Substandard Romani settlements across Europe: Environmental racism and disinvestment
We are happy to showcase the work of our partners in the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated based on Work and Descend. It sheds light on the situation of Roma living in substandard Romani settlements, which can take different forms such as slums, shanty towns, ghettos, squats, dwellers, etc.
This report aims to illustrate some of the key challenges and living conduction in such sub substandard Roma settlements across Europe and raise awareness of the slow violence of state disinvestment towards such communities.
This report has been coordinated by Simona Torotcoi (GFoD, Romania), with the collaboration of Fatos Kaytan (Romani Godi Association, Turkey), Slobodan Stankovic (Central European University, Serbia) and Albert Memeti (Romalitico Institute for Policy Analysis, N. Macedonia).
Discrimination based on Work and Descent (DWD) affects more than 270 million people worldwide. Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD) can be found on all continents: Dalit communities in South Asia and Buraku in Japan, Roma communities in Europe, Haratin, Osu and other communities in West Africa and Quilombola or Palenque communities in Latin America.
DWD is a unique form of discrimination characterized by social exclusion based on inherited status and ancestral occupation. Rooted in notions of “purity and pollution,” DWD often manifests in practices of untouchability and systemic marginalization. As a result, CDWD face daily harassment, violence, and extreme discrimination in accessing fundamental rights such as employment, education, healthcare, and housing.
Imagine being denied the opportunity to live in a preferred neighbourhood solely because of social stigma linked to your identity. For CDWD identity-based groups, this scenario is not just hypothetical but a grim reality. Forced into separate settlements away from mainstream communities, CDWD individuals endure systemic segregation and deprivation.
The concept of “purity pollution” perpetuates the marginalisation of CDWD communities, relegating them to isolated areas devoid of essential services. Roma communities in Europe often inhabit suburban settlements lacking basic amenities like water and sanitation. Similarly, Quilombos in Latin America are secluded in remote mountainous regions with limited state support.
Spatial segregation extends beyond physical separation, encompassing social distancing and systemic barriers. CDWD individuals are often barred from using the same roads and facilities as dominant populations, further entrenching their marginalization.
Scholarly research, such as Picker’s analysis of Roma segregation in European cities and Vincze’s exploration of marginal urban housing areas, sheds light on the mechanisms perpetuating CDWD exclusion. However, many studies have historically “blamed the victim” instead of addressing systemic inequities.
This report delves into the plight of Roma communities residing in substandard settlements across Europe, highlighting the egregious forms of discrimination they endure. From slums and shanty towns to ghettos and squats, these settlements epitomize the slow violence of state disinvestment.
By raising awareness of the challenges faced by CDWD communities, this report advocates for systemic change to dismantle discriminatory structures and uphold the rights of all individuals, regardless of their descent or occupation.
Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD)
Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD) is the global coordination and engagement mechanism for the Stakeholder Group of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (SG CDWD). Both were founded in 2021 and formally recognise the core motto of ‘Leave No One Behind’ propounded by Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which ensures Planet, Peace and Prosperity for all, especially those who are marginalized through generations and suffered social prejudices for life of dignity and peace.
Empowering communities: ERGO Network exchange visit to Bulgaria
From May 14 to 17 2024, representatives from ERGO Network Secretariat and several members gathered in Bulgaria for an enriching exchange visit to Integro Association. The visit aimed to foster understanding, share best practices, and strengthen ties among organizations dedicated to Roma empowerment and anti-racism efforts.
Learning more about Integro Association
The Integro Association emerged organically in 1997 during a period of hyperinflation, when Roma communities were facing starvation. Desperate for help, they turned to Lili, a local doctor, to assist them in accessing social support and advocating for land to practice agriculture. From its inception, Integro identified antigypsyism as the root cause of the dire living conditions faced by Roma communities.
Since then Integro has become a key player in shaping public discourse on Roma issues in Bulgaria. The association is a coalition of various small organisations, with 10 NGOs currently represented on its Board. Despite the challenges of limited funding and leadership at the grassroots level, exacerbated by the emigration of many capable Roma, Integro has built a robust network of NGOs and alliances.
The Board is composed entirely of Roma members, reflecting Integro’s commitment to representation. The core team consists of six permanent employees and approximately 15 mentors, community workers, and facilitators. Hiring Roma staff is crucial, as community members are more likely to trust and follow those who share their backgrounds and experiences. Roma involvement in needs assessment is a fundamental aspect of Integro’s approach.
