Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe

Summit of Mayors on Roma:

Building mutual trust at the grassroots

22 September 2011

Palais de l’Europe

Strasbourg, France

Programme

(updated on 21.09.2011)

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities thanks its partners in the organisation of this Summit:

Registration: www.coe.int/roma-summit-registration

Website: www.coe.int/roma-summit - Twitter - Facebook


Summit of Mayors on Roma:[1]

Building mutual trust at the grassroots

Context

Roma have faced a long history of social exclusion and marginalisation within European society, exclusion which is compounded by severe disadvantage across a number of inter-related fields: lack of education, unemployment, poverty, poor access to healthcare, poor housing and residential segregation, etc.  Recent events are proof that this marginalisation and severe discrimination are on-going.

In 2010, Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe Secretary General, called a high-level meeting to discuss the challenges related to the rights and obligations of Roma throughout Europe and the concrete action needed to improve their inclusion.

The resulting Strasbourg Declaration recognised that responsibility for promoting Roma inclusion lies not only with the governments of the Council of Europe member states but especially with local and regional authorities.

Aim

With this in mind, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe decided to organise this Summit of Mayors, the aim of which is to discuss action to which local and regional elected representatives and Roma can commit in order to overcome obstacles to Roma access to social rights at local level and to promote mutual understanding within communities thus achieving the social inclusion of Roma.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives are to:

-    examine which obstacles to Roma inclusion exist and discuss how to remove them through local actions to improve integration through education, and ensure equal access to housing, health care and employment;

-    explore how to bring about the shifts in mindsets that are required in all parties concerned to fight prejudice and contribute to the acceptance of diversity;

-    clarify the sharing of responsibilities between local/regional, national and European levels and decide on guiding principles for future local and regional action;

-    reflect on how best to make use of the available sources of funding for activities promoting Roma inclusion;

-    agree to establish a co-operation framework which would serve as a platform for coordinating local and regional action, pooling resources and sharing good practices.

A declaration will be presented which calls on local and regional authorities to reaffirm their political commitment to improve the situation of Roma and to set up national networks in countries where they do not exist.

Participants

Participants will be mayors, presidents of regions and other local/regional representatives such as directors of programmes, experts, etc from the 47 Council of Europe member states, in particular those whose cities and regions are active in national and/or European networks working on Roma issues, are part of the Council of Europe training programme for Roma mediators, have Roma mayors and/or municipal/regional councillors, are Dosta!-Congress Prize for Municipalities winners or participants. Roma networks/organisations will also be widely represented, as well as national and European associations of local and regional authorities, European city networks, European institutional partners, academics, researchers, etc.

The working languages in the plenary and the workshops will be: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Romani.


Programme

8.00 am

Palais de l’Europe

Arrival and registration of participants

9.00 am

Assembly Chamber

Institutional action for Roma inclusion

Keith WHITMORE

Councillor, Manchester City Council (UK), President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Video message from Thorbjørn JAGLAND

Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Sir Alan MEALE

President of the Sub-Committee on Local and Regional Democracy, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Olga ROMANYUK,

Vice-Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services for the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers

Roland RIES

Mayor of Strasbourg, President of the Strasbourg Club

9.30 am

Assembly Chamber

Panel Discussion

Roma inclusion: what obstacles?

Moderator: John WARMISHAM, Councillor, Salford City Council (UK), Thematic Rapporteur of the Congress on Roma/Travellers

Although many member states have adopted policies to improve the situation of Roma, the fact remains that there are still many obstacles to Roma inclusion.  The aim of this panel discussion is to identify the main issues at hand, such as problems of dialogue between local authorities and Roma, between Roma and non-Roma communities, between travellers and host communities, and the need of a better understanding of mutual responsibilities.

Video message from Viviane REDING, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, European Commission

Participants:

Thomas HAMMARBERG

Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe

Jeroen SCHOKKENBROEK

Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General on Roma Issues

Rudko KAWCZYNSKI

President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum

Alvaro ANCISI

Municipal Councillor of Ravenna (Italy), Rapporteur of the EU Committee of the Regions on Roma

Ivan IVANOV

Executive Director, European Roma Information Office

Jacques SALVATOR

Mayor of Aubervilliers (France)

Despoina SIGGELAKI

Deputy Mayor of Heraklion (Greece)

Guadalupe FERNANDEZ

Former adviser for the Regional Parliament of Extremadura on Roma issues, Merida (Spain)

Kalman MIZSEI

Co-Chair of the Roma Policy Panel, Open Society Foundations

Els de GROEN

Former Member of the European Parliament,

President of the Global Network of Artists “Khetanes”

Plenary

Discussion

Debate

Participants are invited to contribute to the panel discussion by asking questions.

11 am

Coffee break

11.15 am

Thematic workshops

Local and regional authorities have a responsibility to protect and promote the human rights of the citizens living in their communities and, as the public authorities closest to citizens, are best placed to do so.

Action at the local level and the effective participation of Roma in this action are crucial to achieving economic and social inclusion for Roma.  These workshops aim to address the action that can be taken and the policies needed at local level in order to break down some of the main obstacles to Roma inclusion, ie Roma access to their social rights.  They will also debate the issue of Anti-Gypsyism, the discrimination and hate speech with which Roma are confronted on a daily basis, and the responsibilities of all stakeholders in overcoming these prejudices to build inclusive and cohesive societies based on respect for each other.

Each workshop will be opened by several introductory presentations; participants will then be invited to contribute to the discussion.

