Roma Rights 4/2006: Romani Women’s Rights Movement

The current issue of Roma Rights looks at the responses of Romani women to some of the human rights violations Romani women face. The Romani women’s movement has evolved organically through the wider pursuit of Roma rights by Romani women and men over the years in response to the initial (and mostly continuing) lack of attention to women’s issues on the part of the predominantly male “leaders”; some of whom viewed patriarchal traditions as integral components of Romani identity and culture. Romani women’s first steps to speak out about their rights as women and to challenge the idea that certain practices are a part of Romani culture have often been met with criticism, rejection or have been simply ignored. The fact is that women’s rights in all contexts tend to be a cause of controversy, but particularly when in juxtaposition with other characteristics such as race or ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, etc. This issue provides a few examples of current Romani women’s actions and reflections.

This issue includes the information listed below and is available from the ERRC web site at the links below:
• Part one
• Part two

EDITORIAL
Romani Women’s Rights by Ostalinda Maya Ovalle

NOTEBOOK
Romani Women’s Rights at the European Level by Lívia Járóka
The Romani Women’s Movement in Montenegro: Chapter One by Tatjana Perić
Shifting from Terminology to Substance by Azbija Memedova
Coping with Coercive Sterilisation by Lucie Fremlová

LEGAL DEFENCE
Coercive Sterilisation in Czech Republic: Civil and Criminal Law Aspects by Michaela Kopalová
In the Name of Reproductive Rights; Litigating before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women by Anita Danka

NEWS ROUNDUP: SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND EUROPE
Bulgaria * Czech Republic * Europe * France * Greece * Hungary * Italy * Lithuania * Romania * Russia * Serbia * Slovenia * Spain * Turkey * Ukraine * United Kingdom

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
“You have the Right but not the Opportunity” by Larry Olomoofe

ADVOCACY
European Roma Rights Centre Statement on Romani Women’s Rights

TESTIMONY
The Romani Women’s Movement: From East to West

MEET THE ERRC
Comfort in Times of Change by Dimitrina Petrova

CHRONICLE

Roma Rights is published quarterly in Budapest, Hungary, by the European Roma Rights Centre.

Coordinating editor for this issue: Ostalinda Maya
Editorial team: Tara Bedard and Claude Cahn
News co-ordinator: Tara Bedard
Design and layout: Dzavit Berisha

© December 2006 European Roma Rights Centre ISSN 1417-1503. The opinions expressed in authored pieces are not necessarily those of the European Roma Rights Centre. The contents of Roma Rights are free from all copyright restrictions on condition that the source is mentioned and reproduction is not for commercial purposes. The ERRC requests that three copies of the reproduced text be sent to the editor.
Paper copies of Roma Rights can be obtained by contacting the offices of the ERRC: office@errc.org. The ERRC requests a donation of 12 USD or 10 euro per copy, via:

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or
Bank transfer to:
European Roma Rights Centre
Account holder: European Roma Rights Center
Bank’s name: Budapest Bank Rt.
Account number: 99P00402686
(IBAN: HU21-10103173-40268600-00000998)
Bank’s address: Báthori utca 1, H-1054 Budapest, Hungary