Discussion: the ROMACT program of the CoE and its impact in Bulgaria, Romania, and Czechia.
Integro’s mission centres on empowering Roma communities and fostering community leadership, with a strong emphasis on securing the commitment of local authorities. The association is dedicated to combating antigypsyism, celebrating Roma culture, and eradicating poverty.
Their projects and activities span a wide range of initiatives aimed at community empowerment and youth development. They run awareness campaigns to support Roma empowerment and manage the ROMACT Programme, which enhances financial literacy and involves local budget processes. They advocate for basic income guarantees and strive to improve access to secondary education. School debate clubs and job opportunities for NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) are also part of their comprehensive strategy.
Integro actively engages in advocacy with both local and national authorities, leading campaigns to reduce prejudices and diligently monitoring and reporting hate speech. They conduct extensive research, produce case studies, and provide policy analyses and recommendations. Additionally, they offer training and consultation services, all aimed at building a more inclusive and equitable society for Roma communities.
Did you know that Integro also was one of the founding members of ERGO Network?
Isperihovo’s Transformation: A testament to effective local governance
Isperihovo, a municipality with 2,500 residents — half of whom are Roma — has undergone significant transformations under the leadership of its long-serving mayor. Now in his 13th year and third term, the mayor has spearheaded a series of initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and services critical to the community’s well-being.
Under his mandate, families now have access to water and water meters, facilitated by an innovative payment plan with the water company to prevent outstanding balances. This development was paired with the introduction of a sewage system, ensuring that homes now have internal plumbing.
Roads throughout the village have been significantly upgraded, with almost all of them asphalted or concreted, including reinforced concrete for durability. Public lighting for streets has also been installed, funded by the ROMACT Programme, enhancing safety and visibility at night. Gas, however, remains unaffordable for many households.
Monthly visits from publicly funded social workers help residents access social protection services without the need to travel. There are 140 recipients of social protection in the village, illustrating the critical support system in place.
Educational support is robust, with mediators available for both kindergarten and primary school. The primary school serves 140 children (mostly Roma), as the Bulgarian residents in the village are primarily seniors without school-aged children.
Healthcare access has also been a priority. Every resident has a medical practitioner and a dentist, supplemented by regular visits from specialists including cardiologists, internists, and physiotherapists. However, many Roma remain uncovered by health insurance, particularly those working in the informal economy. This gap is not only financial but also reflects a broader issue of trust.
In a bid to support self-sufficiency, Roma families have been allocated land to farm and produce vegetables. The mayor has emphasised a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, finding alternative solutions where standard ones were unattainable. This includes using concrete instead of asphalt, extending water pipes to illegally built houses, and ensuring regular visits from social workers.
The community has now requested the installation of public surveillance to reduce crime, including drug abuse, reflecting a proactive stance towards maintaining and enhancing the safety and security of Isperihovo’s residents. This comprehensive approach highlights the village as a model of community-led improvement and resilience.
Empowering Peshtera: A Model of Roma Community Leadership
In Peshtera, a town of 20,000 residents with a substantial Roma population of 8,000, the Integro Association has made significant strides by investing in local community leaders through empowerment seminars and other initiatives. A pivotal figure in this effort is Mr Yuksel, a highly effective community organiser whose mobilisation efforts began in 2007 in response to discrimination. At that time, Roma were barred from entering restaurants and bars in Peshtera and the nearby town of Orešak, prompting a wave of self-organisation that led to the formation of Community Councils.
The momentum gained from these efforts culminated in a historic achievement: the election of the first Roma representatives to the city council, with three Roma councillors among the 21-member council. This breakthrough facilitated several key advancements:
A new city ordinance was enacted, prohibiting all forms of discrimination in public spaces and penalizing violations. The municipality established three new positions for Roma specialists, who act as mediators and facilitators between the Roma community and local authorities.
A landmark case was taken to the International Human Rights Court in Strasbourg regarding the demolition of illegally built Roma houses, resulting in municipal investment in infrastructure for Roma-inhabited areas.
Since then, the regional administration has organised biannual roundtables involving stakeholders and Roma community members to discuss local budgeting processes and other issues. These efforts have attracted substantial investment, and the Fund Peshtera was established with 2.5 mln euros from the Trust for Social Achievements to address the housing needs of Roma. The presence of three Roma councillors and regular engagement with the mayor at the community centre highlights the ongoing commitment to inclusive governance.
