MINELRES: Features at eumap.org: "Overcoming Exclusion: The Roma Decade"

[minelres@lists.microlink.lv]

Original sender: Joost van Beek <jbeek@osi.hu>


EUMAP.ORG NEWS 
---------------------------------- 
EU MONITORING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM 
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE 
---------------------------------- 

ONLINE AT EUMAP.ORG: "Overcoming Exclusion: The Roma Decade"

On 2 February 2005 the Governments of eight Central and South East
European countries officially launched the Decade for Roma Inclusion.
The Decade is a ten-year initiative to overcome deep-rooted problems of
exclusion of Europe's largest and most disadvantaged minority, through
coordinated efforts by Governments and international organizations in
partnership with Roma.

Eumap.org invited authors to assess experiences to date and the lessons
that can be learned. It is pleased to now have published two rounds of
papers that analyze both merits and flaws of the progress of the Roma
Decade so far. A first of its kind, the scope of these seven papers by
independent contributors includes both comparative analyses and
presentations of national case studies.

All papers can be accessed at
www.eumap.org/journal/features/2005/romadec 
_____________________________________

Part I: Learning from the Past: A Critical Look at Policy Experience and
the Prospects for the Roma Decade

3 August 2005

THE DECADE OF ROMA INCLUSION - BETWEEN HOPES, GLITCHES AND FAILURES
Valeriu Nicolae, Deputy Director, European Roma Information Office
(ERIO)

"The Decade of Roma Inclusion has an enormous potential for becoming a
turning point in the situation of Roma in Europe. But for that it needs
to move from words to deeds. Five months into the first year of the
Decade, very few accomplishments are visible. More or less unknown to
Roma communities, struggling with its structures and strategy, the
Decade needs, more than anything, some immediate results and publicity."
_____________________________________

THE SLOVAK GOVERNMENT PLENIPOTENTIARY FOR ROMANI COMMUNITIES: FROM FORM
TO SUBSTANCE?
Eben Friedman, Regional Representative, European Centre for Minority
Issues/Macedonia

"Promoting genuine Romani participation in program development is
integral to the success of the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Specialized
state institutions on the situation of Roma can play an essential role.
To outline what is needed for that and what pitfalls should be avoided,
this paper examines the evolution of the Office of the Government
Plenipotentiary in Slovakia, from its creation in 1995 through the
present."
_____________________________________

THE MISSING LINK: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF ROMA-RELATED POLICIES IN
SLOVAKIA
Martina Kub�nov�, Coordinator, Slovak Governance Institute (SGI)

"Policy initiatives and instruments aimed at Roma in Slovakia are rarely
subject to adequate formal or informal monitoring or evaluation by
policy-making institutions. Consequently, past experience is not used
sufficiently to adjust and improve new policies. Identifying why helps
increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of future initiatives."
_____________________________________

Part II: Reflecting on Social Impact: Employment and Gender

29 August 2005

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES OF ROMA - LOOKING CRITICALLY AT THE
SOCIAL IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT MEASURES
Jennifer Tanaka, Assistant Director, Pakiv European Roma Fund

"We have seen some fifteen years of programmes and plans on how to
improve the situation of Roma. But the reality is that the majority of
Roma says their situation is getting worse. We need to start undertaking
critical analyses of our work systematically. In terms of the Roma
Decade Action Plans, we may begin by further specifying assessment
indicators. In order to gain a better understanding of the social impact
of programmes, we need to assess the impact within Romani households."
_____________________________________

ANALYSING AND ASSESSING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING STRATEGIES:
LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
Florin Nasture, President, Cultural Centre O Del Amenca

"There is an urgent need to take a step back and analyse the
implementation to date of existing strategies, especially their impact
on employment. The Romanian Strategy for Improving the Situation of the
Roma is a good case study because it seemed to provide a coherent
framework for intervention. However, almost all elements failed in the
implementation. A number of weaknesses call for serious attention when
analysing and comparing the Strategy with the new National Action Plan
for the Roma Decade."
_____________________________________

ADDRESSING GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE DECADE OF ROMA INCLUSION: THE CASE
OF SERBIA
Tatjana Peric, Development Coordinator, Ecumenical Humanitarian
Organization

"In addition to the discrimination and dearth of opportunities all Roma
are confronted with, Romani women grapple with the subjection to
patriarchal conventions within Romani society. Serbia is the only
country that created a separate NAP on the discrimination of Romani
women. Despite deficiencies, it provides a strong basis for addressing
their multiple discrimination. However, the government has not formally
approved this plan, and its mainstreaming into adopted NAPs has not been
clarified."
_____________________________________

THE CROATIAN NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ROMA MINORITY: AN EXAMPLE OF
GENDER INEQUALITY?
Ana Bogdanic, Activist, Association of Roma Women "Better Life"

"This paper argues there is a conflict between the interest of minority
issues and that of gender equality in Central and South-East European
countries. I will address some crucial gender problems that are
engendered by the minority protection procedures and policies of the
Croatian government, by analysing draft and final versions of its
National Programme for the Roma. The Programme endorses
multiculturalism, but in so doing ends up multiplying gender prejudices
and inequalities."


************************************ 

ABOUT EUMAP 

eumap.org is an online centre for comprehensive resources, news, and
analyses, committed to  delivering information on, and generating debate
about, human rights and the rule of law in  Europe.

eumap.org is the website of the Open Society Institute's EU Monitoring
and Advocacy Program. 

To find out more about the Program view: http://www.eumap.org/about 

************************************

---------------------------------------------
This message was sent using Endymion MailMan.
http://www.endymion.com/products/mailman/ http://www.microlink.com/