MINELRES: Fwd: Roma Women Conference in Kiev, Ukraine, on June 19, 2003.

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Roma Network <romale@zahav.net.il>


-----------------Forwarded message--------------
From:   Zola Kondur <kondur@irf.kiev.ua>
 
On June 19, 2003 a conference "Roma Women: Double Discrimination" took
place in Kiev, organized by Chirikli Romani Women Charity Foundation and
International Renaissance Foundation,  Roma of Ukraine Program.
 
They have lived among us for hundreds of years, amazing us with their
all-powerful love of freedom, song, spirited dance, and colorful dress. 
Yet only today we are trying to hear the true voice of Romani community
that has reached the brink of extinction.
 
Today, according to official records, 50,000 Roma live in Ukraine.  In
reality, there are more then 100 000, but as they do not have a
permanent dwelling Roma are deprived of the right to a passport and
thereby the inclusion into the political and economic life of society. 
Romani women live in constant privation, hunger, and disease.  Basic
sanitary necessities, running water, and public restrooms are lacking in
tabors, or places of Roma�s compact dwelling in Transcarpathia, Odessa,
and Kharkiv regions.  Prejudice and intolerance of Roma on part of the
physicians cause them to refuse to seek emergency medical care.  Such
hazardous bunches of diseases as tuberculosis, scabs, and pediculosis
(lousiness) "flourish" among children and adults.
 
The problem of Roma education, too, became central to the discussion of
male and female participants at the conference, as only 2% of Roma
(according to various sources) can read and write. A lack of motivation
in obtaining education on part of Roma themselves, as well as a shortage
of teachers, textbooks, and funding are factors that slow down the
solution of the problem of education of Romani children.
 
Among the conference participants were Roma organizations that work on
the solution of problems of Roma woman and community and representatives
of educational establishments who teach Romani children in Sunday
schools for Roma.  But because as yet there is no policy or regulation
of Sunday schools in Ukraine their status is uncertain.
 
According to a Council of Europe representative and prominent human
rights activist Ms. Miranda Vyolasranta, urgently needed is a program of
immediate assistance, which would unite the efforts of the state, public
initiatives, and international community to overcome the catastrophic
situation of Roma in Ukraine.
 
The conference was attended by the Advisor to the Ombudsman in Verkhovna
Rada of Ukraine and a representative of The Ministry of Education of
Ukraine.  Unfortunately, representatives of many state offices who had
been invited ignored the event.
 
During the conference, a presentation of Angus Fraser�s historical and
cultural study Tsygany took place, which was translated by The Vsesvit
Publishers with support from Renaissance International Foundation.