The Greek General Secretariat for Social Solidarity and the Fight Against Poverty and UNICEF host regional South East Europe Roma Inclusion Consultation in Athens with twelve delegations

ATHENS, 17 OCTOBER 2022: The two-day South East Europe Roma Child Rights and Inclusion Consultation, organized by the Greek General Secretariat for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and UNICEF’s Office in Greece, was successfully completed this week at Zappeion Megaron in Athens, with the participation of 12 delegations from Southern and Eastern Europe (SEE).

Government delegations, Roma civil society, EU experts, Greek government officials and UNICEF representatives from the SEE region discussed planning, evidence generation, monitoring and financing of Roma inclusion in all aspects of social and economic life including housing, health, education and employment. Participants also identified common challenges and opportunities to strengthen the rights and inclusion of Roma children, adolescents and young people across the region.

The consultation was opened with welcome addresses delivered by Greek Government representatives; Mr. Kostas Hatzidakis, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Greece, Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternate Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Domna Michailidou, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ms. Dora Bakoyannis (with a video message), Member of Parliament, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, President of KEDE (Central Union of Municipalities of Greece) and Mr. Georgios Stamatis, Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Opening remarks were also delivered by Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.

“Despite significant efforts made to date, Roma communities still face many obstacles in their socioeconomic integration. Roma children are particularly sensitive and especially girls and young women who are in danger of being trapped in the vicious circle of exclusion and obstacles. It is our duty to confront marginalization and discrimination, making up for the lost time and strengthening our efforts, in collaboration with Roma communities. Our target is to tackle the problems and discriminations they face in harmony with the EU directives” stated Minister Hatzidakis.

“Decades of data show a pattern of poverty and social exclusion that begins in childhood and follows children to adulthood, where Roma face employment discrimination and legal and social barriers that limit their opportunities, feeding a cycle of exclusion and poverty. UNICEF is committed to the partnership with the European Commission and EU Member States to pilot the preparatory action of the European Child Guarantee. The Child Guarantee seeks to address many of the issues discussed by stakeholders and provides opportunities for all children, including Roma children, for better living conditions and social inclusion throughout European Member States”, said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Afshan Khan.

Finally, Georgios Stamatis, Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty and the main host of the event noted: “In Europe, Roma children are often disproportionally affected by poverty and lack of access to basic goods and services. Discrimination and stereotyping against Roma systematically deprive children of their fundamental rights. According to a recent mapping of Roma people in Greece, children constitute 34% of the total Roma population. In other words, one out of four Roma is a child. In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), we strongly support activities aiming at ensuring that Roma children's rights are protected and promoted. Preventing early marriages and school drop-outs are among our main concerns. The new National Roma Integration Strategy as well as the EU Child Guarantee Action Plan set the policy framework for an inclusive society where all children should be able to reach their full potential in life”.

EU representatives also contributed to the Consultation with Szabolcs Schmidt, Head of Unit of Non-discrimination and Roma Coordination for the EU Commission’s DG Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) presenting the EU mechanisms and tools to address challenges faced by Roma children and families, Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of the Roma and Travellers Division of the Council of Europe, addressing the Council’s transition from standard-setting to policy making on Roma rights and inclusion and Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos, Scientific Advisory & Head of Unit Equality, Roma Inclusion and Social Rights of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) underlining challenges in the fulfilment of the fundamental rights of Roma children across Europe.

Participants committed to strengthening cross-country collaboration, including the establishment of a regional Roma knowledge exchange network and the development of specific measures in support of Roma child rights and inclusion in the region until 2030. These include actions linking to National Strategies on Roma Inclusion with the EU Child Guarantee aligned with the EU Roma Strategy[1] and the Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process[2], as well as country-level strategies and plans.

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1813

[2] https://www.rcc.int/romaintegration2020/news/323/declaration-of-wb-partners-on-roma-integration-within-the-eu-enlargement-process