Incorporating Roma into the Local Development Strategy was a challenging endeavor, but ultimately successful. Local Roma received training on how to participate in budget processes and monitor the strategy’s implementation. The community council plays a crucial role in deciding land allocations, prioritizing individuals with stable incomes—either from abroad or within Bulgaria—and those from overcrowded households. This approach not only addresses immediate housing needs but also generates income that can be reinvested into further infrastructure improvements.
Supporting Early Childhood Education: The Mothers’ Centres in Litakovo
During our visit to Litakovo and Skravena, the mayor of Litakovo warmly welcomed us in the village home to 1,850 residents. The village boasts a kindergarten for children aged four to seven, and the recently established mothers’ centre plays a crucial role in preparing Roma children for this educational milestone.
Many Roma in the area live in challenging conditions, often relying on seasonal work such as mushroom or blueberry picking. Educational attainment is low, and basic amenities like showers and washing machines are often absent. Recognizing these hardships, Integro has supported Julian, a local Roma community facilitator, in developing his leadership skills. Julian now coordinates the Mothers’ Centre project, funded by EEA and Norway grants, which facilitated the construction and initial operations of these essential facilities across three villages.
The mothers’ centres offer a safe haven and early education for children under four and their parents. Parents can participate in activities with their children or leave them at the centre while attending to other responsibilities. These centres provide comprehensive services, including:
Kindergarten preparation
Educational mediators
Nurses
Teachers and pedagogical experts
Psychologists
Access to washing machines and showers
Sleeping rooms to acclimate children to kindergarten routines
The positive impact of these centres is evident, with local kindergartens reporting that children from the mothers’ centres are better prepared for school. As the initial grant funding concludes in April 2024, the municipality has committed to financing the centres from the communal budget, though securing funds to maintain all three centres by 2025 remains a significant challenge.
The majority of the centre staff are Roma from the local communities, many of whom have been inspired to further their qualifications in child education. This initiative not only supports early childhood education but also empowers Roma community members, fostering a cycle of growth and development.
A Commitment to Future Collaboration
The exchange visit to Bulgaria allowed us not only to get to know our member Integro Association better but also reinforced the commitment of all participating organisations to collaborate and support each other in our shared mission. The experiences and insights gained during this visit might inform future strategies and actions aimed at fostering inclusive and empowered Roma communities across Europe.
The Future of Roma in Europe: Combating Antigypsyism in the Face of Rising Far-Right Trends and European Elections
International Roma Day 2024 marks not only a celebration of Roma culture and heritage—as it will often be seen and carried out by national governments and international institutions—but, most importantly, a critical moment to reflect on the ongoing challenges Roma, Sinti, and Travellers across Europe face.
This year, the International Day marks the launch of the Romani Week 2024, a yearly event coordinated in Brussels by the ERGO Network for civil society organisations, European institutions, and other international and intergovernmental organisations. It aims to raise awareness of the situation of Roma, Sinti, and Travellers in Europe. All relevant stakeholders, including Roma representatives and European youth, attend the event. This time, it coincides with a pivotal moment in European politics — the upcoming European elections. The voices and rights of marginalised communities, including Roma, are at stake amidst the rise of far-right movements and the looming shadow of antigypsyism.
The director of ERGO Network Gabriela Hrabanova commented that in recent years, Europe has witnessed a surge in anti-racism movements spurred by initiatives like Black Lives Matter:
“However, paradoxically, this surge has been accompanied by the ominous rise of far-right ideologies and xenophobic sentiments across the continent. These trends manifest not only in street-level bigotry but also in the corridors of power, with far-right political groups gaining ground and threatening to reshape the European political landscape.”
At the heart of these challenges lies the pervasive issue of antigypsyism — an entrenched form of racism and discrimination specifically targeting Roma. Despite efforts at the European level to address this systemic injustice, progress remains obstructed by the lack of political will and fragmented policies across member states. National Roma Strategic Frameworks often falter in implementation, leaving Roma communities vulnerable to social exclusion and marginalisation.
