In the run-up to International Roma Day (8 April), the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers announced, on Friday 5 April, the adoption of a Recommendation calling on Member States to address the specific vulnerabilities faced by women and girls from the Roma and Traveller communities.
Stricken by persistent antigypsyism in European societies, they must also confront sexism and the resulting intersectional discrimination, states the text, commented in these terms by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić:
“From ensuring equal participation of Roma and Traveller girls in quality education to removing financial or administrative impediments that prevent them from accessing healthcare, the Recommendation – as developed by our Steering Committee on Anti-Discrimination, Diversity, and Inclusion – also calls on member States and their local authorities to support participation of Roma women and girls in civic, community and political engagement. This participation must be free from violence, harassment, hate speech and sexism”.
Link to the Recommendation: https://aeur.eu/f/bnd (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)