Civil Society Appeals for Consultation on EU Roma Strategy Development

On the 15th of February 2011, a group of European and Hungarian Romani and non-Romani organisations sent a letter to the Hungarian government, currently holding the EU presidency, and the European Commission, appealing for open consultation with NGOs on EU Roma policy related initiatives.

 Recognising the important commitment of the Hungarian Presidency and the European Commission to developing a European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (Framework), the signatory organisations requested that a schedule of regular meetings be established for NGO consultation in the preparation of the European Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies, the Presidency proposal for Council Conclusions on Roma, the February Informal Contact Group Meeting and the April Roma Platform Meeting. The organisations also called on the Hungarian Government and the European Commission to support an International Preparatory Meeting for NGOs in connection to the Roma Platform Meeting in April.

 

The following organisations signed the joint request:

 

Amnesty International Magyarország / Amnesty International Hungary


Esélyt a Hátrányos Helyzetű Gyerekeknek Alapítvány / Chance for Children Foundation


Magyar Helsinki Bizottság / Hungarian Helsinki Committee


Magyar Női Érdekérvényesítő Szövetség / Hungarian Women's Lobby

Minority Rights Group Europe

Nemzeti és Etnikai Kisebbségi Jogvédő Iroda / Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities


Open Society Foundations


Phralipe Független Cigány Szervezet / Phralipe Independent Roma Organization


Társaság a Szabadságjogokért / The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union

Amalipe Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance


European Roma and Travellers Forum


European Women’s Lobby
Federation of Kale, Manouches & Sinti Women / Fédération des femmes cale/kalé, manouches & sinté

 

European Roma Policy Coalition:


European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network
(European Roma Policy Coalition Chair)


Amnesty International European Institutions Office (European Roma Policy Coalition Co-Chair)


European Roma Rights Centre (European Roma Policy Coalition Co-Chair)


European Network Against Racism


European Roma Information Office


Open Society Foundations


Policy Center for Roma and Minorities


Roma Education Fund


Fundación Secretariado Gitano

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