3 Oct 2011 • Trafficking and exploitation, Child protection... Romania, Kosovo, Moldova, Albania

Terre des hommes joins in a march for the dignity of Roma in Romania

- Published by Darcissac, Marion

Hundreds of people marched in the first “Roma Pride”, a march for the dignity of the Roma in Bulgaria, Romania, France, Italy, Norway, and Denmark. The campaigners demanded equal rights for all the inhabitants of Europe, including the Roma minority, victims of discrimination throughout Europe.

The same rights for all

In Romania, with the largest community of Roma in Europe (between 2 and 2.5 million), some 300 people marched through the centre of Bucharest for “The pride to be Roma”. The Terre des hommes delegation, which fights to promote the access of Roma children to all their basic rights, was associated with this march. For Joseph Aguettant, our delegate in Romania, the presence of Tdh was symbolic but very important: “The Roma population are in some way the spirit of Europe. Respect for their rights and their social inclusion is the European challenge of our time! The manner with which we treat them in western Europe, the conditions for their children in the schools of the east, the way they are treated by local and national administrations in Romania, are a measure of our degree of civilisation”.

Wide-scale protection for children

Tdh has set up activities in Eastern Europe to protect the children from vulnerable communities against social exclusion, abuse, exploitation and the risks of migration. Even if the States declare themselves willing to integrate communities like the Roma, government services often have insufficient means to do so. Tdh has embarked on the construction of a child protection safety net, in particular to prevent the risks of trafficking and exploitation of the children for money in foreign countries. This is all about working with government authorities and other organisations for minority protection, to establish and apply a system to protect the rights of children. Social, legal, school and local health services have joined to organise activities for the children to promote protection and prevention. Amongst other things, families from isolated communities are brought together, supported and advised. Schooling for the youngsters is also ensured, as well as psychosocial activities where they can play games, express themselves and be monitored and protected by competent educational staff.

The Roma, also known in some countries as gypsies, Romany, Sinti or travelling people, number between 10 and 12 million in Europe and are the largest ethnic minority group. Many of them suffer from discrimination and more or less difficult access, depending on the country, to education, housing and employment.

You can find more information about the child protection safety net developed by Terre des hommes in Albania, Kosovo, Moldova and Romania.