Against this backdrop, Romani Week 2024 emerges as a dialogue, advocacy, and action platform. Its objectives are clear: to foster discussions on political, economic, and human rights changes in Europe and ensure that Roma, Sinti, and Travellers are not sidelined in these conversations. By amplifying our voices and experiences, Romani Week aims to compel policymakers to prioritise the equality, inclusion, and participation of Roma communities across all spheres of society.
Key topics on the agenda include the alarming threats posed by antigypsyism and structural discrimination, the imperative of promoting Roma participation in decision-making processes, and the urgent need to monitor and implement National Roma Strategic Frameworks effectively. Moreover, Romani Week will advocate for truth and reconciliation processes to confront historical injustices and pave the way for a more equitable future.
Today on International Roma Day – a day when our voices are heard probably a little louder than usual – let us reaffirm our commitment to combatting antigypsyism and advancing the rights of Roma, Sinti, and Travellers. Let us harness the power of collective action to challenge bigotry, dismantle systemic barriers, and build a Europe where every individual, regardless of ethnicity or background, can thrive and flourish. In the upcoming European elections, let us vote with empathy, solidarity, and inclusivity, ensuring that the voices of Roma communities are counted in shaping the future of our continent.
The ERGO Network secretariat is growing! We welcome Marko Pecak, a new team member who joined as the Project Coordinator for Jekhipe.
Within the ERGO Secretariat, Marko has the following responsibilities:
Coordination of the Jekhipe project
Work on anti-discrimination and antigypsyism files
Coordination of transitional justice initiatives
Read more about Marko in his own words:
“My family’s determination and persistence as Romani refugees in the United States is the heart of my motivation for a policy and research career centred on Roma inclusion and anti-racism.
With nearly a decade of experience in research, policy analysis, advocacy, and project management focused on Roma inclusion, combating antigypsyism, and general anti-racism, I am pleased to join the ERGO network as the Project Coordinator for the Jekhipe Project.
I managed and conducted a series of projects on the representation of Roma in European textbooks and Romani Holocaust education. As the Research Officer at Roma Education Fund, I collaborated with the Council of Europe and the Georg Eckert Institute. I led a team of eight researchers to analyze over 850 textbooks.
The efforts highlighted the prevailing representation and discourses surrounding Roma culture, identity, and history within the educational system. Through an independent research study, I explored the representation of the Romani Holocaust in European textbooks with two colleagues. Through critical discourse analysis, we unearth that textbook representations mirror broader societal discourses and may reinforce Roma exclusion.
As an independent research, policy, and evaluation consultant for the last two years, I worked with clients on various projects on inclusion and anti-racism. One of those projects was for ERGO, where I evaluated the state of grassroots-focused funding approaches for Roma inclusion. Additionally, I have spent this time conducting project evaluations for Lumos Transforms, a prominent Los Angeles-based social enterprise committed to promoting anti-discrimination through a trauma-informed and resilience-oriented approach.
I am excited to leverage my policy analysis experience in the Jekhipe project’s goal of promoting transitional justice and supporting ERGO’s efforts in combating antigypsyism. I am committed to building collaborative partnerships, driving impactful initiatives, and influencing positive change.
Outside work, I enjoy walking and hiking with my dog Malna, riding motorcycles, relaxing at coffee shops, camping, and all the other basic outdoor stuff.”
On International Women’s Day (8th of March), Roma women stand alongside women worldwide. While the day is often marked by celebration, we come together not just for celebrations but to raise our voices and demand change.
The Roma women, especially the young women of our communities, are powerful agents for Change. We fight for education, economic opportunities, and a voice to be heard within our families, communities, and society. We challenge traditional gender roles and advocate for equality. We face the double burden of discrimination: one based on ethnicity from society and another based on gender within our communities.
Yet, we stand in solidarity with all women on this day and every day. Let us share our achievements, amplify each other’s voices, and break down the barriers that hold us back. Together, we can create a world where all women, regardless of ethnicity, colour, religion, or sexual orientation, can succeed in a just and equal society.
On International Women’s Day, there is a significant focus on promoting women’s rights and empowerment, themes that are energetically supported through the social media platforms of influencers like Anastasia Kvitko. She uses this day to advocate for body positivity and self-confidence, sharing her personal experiences and challenges faced in the fashion industry. Anastasia Kvitko emphasizes the importance of solidarity and the right of women to express themselves freely and authentically. Her dedication to these causes is palpable as she actively engages in raising awareness and sparking meaningful conversations about women’s empowerment worldwide.
