CAHROM (2014)16

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strasbourg, 10 September 2014CAHROM (2014)16

 

AD HOC COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON ROMA ISSUES

(CAHROM)

 

8th BUREAU MEETING

 

Council of Europe Liaison Office in Brussels, Belgium, 9 September 2014

 

 

8th CAHROM BUREAU MEETING REPORT

 

 

 

OPENING OF THE MEETING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

 

  1.                 The Bureau of the Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma Issues (CAHROM) held its 8th meeting in the Council of Europe Liaison Office in Brussels on 9 September 2014. The Chair, Mr Ian Naysmith (United Kingdom) opened the meeting. Were also present the Vice-Chair, Ms Mabera Kamberi (“the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”), the third Bureau member, Ms Rocio Ariño Serrano (Spain), Jean-Charles de Cordes from the Council of Europe Liaison Office in Brussels and the Secretariat. The agenda as adopted appears in Appendix 1. The list of participants appears in Appendix 2. The list of working documents appears in Appendix 3.

 

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE 7th CAHROM MEETING

 

  1.                 Mr Ulrich Bunjes, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for Roma Issues (hereafter “SRSG”) introduced himself to the CAHROM Bureau members and referred to his professional background at the Council of Europe (including youth, campaigning and intercultural dialogue) before the Secretary General (who was re-elected in June) nominated him as SRSG in July 2014. The Bureau was informed about the Roma-related priorities of the Secretary General (SG) and circulated a copy of pages 46-47 of the SG 2014 Report on the situation of democracy, rule of law and human rights in Europe. The Bureau took note that the SG would announce his priorities next week; the SRSG is confident that Roma issues will remain high on his agenda. The Bureau was informed that on 1 July, the SG announced the Committee of Ministers (CM) that he would take stock of the implementation of the Strasbourg Declaration four years after its adoption (on 20 October 2010). A Roma-related debate with the CM will be organised this autumn. The SRSG Support Team will contribute to the preparation of this discussion.

 

  1.                 The SRSG informed the Bureau members about recent developments concerning the proposal to set up a European Roma Institute (ERI), following the preliminary exchange of views that took place at the last CAHROM plenary meeting (14-16 May 2014), the first round of informal consultation with Permanent Representations on 22 May 2014 and the meeting he had with Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Budapest on 28-29 July 2014. The Council of Europe (CoE) believes it is an initiative worth being examined. The revised concept paper, however, does not propose any longer to set up ERI through a partial agreement but rather under a different model, such as the Wergeland Centre which gives more flexibility in terms of cost effectiveness, accountability, Roma participation and leadership. It was agreed that the SRSG would circulate to the Bureau a revised concept paper for comments before the next round of informal consultations between the Deputy Secretary General and Permanent Representations due to take place towards the end of September. The SRSG informed the Bureau that various CoE departments will also be consulted on this revised concept on the occasion of an Inter-Secretariat Task Force meeting on Roma issues to be held in Strasbourg on 10 September 2014.

 

  1.                 The SRSG informed the CAHROM Bureau about the forthcoming meeting of the GR-SOC, on 16 September 2014, which will discuss the 2013-2014 annual report of the ERTF in the presence of the leadership of the Forum. The ERTF report - which is available on ERTF website (www.ertf.org) - does not provide an answer to the mid-term financial sustainability of the Forum, nor does it provide a convincing response to internal democracy and transparency of the decision-making. The founding members have still a decisive role. The renewal or not of  the partnership agreement and CoE financial contribution to the ERTF will be  discussed at the CM before the end of the year, also in light of the Secretary General’s paper on CoE’s cooperation with civil society due to be released mid-October 2014. The Spanish Bureau member asked about the type of cooperation which was envisaged with Roma civil society and funding. The SRSG responded that there would be more regular cooperation. An annual meeting between Roma civil society organisations, including the ERTF, and various CoE bodies could be envisaged. The participants’ costs would be covered by the CoE.