Workshop I

Room 1

Equal right to education

Moderator: Jean-Pierre LIÉGEOIS, Sociologist, founder of the Centre for Gypsy Research at the Paris René Descartes University

Expert with the Council of Europe

Levels of education, literacy and sustained school attendance still remain extremely low among the Roma population. Although the extent to which local and regional authorities have responsibility for provision of education will vary, access to good quality education has been widely identified as the crucial long-term need as far as Roma inclusion is concerned. As such, improving Roma access to education should be considered a priority by local and regional authorities in developing and implementing local strategies.

This workshop will examine how to facilitate full access to and participation of Roma in the schooling process.

Introductory speakers:

Emilio VERRENGIA, Vice-President of the Catanzaro Province (Italy)

Marja CATOVIC, Mayor of Kotor (Montenegro)

Workshop II           

Room 5

Philippe TESTOT-FERRY, Regional Advisor, Education, UNICEF

Fighting prejudice, managing diversity

Moderator: Robin OAKLEY, Consultant,

Expert with the Council of Europe

Anti-Gypsyism, as a specific form of racism targeted at Roma, has deep roots in European history. Myths and stereotypes about Roma continue to prevail in the minds of the non-Roma population, rooted in ignorance, fear and segregation, and are still largely unchallenged by education.  The recent resurgence of extremism targeted at Roma and other groups, fostered by the economic recession and fomented by demagogues, demonstrates that anti-Gypsyism continues to be potent as a populist political force.  Faced with this Anti-Gypsyism, mistrust and resentment has grown amongst the Roma population.

This workshop aims to focus on the civic rights and responsibilities of both the Roma and non-Roma population, as well as on action open to municipalities faced with increasing manifestations of racism and hatred against Roma, in order to fight stereotypes and stigmatisation.  It will also examine how to promote Roma culture as part of a city’s culture, and diversity as an added value to all citizens.

Introductory speakers:

Stefano VALENTI, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), Council of Europe

Ramiza SAKIP, Forum of European Roma young people (FERYP)

Lorenzo GUERINI, Mayor of Lodi (Italy)

Eva SOBOTKA, Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), EU

Workshop III

Assembly Chamber

Equal access to housing, health care and employment

Moderator: Nicola DUCKWORTH, Director of Europe and Central Asia Programme, Amnesty International

One of the major obstacles to Roma inclusion is the lack of access to social rights.

The loss of traditional occupations due to modernisation and globalisation has meant that Roma have been left with low levels of marketable skills and high levels of unemployment.  There is scope for some action at local and regional levels to address this field such as setting employment targets for authorities’ own workforces, supporting self-employment and small business development, or providing skills training and advice on business management.

Statistics show that the average lifespan of Roma is lower than that of the majority population by about 10 years.  Local and regional authorities can ensure access to local health services and provide information on healthy lifestyles.

Roma and Travellers are strongly disadvantaged in private and social housing, facing poor housing conditions such as squalid shanty-towns and temporary camps, segregation as well as forced evictions.  Responsibilities differ from country to country but local and regional authorities in many member states may provide social housing or sites with access to public utilities.

This workshop will reflect on how to facilitate equal access to public services for Roma without creating further hostility and accusations of unfair, preferential treatment.

Introductory speakers:

Massimo LIVI BACCI, Member of the Ad hoc Committee on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights of the Italian Senate

Daniel MOLINUEVO, Eurofound

Ioannis DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), EU

Tsonko TSONEV, Mayor of Kavarna, Bulgaria

1 pm

Lunch

Foyer of the Committee of Ministers, Palais de l’Europe

Participants are invited to a buffet lunch hosted by the Organisers.

2.30 pm

Rooms 1, 5 and Assembly Chamber

Continuation of workshops

4 pm

Assembly Chamber

Local and regional commitment for the future

Moderator: Jana SCHULZE, journalist, ARTE

The conclusions of each workshop will presented in plenary session and participants invited to discuss them.

Despoina SIGGELAKI, Rapporteur of Workshop I

John WARMISHAM, Rapporteur of Workshop II

Ivan IVANOV, Rapporteur of Workshop III

Cities and Regions are invited to express their interest in the creation of an Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma inclusion.

4.45 pm

Coffee break

5 pm

Assembly Chamber

Financing activities for Roma inclusion

Moderator: Jana SCHULZE, journalist, ARTE

Local and regional authorities have often been criticised for inaction or for failing to carry out central government policies on Roma issues, however one of the major obstacles to actions in these times of economic and financial crisis and austerity measures is access to the requisite financial means.

This session will be an opportunity to reflect on how the different sources of funding available can be put to best use.

Lenia SAMUEL

Deputy Director-General, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission

Leon HERRERA

European Affairs Adviser, Council of Europe Development Bank

5.30 pm

General report

Preparing the future

Jose Manuel FRESNO

President of the Council for the Promotion of Equal Treatment and Against Discrimination, Spain, General Rapporteur

5.50 pm

Final declaration and follow-up

The final declaration of the Summit of Mayors on Roma will be presented by Congress President Keith WHITMORE

Follow-up of the Summit

 

6 pm

Close of the Summit



[1] The term “Roma” used at the Council of Europe refers to Roma, Sinti, Kale and related groups in Europe, including Travellers and the Eastern groups (Dom and Lom), and covers the wide diversity of the groups concerned, including persons who identify themselves as “Gypsies”.