GT-ROMS(2003)...

Ministers' Deputies / Working Parties
GT-ROMS

Working Party with the task of examining the question of a possible forum for Roma and Travellers

GT-ROMS(2004)3 (restricted) 16 March 2004

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Information document on Roma Organisations

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This document contains information on the various Roma organisations and other structures that were represented at the GT-ROMS meeting held on 19 February 2004. The information was partly provided by the Roma representatives in the meeting and has partly been collected on the basis of information found on the websites of some organisations or information held by DG III.

Roma non-governmental organisations

ROMA NATIONAL CONGRESS (RNC)

Mr. Rudko KAWCZYNSKI, Chairman, (Germany)

Mr. Ondrej GINA (Czech Republic)

Mr. Asmet ELEZOVSKI (“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”)

Roma National Congress (RNC) - umbrella organisation of the European Roma Civil Rights Movement. Unites about 500 Roma organisations, including Sinti and Travellers, from 39 countries.

Objectives:

influence European governments and European policy in a bid to improve the living conditions and the human and civil rights of Roma;
fight anti-Gypsy movements and expression as well as racism;
promote the freedom of travel and expression and to defend refugees;
build up and maintain an information network and a legal assistance network.

INTERNATIONAL ROMANI UNION (IRU)

Mr. Emil SCUKA, President (Czech Republic)

Mr. Dragan JEVREMOVIC, Chairman of Parliament IRU (Austria)

Mr. Stanislav STANKIEWICZ, Vice Chair (Czech Republic)

International Romani Union (IRU) –international NGO with status of Category II in the United Nations[1]. Founded in 1971. Co-ordinates a large number of regional and national bodies in 33 European countries

(unites 37 countries throughout the world).

Objectives:

be the political representation of all Roma in the world;
develop Romani cultural traditions, language and customs;
improve everyday life situation of Roma worldwide;
enforce and strengthen regard for human rights and fundamental liberties for all irrespective of race, sex, language or religion.

AMARO DROM

Ms. Nadia DEMETER, Vice-President (Russia)

Amaro Drom – umbrella organisation comprising Roma communities and associations from the CIS countries and the Baltic States. Established in February 2003. Comprises Roma communities and associations from 9 countries of the former Soviet Union.

Objectives:

join activities, efforts and resources of different Roma organisation acting in the above-mentioned region with a view to preserving the Roma identity, language and culture;
promote Roma political, economic and social rights and interests;
provide legal aid and defence to the Roma population.

ASSOCIATION DE RECHERCHE PEDAGOGIQUE OUVERTE EN MILIEU TSIGANE (ARPOMT)

Mr. Dominique Steinberger (France)

Association de recherche pédagogique ouverte en milieu tsigane (ARPOMT) – local civic association founded 15 years ago.

Objectives:

improve the legal situation of Travellers;
improve the organisation of their circulation and stationing;
provide social and educational support for children of Travelling families ('Gens du voyage' of various ethnic groupings) in the Alsace region.

FORUM OF EUROPEAN ROMA YOUNG PEOPLE (FERYP)

Ms. Alexandra RAYKOVA, President (Bulgaria); Director of the Foundation for Promotion of the Roma Youth

Forum of European Roma Young People (FERYP) – established in 1997, officially registered in 2003. Has about 3000 members from different European countries.

Objectives:

· provide information to members and non-members;

· provide training to members and non-members;

· lobby and representation;

· capacity building and support of local initiatives and projects (including institutional support/funding);

· co-ordination/logistic role for implementation of activities and projects, which are addressing specific needs and problems;

· provide training and consultancy to non-Roma organisations and institutions that are willing to develop programs and activities targeting the Roma community.

GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS INTERNATIONAL EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP (GATIEF)

Mr. René ZANELLATO (France)

Gypsies and Travellers International Evangelical Fellowship (GATIEF) – international NGO, a branch of religious association “Life and Light”. Has its branches and/or activities in 15 countries in Europe as well as in America, Asia, Australia (total 24 countries). The work of GATIEF covers the following fields: humanitarian aid and social assistance, education activities, assistance in legal questions, assistance in medical services and dissemination of medicaments via mobile medical cars (equipped with medical doctor, nurse, medicaments).

Objectives:

protect Roma children;
improve Roma conditions in the fields of medical care, education, housing;
defend Roma human rights.

LES GENS DU VOYAGE

Mr. May BITTEL (Switzerland)

Les Gens du Voyage – Founded in 1978. In 1985, with support of the Swiss Federal Council an organisation which regroups 80 percent of Swiss organisations was created.

Objectives :

achieve the recognition of Travellers’ lifestyle in Switzerland;
help Travellers in the field of settlement, housing, movement;
defend Roma human rights.

ROMA CIVIL RIGHTS FOUNDATION

Ms. Agnes DAROCZI (Hungary)

Roma Civil Rights Foundation - established by Roma and non-Roma individuals in 1995. Provides legal assistance, social welfare services and counselling, discusses situation of Roma in public life.

Objectives:

promote the political, legal, social, economic, cultural and educational emancipation of the Roma in Hungary, assist in their self-organisation process;
preserve cultural values of the Roma in Hungary;
promote Roma’s social integration;
defend Roma human rights.

ROMANI CRISS

Mr. Costel BERCUSI (Romania)

Romani Criss (Roma Center for Social Intervention and Studies) - a non-profit organisation established in 1993. The founding members of the organisation are: Roma Ethnic Federation (FER), Research Centre of Roma/Gypsies from the René Descartes University, Paris and Institute of Sociology from Romanian Academy.
Objectives:

monitor the human rights situation in Romania;
design and implement public policy programs for the benefit of the local Roma community in order to ensure the respect of human rights and minority rights of the Roma.

INTERNATIONAL ROMA WOMEN’S NETWORK (IRWN)

Ms. Soraya POST, President (Sweden)

International Roma Women’s Network (IRWN) – established in February 2003 by Roma women leaders from 25 European countries.

Objectives:

lobby governments in the countries in Europe and develop recommendations to improve the overall situation of Roma/Sinti/Gypsy/Traveller women;
challenge individual and institutional discrimination at all levels, more specifically discrimination in housing, health care, education and employment;
give visibility to Roma/ Sinti/Gypsy/Traveller women, and to articulate their agenda;
attain basic human rights for Roma women;
ensure that Roma culture is recognised, respected, and resourced;
collaborate with governments in order to solve Roma issues from a Roma women’s perspective;
encourage all international organisations and institutions, which work on behalf of women and Roma, to actively support Roma women’s organisations.

ROMA NATIONAL UNION, (ROMERNAS RIKSFÖRBUND), Sweden

Mr. Lars DEMETRI (Sweden)

Roma National Union (Romernas Riksförbund) – Swedish umbrella organisation, established in 1975. The Union has 22 affiliated associations and approximately all Swedish Roma communities are involved in its activities.

Objectives:

improve the situation of the Roma in Sweden;
ensure the education of young people and adults;
encourage collaboration between Romany organisations and central and local government authorities;
preserve Roma culture and language.

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Other structures represented at the hearing of 19 February 2004

ROMA NATIONAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Mr. Orban KOLOMPAR (Hungary)

Roma National self-Government – 53 member advisory body to the national government.

Objectives:

co-operate with the government;
express Roma views on draft regulations concerning them;
exchange information with the public administrative bodies in questions affecting minority groups;
deliver recommendations and initiate measures.

ROMA ORGANISATION’S COMMON SPOKESMAN

Mr. Nejdet Mustpha (“The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”)

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[1] Obtained the status of accredited NGO to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1979 and the consultative status to the United Nations in 1993.