 

  1.                 The Bureau thanked the SRSG for sharing the above information and welcomed the possibility that will be given to the CAHROM to exchange views at its next meeting on a new ERI concept. A revised concept paper will be distributed to the CAHROM members after the informal consultation with Permanent Representations and after the Deputy Secretary General’s approval of the revised document. To the Chair’s questions concerning the political process at CM level and ERI’s location, the SRSG responded that member States should express political commitment, which was OSF’s wish from the beginning. The decision of the seat remains open. If ERI is not going to be set up through a partial agreement, the seat could be more easily placed in a member state that would be particularly committed, both politically and financially. The SRSG responded to the Vice-Chair’s question about ERI main objectives by indicating that the language was not part of the current concept paper but that culture was one of the components, even though ERI is not envisaged as a Roma cultural institute. ERI’s main goals are a) to improve the self-esteem of Roma; and b) to combat stereotypes towards Roma and anti-Gypsyism among the majority society. Both are crucial to achieve a successful implementation of the Strasbourg Declaration and national Roma inclusion strategies. At this stage of reflexion, the proposed local satellites of ERI contained in the first draft concept, has been abandoned; operational decisions will be left to the Institute; and ERI could have an advisory function to the CM via the CAHROM. The Chair underlined the risk of a further “europeanisation” of Roma issues if a European Roma institute was to be created. The SRSG responded that the risk would be greater is ERI would become a partial agreement. ERI could also be envisaged as a pressure tool on member States to implement their national Roma policy and use European funds available.

 

  1.                 Mr Molina, Head of the SRSG Support Team, informed the Bureau about developments within the SRSG Support Team and the division of the Team into two Units. He underlined that the staff of the Support Teas has been multiplied by three since 2011 and that the work of the CoE on Roma is increasingly recognised at international level, in particular at the level of the European Commission. The Bureau was informed that ROMED will enter next year into a third phase, thanks to the continuation of a new joint programme with the European Commission. This new phase, financed 50% by the EC and 50% by the CoE, will put emphasis on capacity building. The ROMACT programme will also be reconducted with not only DG Employment but also DG REGIO with a contribution of one million Euros. Following a proposal by DG Enlargement, the SRSG Support Team will soon prepare an outline for a programme on Roma in Western Balkans and Turkey. Mr Molina also informed the Bureau about his participation in the EC Regular consultative meeting with civil society and international partners that will take place in Brussels on 17 September 2014. On the margin of this meeting, Mr Molina intends to meet Ms Lina Papamichalopoulou from DG Justice to discuss cooperation on Roma women and synergies between the CAHROM and the National Roma Contact Points (NRCP) meetings. Mr Molina confirmed that the CoE was invited by DG Justice to attend one agenda item of the NRCP meeting to be held under the Italian EU presidency in Rome on 5-6 November 2014. He finally informed the Bureau about his participation in the jury of an EU Civis Prize which included many Roma projects. A shortlist will be announced on 11 September.

 

  1.                 The Bureau welcomed the invitation addressed to the CAHROM Secretariat to attend the NRCP meeting and considered that this was a unique opportunity to have CoE’s presence in this forum even though the invitation was only for an hour. The Vice-Chair expressed regrets that EU candidate countries were not invited to NRCP meetings.

 

  1.                 The Bureau was informed by the CAHROM Secretary about the forthcoming participation of the SRSG at the 27th International Steering Committee meeting of the Decade for Roma Inclusion in Sarajevo on 29 September 2014 and at the OSCE-Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 30 September 2014 and of the CAHROM Secretary’s participation at FRA Roma Working Party meetings on indicators for Roma inclusion strategies held in Vienna (the next meeting being scheduled on 15-16 October 2014).

