Decade of Roma Inclusion

Decade of Roma Inclusion
Name	Decade of Roma Inclusion
Formation	2005
Dissolution	2015
Type	Initiative
Purpose	Inclusion of Roma people
Headquarters	Budapest
Region served	Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Balkans
Leader title	Steering Committee

Decade of Roma Inclusion

The Decade of Roma Inclusion was a multinational initiative launched in 2005 to improve the socio-economic status of Roma communities across Europe. It brought together political leaders, international organizations, philanthropic foundations, and civil society actors to coordinate policy measures, share best practices, and mobilize funding for targeted interventions. The initiative sought measurable progress in areas such as housing, health, employment, and education through cooperation among national governments, the European Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and nongovernmental organizations.

Background and Objectives

The initiative emerged amid heightened attention from institutions such as the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights regarding discrimination against Roma populations. Prominent political figures including leaders from Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Serbia endorsed the project, which set concrete goals aligned with policy frameworks like the Lisbon Strategy and the European Union's enlargement agenda. Objectives emphasized reducing disparities highlighted by research from institutions such as the Open Society Foundations and reports by the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch documenting exclusion and segregation.

Participating Countries and Governance

Participating states included governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. Governance structures combined national ministries—often from ministries of social affairs or minority affairs—with regional bodies like the Central European Initiative and technical partners such as the United Nations Children's Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. A steering committee composed of representatives from member states, the World Health Organization, and philanthropic stakeholders like the Soros Network guided strategic priorities and coordination.

Key Programs and Initiatives

Programs addressed housing, healthcare, schooling, and labor market access through partnerships with institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the International Labour Organization. Education initiatives referenced models from UNESCO and pilot projects inspired by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education to reduce school segregation and increase preschool enrollment, collaborating with NGOs like the Roma Education Fund and ERGO Network. Health projects partnered with the World Health Organization and national public health institutes to improve immunization and maternal care, while employment schemes drew on vocational training models from the International Organization for Migration and employment services used in Austria and Germany.

Funding, Partnerships, and Implementation

Funding combined state budgets of participating countries with grants from international donors including the European Commission, the Open Society Institute, the World Bank, and bilateral agencies such as USAID and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Implementation relied on local authorities, municipal agencies in capitals like Budapest and Bucharest, Roma civil society groups such as the European Roma Grassroots Organizations Network, and research partners including the Central European University and think tanks like the European Policy Centre.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Outcomes

Monitoring frameworks engaged statistical agencies such as national statistical offices and international bodies like Eurostat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Evaluations referenced indicators on school completion, employment rates, housing conditions, and health metrics, drawing on methodologies used by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme. Reported outcomes included increased preschool attendance documented by NGOs and some improvements in access to services in pilot municipalities, while data collection efforts were reinforced by partnerships with research centers at institutions like the London School of Economics and Central European University.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critiques were raised by advocates from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and grassroots Roma organizations over inadequate enforcement, persistent segregation, and uneven political commitment across member states. Analysts from the European Roma Rights Centre and academic critics at universities such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge highlighted limitations in monitoring, lack of disaggregated data, and dependency on short-term project funding. Political tensions involving accession processes with the European Union and domestic debates in countries like Slovakia and Romania complicated implementation.

Legacy and Impact on Roma Rights

The initiative influenced subsequent policy instruments, contributing to the development of strategies by the European Commission and the adoption of targeted funds in the European Social Fund and cohesion policy. It boosted the visibility of Roma rights in forums such as the United Nations General Assembly and inspired successor programs spearheaded by organizations including the Roma Education Fund and the Open Society Foundations. While evaluations by the World Bank and human rights NGOs found mixed results, the decade catalyzed networks among civil society, academia, and international organizations—shaping contemporary advocacy by groups like the European Roma Rights Centre and informing jurisprudence at the European Court of Human Rights.

Category:Roma rights Category:Human rights organizations