“European institutions, Member States and local authorities must make further efforts to improve the situation of Roma women, which is the most vulnerable social group in Europe” said MEP Joseph Daul, Chairman of the EPP Group and Lívia Járóka rapporteur of the European Roma Strategy. This week, several events will take place both in Brussels, Croatia and Hungary addressing the situation of Roma women in Europe.
On 18 September, the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality will hold a public hearing on the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies together with the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, followed by a delegation to Croatia and Hungary ( 19-20 September) to explore the specific situation of Roma women in the region. The delegation will be led by MEP Lívia Járóka, the only Roma MEP who is the rapporteur of the upcoming report on the gender aspects of the European Framework of National Roma Inclusion Strategies.
Commenting on the events, Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group said: "In 2011, the EU Framework of National Roma Inclusion Strategies has been launched by the Hungarian Presidency with the unanimous support of the EPP Group. Our group has always been in the forefront of facilitating the social inclusion of Europe's largest ethnic minority and we are committed to urge the actors of this process to move forward and achieve visible progress. We must develop a true area of prosperity and progress by building a broad partnership and making the best use of our resources in fighting social exclusion in Europe. The EPP Group will be working to see that happen."
"Several researches confirm that Roma women are the most vulnerable social group in the EU, who are unable to freely take most of the decisions affecting their lives and are therefore prevented from exercising their fundamental rights. In my report, I offer several recommendations for the EU institutions and the Member States, in order to remedy the institutional and policy shortcomings. During the further implementation of the EU Framework of National Roma Inclusion Strategies, both EU institutions and Member States must explicitly target Romani women, assess and consider their specific needs, and provide protection for their most vulnerable groups. The barriers that stand in their way must be identified and demolished and proper emphasis must be placed also on the role that Romani women can play in strengthening and developing their marginalized communities" – highlighted MEP Lívia Járóka, rapporteur of the European Parliament's upcoming report on the gender aspects of the European Framework of National Roma Inclusion Strategies.
Background:
The joint public hearing of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will focus on the lessons of the first stage of the European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies as well as the particular situation of Roma women with the participation of several experts, NGO representatives and EU officials. The two-day delegation to Croatia and Hungary (19-20 September) intends to explore the specific situation of Roma women in the region, through several meetings with ministers, parliamentarians, mayors and NGO representatives from both Member States, as well as visits to Roma settlements along the border.