 

  1.                 The Bureau was informed about the programme of activities of the Inter-Governmental Co-operation, Anti-Gypsyism and Roma Equality Unit (I-CARE Unit) of the SRSG Roma Support Team, which will place more emphasis on Roma women and combating anti-Gypsyism. The programme includes a launch of the Dosta! campaign in Latvia in November 2014; an anti-discrimination training of trainers for lawyers/judges/prosecutors on 3-6 November, co-organised with the HELP programme in DGI and the Unit for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI Unit), followed by a national training for lawyers/judges/prosecutors in Albania with a focus on housing rights and ECtHR case-law; an anti-discrimination training of trainers for the police on 19-21 November (in co-operation with the SOGI Unit and the Criminal Law Department in DG I) followed by a national training for the police in Italy (in cooperation with OSCAD and the OSCE); a CoE/Phenjalipe international workshop for authorities on the inclusion of the gender dimension in Roma national inclusion strategies in Ukraine on 24-25 November; the CoE participation in a Conference on Combating anti-Gypsyism organised by the Finnish Govenrment in Helsinki on 3 December (to which the future appointed CAHROM Rapporteur on anti-Gypsyism could participate); an international conference on the teaching of Roma history in Rome, Italy, on 10-11 December; and the launching of a platform on Roma between the CoE, FRA, Equinet and National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) in January 2015. The 2014-2015 international calendar of Roma-related activities was distributed to Bureau members.

 

  1.             The CAHROM Secretariat gave feedback to the Bureau as regards the adoption of the abridged report of the 7th CAHROM meeting by the GR-SOC and the CM (without any comments), as well as about the CM draft Reply to Congress Recommendation 354 (2014) “Empowering Roma youth through participation: effective policy design at local and regional levels” on which CAHROM had adopted an Opinion at its last meeting. The Bureau took note that the CAHROM Opinion is largely reflected in the CM reply to the Congress.

 

  1.             The Chair indicated that the CAHROM replies to the questionnaire on early/forced marriage was circulated to the UK Early Marriage Unit and that a study will soon be conducted by the UK Children’s Commissioner on domestic violence within ethnic communities, including Roma. The Vice-Chair confirmed the willingness of Skopje to host the 5th International Roma Women’s Conference in September 2015. The countries that hosted previous Roma women’s international conferences (Sweden, Greece, Spain and Finland) will be invited to Skopje where the authorities of these countries will be asked in a panel to deliver a political commitment message to address specific Roma women’s priorities. The informal network of Roma women Phenjalipe will contribute to the preparation of this Conference. The Bureau was informed that Phenjalipe had proceeded with a selection of formal members based on expression of interest to work as volunteers. A study visit of Phenjalipe members to the CoE to get familiar with the work of relevant departments will be soon organised thanks to a Finnish voluntary contribution.

 

CAHROM THEMATIC GROUPS (2014-2015)

 

  1.             The Secretariat informed the Bureau about the status of thematic reports to be presented at the next plenary meeting. The Bureau took note that the thematic report on the legalisation of Roma informal settlements, social housing and alternatives to forced evictions [document CAHROM (2014)4] will be circulated to the experts of the thematic group  for final approval by the end of the week and that both the thematic report on solving the legal status of Roma and their lack of identity documents [CAHROM (2014)10] and the thematic report on Roma women’s empowerment and the gender dimension of national Roma integration policies [document CAHROM (2014)11] will be finalised by the end of September. The Bureau agreed that these three reports will be presented to the Committee for endorsement at the Sarajevo meeting, whilst only an oral summary of the main conclusions and lessons learnt from the thematic visit to Croatia on the protection and promotion of the Romani language (24-26 September 2014) will be on the agenda of the Sarajevo meeting.

 

  1.             The CAHROM Secretariat informed the Bureau about recent developments concerning other proposals for thematic groups. The Bureau took note of the composition of the thematic group of experts that will participate in a thematic visit on inclusive preschool education of Roma children to Prague, Czech Republic, on 19-21 November 2014 and welcomed the confirmation from France to host a visit of experts on Roma migrants’ education early 2014. The topic of distance learning may either be part of this thematic group or be addressed in plenary during the Spring 2015 meeting. The Bureau took note of the postponement of the thematic visit on Roma youth empowerment and youth dimension of national Roma inclusion strategies to spring 2015 at the request of Slovenia, hosting country. As regards the proposal of setting-up of thematic group on health issues, the Bureau agreed to submit to the Committee in Sarajevo a list of possible specific themes that could include formal consent (which is one of the current priorities of the CoE Bioethics Committee), access to health insurance, Roma health mediators, etc. The Spanish Bureau member expressed interest for the thematic group on health whilst the Chair said that he would confirm UK participation in the thematic group on early marriage within Roma communities. This thematic group could also address domestic violence in reference to the Istanbul Convention.

