European Platform for Roma Inclusion, Brussels

27 June 2013

MÁRTON RÖVIDResearch and policy officer, Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation

Civil Society Monitoringof the Implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies

STRUCTURE

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1. Updates on the Decade of Roma Inclusion

2. Introducing the civil society monitoring reports

3. Assessing the measures of NRIS in 2012

UPDATES ON THE DECADE OF ROMA INCLUSION

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Decade Focal Points Roma civil society representatives

selected after open call

Future of the Decade of Roma Inclusion Working group Options Paper Last ISC: continue, but reformed Details of reform and streamlining

with the EU Framework to be elaborated

AN IDEAL SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL MONITORING

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EXISTING SYSTEMS OF MONITORING

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Examples of complete systemsConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN)Framework Convention for the Protection of Council of Europe (CoE)

Incomplete systemsDecade of Roma Inclusion

missing: committee of evaluation, international authority, recommendations, follow-up

EU Framework missing: committee of evaluation, state progress reports,

mechanism to receive and review shadow reports, country-specific recommendations, follow-up

WHAT IS SHADOW REPORTING?

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Shadow reports are a method for NGOs to supplement or present alternative information to periodic government reports that State parties submit within the framework of international agreements

Shadow reports cannot substitute quantitative monitoring and evaluation by state authorities but are vital tools to make states accountable.

Shadow reports can channel local knowledge into the policy process and reflect on the real, non-quantifiable social impact of government measures.

Shadow reports are fundamental tools to involve civil society in the monitoring of policies and to foster the active participation of Roma.

PILOT YEAR OF SHADOW REPORTING

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Civil society coalitions selected after open call

8 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Spain

Common template and professional review Monitoring both mainstream and targeted

government measures Summary report in English and Romany;

country reports in English and national languages

www.romadecade.org/civilsocietymonitoring

www.romadecade.org/civilsocietymonitoring

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ASSESSING GOVERNMENT MEASURES

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Positive measures of the Roma strategies

Positive mainstream measuresPositive but insufficiently designed or implemented measures

Largely negative measures of the strategy

Largely negative mainstream measures

SUCCESFUL MEASURES OF NRIS

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Czech Republic: Roma pedagogical assistantsHungary: kindergarten enrolment subsidy for multiply

disadvantaged children + integrated pedagogic system + bonus for teachers in this system

NRIS monitoring systemMacedonia: inclusion of Romani Children in

Public Pre-SchoolsRomania: affirmative action at high school and

university levels

POSITIVE MAINSTREAM MEASURES

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Czech Republic: changing admission criteria for kindergartens

Macedonia: project of housing for socially vulnerable groups

Romania: the universal Milk & Roll school meal program

Spain: Antennas’ Network fighting discrimination

POSITIVE BUT INSUFFICIENTLY DESIGNED OR IMPLEMENTED MEASURES

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Czech Republic: Roma health assistants – no sustainable funding

Hungary: Roma women social assistants – selection

and training to be improved Roma colleges – selection processRomania: Caravans of Roma employment, Job

fairs – should be upscaledSlovakia: new provision of the anti-

discrimination law allowing for affirmative action

LARGELY NEGATIVE MEASURES OF NRIS

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Czech republic: no proper budgeting and monitoring of NRIS

Hungary: public employment scheme without training for primary labor market

Macedonia: infrastructural developments not addressing residential segregation

Slovakia: ‘zero year’ preparatory classes stigmatizing Roma

LARGELY NEGATIVE MAINSTREAM MEASURES

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Czech republic: social reform – e.g. radically reducing assistance of labor offices to job-seekers

Hungary: educational reform – e.g. reducing compulsory age of schooling, changes in the tuition fee arrangements in higher education

Slovak: parallel school track for mentally disabled children

Spain: reducing support for socially disadvantaged students, the reduction of medicines and vaccines covered by the health system

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

marton.rovid@decadesecretariat.org

Márton Rövid