International Roma Day
EU Award for Roma Integration goes to two Turkish Roma Women!
Ambassador Berger Will Meet the Winners and Roma Children to Speak about Their Rights and Dreams in Ankara
Marking the International Roma Day (8 April), the Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Ambassador Christian Berger, will visit "Dream House", a children's centre at a densely Roma populated neighbourhood near Ankara Castle. The event, which will bring together the children and the two award-winning Roma women activists, will take place on Sunday 7 April. Among the Turkish candidates, Ms Elmas Arus and Ms Gizem Nalbant, received the top two prizes of the EU Award for Roma Integration “Women grassroots activists - Unknown Heroes” at a high level ceremony in Brussels on 19 March.
"Dream House" is run by Roma Rights Association with support from volunteer university students from Ankara. Roma and non-Roma children from disadvantaged backgrounds can attend and take support classes after school from well-educated young volunteers. The Centre aims to empower children and families to ensure that all children can contribute to the society now and all through-out their lives. Voluntary activities help build the children's self-confidence and other personal skills, bringing them together with role model university students.
During the event, Roma children will perform short theatrical plays where they highlight how they deal with issues such as access to education, children dragged into crime, early marriages and discrimination.
Launched in 2014, the EU award for Roma integration for the Western Balkans and Turkey aims at highlighting the political importance of Roma integration in the EU enlargement process and enhancing the role of key players such as civil society, Roma youth and this year Roma women. Out of 105 applications submitted for the Award in 2019, two Roma women from each of the seven EU Candidate Countries have been selected for their contribution to the inclusion, integration and empowerment of Roma in their communities and societies.
On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, Ambassador Christian Berger, stated that "Respect for fundamental rights, including equal treatment, is one of the cornerstones of the European Union. International Roma Day is therefore an opportunity to build on the positive work done so far to fight discrimination of Roma and to enforce their integration in all European societies and countries. I am deeply touched with these voluntary efforts in Ankara for empowering Roma and other vulnerable children. All children deserve quality education to develop their skills and realize their
dreams. I also congratulate the two brave Turkish Roma women who received the EU Award for Roma Integration 2019, who have become role models by pushing the boundaries of established traditions."
Background Information:
Roma people are part of the European societies for more than 700 years. They share a rich culture and history, yet also faced a long history of poverty and exclusion. There are around 12 million Roma living across Europe (including Turkey), yet many of them are victims of prejudice and social exclusion despite the laws that clearly ban discrimination.
Turkey has adopted its first National Strategy for Roma Citizens in April 2016, covering the period 2016-2021. The Strategy foresees positive measures in the fields of employment, education, health, housing and civic documentation.
A nationwide survey conducted in 2017 across Turkey reveals that 71% of Roma citizens had completed only primary school or had no education, and only 31% of them were considered to be in employment, having mostly part time or temporary jobs. Despite dramatic increases in education levels in recent years, inclusion of the Roma people in working life and employment remains a key challenge. The survey showed that the current universal service provision needs to be complemented with targeted provision of services and assistance for integration into the labour market.
For more information, please contact:
Mehmet Caner Demir - Sector Manager for Social Policy
mehmet-caner.demir@eeas.europa.eu / T +90 312 459 87 00
For press inquiries please contact:
Ms. Miray Akdağ,
Press and Information Officer of the Delegation of the EU to Turkey
Tel: 0312 4598700 E-mail: miray.akdag@eeas.europa.eu