 

  1.             The Bureau endorsed document CAHROM (2014)7rev and agreed to have it circulated to the Committee with a view to obtaining further confirmation from requesting and partner countries and more precise dates for 2015 thematic visits. A decision regarding the final composition of these future thematic groups will be taken in Sarajevo bearing in mind the guidelines adopted by the CAHROM, the size of the Roma population, the geographical balance and the participation in previous thematic exercises. For that purpose, the Bureau asked the Secretariat to include in document CAHROM (2014)7rev] one statistical page highlighting member States’ participation in thematic groups, either as requesting or as partner countries.

 

GUIDELINES FOR CAHROM BUREAU ELECTIONS AND FOR CAHROM RAPPORTEURS

 

  1.             The CAHROM Secretariat presented an Information note on CAHROM Bureau elections for the year 2015 [document CAHROM (2014)13]. The Bureau endorsed the document and agreed to have it circulated to the Committee members. In response to a request made by the Belgium CAHROM member at the 7th plenary meeting (Rome, 28-31 October 2013), the Bureau encourages any candidates for the elections to the Bureau to inform the Secretariat as soon as possible and to provide the Secretariat with a short biography (few lines) so that the Committee be informed about the professional background of any candidates to the elections for the Bureau. This request could be extended to all CAHROM members so as to post the list of CAHROM members and their profile on the CAHROM website.

 

  1.             The Secretariat presented the Guidelines for CAHROM Rapporteurs on gender, youth, children and anti-gypsyism [document CAHROM (2014)14] that have been drafted at the request of the Committee (see para. 23 of the abridged report of the 7th CAHROM plenary meeting – document CAHROM (2014)8]. The Bureau endorsed these guidelines and agreed to have them circulated to the Committee. The Bureau took note that a new rapporteur on Roma youth should be appointed due to the replacement of Mr Nicolae RadiĊ£a (Republic of Moldova) in the Committee. The Bureau would be in favour of re-appointing Ms Sarita Friman-Korpela (Finland) for another year as CAHROM gender equality rapporteur. The Bureau agreed to hold the elections for the 2015 Bureau, followed by the appointment of the four CAHROM rapporteurs, in the afternoon of 29 October 2014 so that the newly appointed Committee rapporteurs could already exercise their respective role during the Sarajevo plenary meeting.

 

DRAFT AGENDA AND PREPARATION OF THE 8th CAHROM PLENARY MEETING

  1.             The CAHROM Secretariat presented the draft annotated agenda for the 8th CAHROM meeting (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 28-31 October 2014) [], which was drafted on the basis of decisions adopted at the last meeting and any recent proposals received by the Secretariat and/or the Bureau. The Secretariat also informed the Bureau about practical details and logistics regarding the field visit to Kakanj and Sarajevo Roma settlements scheduled on 28 October 2014.

 

  1.             The Bureau approved the draft annotated agenda of the 8th CAHROM meeting [see document CAHROM (2014)15prov] and agreed to have it circulated with the convocation letters by the end of this week, once the venue of the plenary meeting (either the BiH presidency premises or Hotel Evropa) will have been confirmed by Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

  1.             As regards the request received from the Slovenia based European Roma Union (ERU) to be granted observer status in CAHROM, the Bureau decided to ask the Slovenia CAHROM member to present his views on this request at the Sarajevo meeting. The Bureau considers that it would be best to wait for the Secretary General’s views on future cooperation with Roma civil society organisations before taking any formal decision on observer status.

