Challenges Faced by Roma Women in Europe on Education, Employment, Health and Housing - Focus on Czech Republic, Romania and Greece
Abstract
Roma women in Europe are probably discriminated against more than any other group, facing discrimination both for their ethnic origin and their gender. Due to being part of a minority facing isolation, poverty, discrimination and often embracing masculine social values, Roma women have to face multiple challenges. However, the nature of these challenges varies between the different states, as is evident in the case of the three countries examined here. Although positive steps have been taken in all three countries lately, in practice, Roma girls and women still face discrimination with respect to equal access to education, employment, health care and housing. Current policies and initiatives do not have a significant impact because they are most often designed in a top-down approach, with little or no consultation and direct involvement of the Roma community. What is needed to produce a real impact is a different approach: a bottom-up initiative taking place within Roma communities, both geographically and organisationally.Keywords: Roma women, discrimination, integration, minorities, social policies, vulnerable social groups, education, employment, health, housing
Downloads
References
Al Ramiah, A., Hewstone, M., Dovidio, J. & Penner, L. (2010). “The social psychology of discrimination: Theory, measurement and consequences”, in F. McGinnity (ed.), Making equality count: Irish and international approaches to measuring discrimination (pp. 84-112). Dublin: Liffey Press
Beynon, J. (2002). Masculinities and culture. Philadelphia: Open University Press
Corsi, M., Crepaldi, C., Samek Lodovici, M., Boccagni, P. & Vasilescu, C. (2008). Synthesis Report: Ethnic minority and Roma women in Europe: A case for gender equality? Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
Council of Europe (2014). Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publications Office
Cukrowska, E. & Kóczé, A. (2013). Interplay between gender and ethnicity: Exposing Structural Disparities of Roma women. Analysis of the UNDP/World Bank/EC regional Roma survey data. Bratislava: UNDP, Europe and the CIS Bratislava Regional Centre
ENAR-ERIO (2011). Debunking myths and revealing truths about the Roma. Brussels: European Network Against Racism & European Roma Information Office
European Commission (2007). Tackling Multiple Discrimination: Practices, policies and laws, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Luxembourg
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (2006). Third report on Romania. ECRI Secretariat, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (2009a). ECRI Report on the Czech Republic (fourth monitoring cycle). ECRI Secretariat, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (2009b). ECRI Report on Greece (fourth monitoring cycle). ECRI Secretariat, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
European Court of Human Rights (2007). D.H. and others v. the Czech Republic [online], available at: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-83256#{"itemid":["001-83256"]}
European Court of Human Rights (2008). Sampanis and Others v. Greece [online], available at: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng-press/pages/search.aspx?i=003-2378798-2552166#{"itemid":["003-2378798-2552166"]}
European Roma Information Office (2013). The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Roma
European Roma Rights Centre (2013). Written comments of the European Roma Rights Centre Concerning the Czech Republic, European Roma Rights Centre
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2009). EU-MIDIS Data in Focus Report: The Roma
European Women’s Lobby (2013). Women’s Watch 2012-2013, European Women’s Lobby, Brussels
Földes, M. E., & Covaci, A. (2012). Research on Roma health and access to healthcare: state of the art and future challenges. International journal of public health, 57(1), 37-39
Fundacion Secretariado Gitano and Efxini Poli (2009). Health and the Roma Community: Analysis of the situation in Greece (in Greek). Athens: Author
International Labour Organization (2012). Global employment trends for women, International Labour Organization, Geneva
International Labour Organization (2014). Global employment trends 2014: Risk of a jobless recovery? International Labour Organization, Geneva
Kabeer, N. (2005). “Gender equality and women's empowerment: A critical analysis of the third millennium development goal 1”. Gender & Development, 13:1, 13-24
Koupilová, I., Epstein, H., Holčı́k, J., Hajioff, S., & McKee, M. (2001). “Health needs of the Roma population in the Czech and Slovak Republics”. Social science & medicine, 53(9), 1191-1204
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). “Conceptualizing stigma”. Annual review of Sociology, 363-385
Magyari-Vincze, E. (2006). “Social exclusion at the crossroads of gender, ethnicity and class, A view of Roma women’s reproductive health”. CPS International Fellowship Program, Open Society Institute, Budapest
Ministry of Labour and Social Security (2011). National strategic framework for Roma. Athens: Ministry of Labour and Social Security
O’Higgins, N. (2010). “It’s not that I’m a racist, it’s that they are Roma. Roma discrimination and returns to education in South Eastern Europe”. International Journal of Manpower, 31: 2, 163-187
O’Higgins, N. and Ivanov, A. (2006). “Education and employment opportunities for the Roma”. Comparative Economic Studies, 48, 6-19
Oprea, Alexandra (2005). “The Arranged Marriage of Ana Maria Cioaba, Intra-Community Oppression and Roma Feminist Ideals Transcending the ‘Primitive Culture’ Argument”. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 1350-5068 Vol. 12(2): 133–148
Oprica, V. (2008). “Gender Equality and Conflicting Attitudes Toward Women in Post-Communist Romania”. Human Rights Review, 9:29–40
Petrova, D. & Cahn, C. (2001). Focus: Roma in Greece. Budapest: European Roma Rights Centre
Phenjalipe (2014). Strategy on the Advancement of Roma Women and Girls (2014-2020), Third draft
Ringold, D. et al (2005). Roma in expanding Europe: Breaking the poverty cycle. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Skoulas, M., Theleriti, M., Vougiouka, A. & Vassou, A. (2012). Gender mainstreaming in Greek Municipalities Focusing on Socially Disadvantaged Women – Roma Women. Athens: “Progress” EU project
Strategy of the Government of Romania for the inclusion of the Romanian citizens belonging to Roma minority for the period 2012 – 2020 [online], available at: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/files/roma_romania_strategy_en.pdf
UNICEF (2009). Toward Roma Inclusion: A Review of Roma Education Initiatives in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Geneva: UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
UNICEF (2011). The Right of Roma Children to Education: Position Paper. Geneva: UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
United Nations Development Programme (2002). Avoiding the Dependency Trap. Bratislava: UNDP
United Nations Development Programme (2006). At Risk:Roma and the Displaced in Southeast Europe. Bratislava: UNDP, Europe and the CIS Bratislava Regional Centre
Whitley, B. & Kite, M. (2009). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination. London: Cengage learning
WHO Regional Office for Europe (2013). Roma health mediation in Romania: case study. Copenhagen, (Roma Health Case Study Series, No. 1)
Ziomas, D., Bouzas, N. & Spyropoulou, N. (2011). Promoting the social inclusion of Roma. A study of national policies. Athens: Institute of Social Policy – National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)
Permissions
Authors are expected to obtain permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. BSSR will not be held accountable for any copyright infringement caused by the authors.
Copyright
The content offered in the BSSR remains the intellectual property of the authors and their publishers respectively. University “Goce Delcev”- Shtip, R. Macedonia and BSSR keap the right to promote and re-publish the texts.
