the charge of the sending body.

(viii)     The European Union and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

(ix)       The states with observer status with the Council of Europe (Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico, United States of America) may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

(x)        The following intergovernmental organisations may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses:

-        the International Organisation for Migration (IOM);

-        the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR);

-        the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);

-        the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);

-        the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);

-        the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO);

-        the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF);

-        the International Labour Organisation (ILO);

-        the World Bank.

(xi)       The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and/or Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE) (“social partners”) may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses.

Observers:.

Having regard to the Partnership Agreement signed between the Council of Europe and the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) on 15 December 2004, the ERTF may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee, without the right to vote. The Council of Europe budget will bear the travel and subsistence expenses of one ERTF representative, in derogation from Paragraph 9 of Resolution CM/Res(2011)24. This ERTF representative shall be designated by the President of the Forum.

The following non-governmental organisations may send (a) representative(s) to meetings of the Committee without the right to vote or defrayal of expenses:

-     the European Roma Information Office (ERIO);

-     the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC);

-     the Open Society Foundations (OSF);

-     the Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation;

-     the Forum of European Roma Young People (FERYP);

-     the Roma Education Fund (REF);

-     the International Step by Step Association (ISSA);

-     Amnesty International (AI);

-     the Financial Mechanisms Office (EEA and Norway Grants).

Working methods

Plenary meetings:

48 members, 2 meetings in 2014, 3 and 4 days

48 members, 2 meetings in 2015, 3 and 4 days

Bureau:

3 members, 2 meetings in 2014, 1 day
3 members, 2 meetings in 2015, 1 day

Additional working methods:

The rules of procedure of the Committee are governed by Resolution CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference and working methods.

In derogation from Article 6 of appendix 1 to Resolution CM/Res(2011)24, and in conformity of Article 17 of the same appendix, in addition to the official working languages of the Organisation (English, French), interpretation will be provided into the Romani language and the agenda translated into Romani for regular meetings whenever necessary and within the limits of available budgetary appropriations. Any adopted pertinent texts (e.g. opinions adopted by CAHROM or recommendations adopted by the Committee of Ministers) will be translated into Romani.

The Committee will appoint a Gender Equality Rapporteur and a Youth Rapporteur from amongst its members.

The Committee may form small thematic groups to study, analyse and evaluate, through an exchange of experiences, specific issues or areas identified by the Committee. Each thematic group is composed of one or two experts from countries wishing to benefit from the experience of other member States (requesting country) and a small number of experts (usually three or four) from countries wishing to transmit their experience in this area (partner countries). Experts of the thematic group are CAHROM members of the countries concerned or experts appointed by them. The requesting country, through the Secretariat of the Committee, invites the thematic group of experts to visit the country. Within the limits of available budgetary resources, these visits are organised in close collaboration between the requesting country and the Secretariat of the Committee. Thematic reports of the expert group are discussed by the Committee, which decides on their transmission for information to the Committee of Ministers.

The Committee holds two regular meetings a year, one of which should be possibly hosted by a member State. Arrangements with the host country shall ensure that the meeting will not entail additional costs for the Council of Europe.