 

 


Appendix 1

 

ANNOTATED AGENDA OF THE 8TH BUREAU MEETING

 

 

09h10-09h15 I. OPENING OF THE MEETING AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

 

 

09h15-11h15II. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE 7th CAHROM PLENARY MEETING

 

 

11h15-11h30Coffee break

 

11h30-12h00III. CAHROM THEMATIC GROUPS (2014-2015)

 

 

11h30-12h15IV. GUIDELINES FOR CAHROM BUREAU ELECTIONS AND FOR CAHROM RAPPORTEURS

 

 

12h45-14h15Lunch

 

14h15-15h15V. DRAFT AGENDA AND PREPARATION OF THE 8th CAHROM PLENARY MEETING

 

 

15h15-15h30VI.OTHER BUSINESS

 

 

15h30CLOSURE OF THE 8th CAHROM BUREAU MEETING

 

**********


Appendix 2

 

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE 8th BUREAU MEETING

 

 

CAHROM BUREAU

Mr Ian NAYSMITH, Chair of the CAHROM

Senior Policy Adviser

Integration and Faith Division

Integration and Community Rights Directorate

Department for Communities and Local Government

Zone B2, Floor 5, Eland House, Bressenden Place

GB-London, SW1E 5DU, United Kingdom

Tel: + 44 (0)303 444 2063

Email : [email protected]

Mrs Mabera KAMBERI, Vice-Chair of the CAHROM

Head of the Sector for Coordination and Technical Assistance

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

Ul Dame Gruev No. 14, MK- 1000 Skopje

« the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia »

Tel.: +389 2 3 106 224; Mobile: +389 75 367 632;

Email: [email protected]

 

Ms Rocio ARIÑO SERRANO, CAHROM Bureau member             

Chef des Programmes

Sous-direction des Programmes Sociales

DG des Services pour la Famille et l’Enfance

Ministère de la santé, des Services sociaux et de l’Egalité

6e étage, Bureau B-633, Po de la Castellana, 67

E-28071 Madrid, Spain

Tel.: +34 918226592

E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARIAT

 

Mr Ulrich BUNJES

Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma issues

Council of Europe, F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel.: + 33 3 88 41 22 79; Fax: +33 3 90 21 40 53

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Mr Sixto MOLINA

Head of the Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma issues

Tel.: +33 3 88 41 35 92

Email. [email protected]

 

Mr Michael GUET

Secretary of the CAHROM

Head of the I-CARE Unit

Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma issues

Tel.: + 33 3 90 21 49 63

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Ms Isabela MIHALACHE

Project manager

I-CARE Unit

Support Team of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Roma issues

Council of Europe, F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex

Tel.: +33 (0)3 88 41 33 73,

Email: [email protected]

 

Mr Jean-Charles DE CORDES

Advisor on Joint Programmes

Council of Europe Liaison Office in Brussels

Avenue des Nerviens 85

B-1040 Brussels

Tel: + 32 2 230 41 70

E-mail : [email protected]

 



Appendix 3

 

LIST OF WORKING DOCUMENTS OF THE BUREAU MEETING

 

 

Agenda item I:

- CAHROM (2014)12rec Draft agenda of the 8th CAHROM Bureau meeting;

 

Agenda item II:

- CAHROM (2014)8 Abridged Report of the 7th CAHROM meeting;

- Pages 46-47 of the Secretary General’s report on the situation of democracy, rule of law and human rights in Europe (February 2014);

- International calendar of Roma-related events in 2014;

 

Agenda item III:

- CAHROM (2014)7rev4 Proposals for CAHROM thematic groups 2014-2015;

- CAHROM (2011)15 CAHROM Working methods;

- CAHROM (2013)26 Guidelines for CAHROM thematic reports and visits;

 

Agenda item IV:

- Resolution CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference and working methods;

- CAHROM (2013)10 Revised Terms of Reference of the CAHROM;

- CAHROM (2014)13 Information note on CAHROM Bureau elections for the year 2015;

- CAHROM (2014)14 Guidelines for CAHROM Rapporteurs on gender, youth, children and anti-gypsyism;

 

Agenda item V:

- CAHROM (2014)15prov Draft annotated agenda of the 8th CAHROM plenary meeting;

 

Agenda item VI:

- Request for observer status received from the European Roma Union (ERU).