For International Romani Day, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopts recommendations to its member states for improving the equality of Romani and Traveller girls and women
On the eve of International Romani Day, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has recommended the 46 member states of the Council of Europe guarantee the equality of Romani and Traveller girls and women and address the areas of vulnerability which they specifically face. "International Romani Day is a time to celebrate Romani people and to appreciate and recognize the contribution they are making to our society and its value. We are aware that Romani and Traveller women and girls are subjected to antigypsyism, sexism and intersectional discrimination that intensifies the inequality they suffer. Many Romani and Traveller girls and women still live in dismal conditions and decisive measures must be adopted to arrange for their actual equality," the Committee of Ministers said.
In the new recommendation, the ministers propose ways to overcome the structural obstacles which stand in the way of genuine equality for Romani and Traveller girls and women; the document also includes instructions for effective measures in areas such as civic registration, education, employment, health care, housing, preventing the removal of Romani children from their families of origin and their placement in foster care, protection from extreme poverty, protection from human trafficking, and protection from violence. The recommendation appeals to Council of Europe member states to increase their efforts to improve the status of Romani and Traveller women and girls.
According to the recommendation, Council of Europe member states should also be supporting the participation of Romani and Traveller women and girls in political and public life, collecting data and performing research in this area in order to develop action plans, legal frameworks and strategies for implementing the recommendation. The aim of the measure is to ultimately make sure all Romani and Traveller women and girls are able to enjoy their human rights.
“Today, when we are celebrating International Romani Day together with Roma and Travellers worldwide, we look forward to the day when the equality of all Romani people, including girls and women, becomes a reality,” the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe said.
