Joint statement by the International Coordination Roma Group and the United Nations in Ukraine on the occasion of International Roma Day

Today, on International Roma Day, the International Coordination Roma Group and the United Nations in Ukraine join communities across the world to celebrate Roma culture, history and language, and to draw attention to the challenges Roma people are faced with in their daily lives.

On this day, we would like to share our solidarity and support Roma communities in combating stereotypes and deep-rooted discrimination, many times exacerbated by multiple and combined forms of prejudices, such as those faced by Roma women and Roma who have been displaced because of Russia’s invasion. We also want to pay tribute to Roma leaders who are promoting Romani identity and protecting Roma rights. Across Ukraine, Roma activists, most often women, have taken on leadership roles to ensure humanitarian response reaches all those impacted by the war and are making remarkable contributions towards social cohesion.

Regrettably, Roma people still often face stigmatization, hate speech and prejudice, which not only violate their dignity and rights but severely hamper their access to essential services, including health, education, documentation, housing, education and public utilities. Young Roma women are especially vulnerable, and face heightened risks of violence and abuse, including gender-based violence and child marriage. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated these pre-existing problems and challenges faced by Roma communities.

Nevertheless, Roma are an important part of Ukrainian society and the country's rich multicultural historical heritage. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure equal rights to all, ensure that no one will be left behind, and that Roma’s specific needs and challenges are taken into consideration.

Roma civil society, and especially women-led organizations, is now well placed to cooperate with local and regional authorities as they embark on ambitious plans for community-level early recovery and durable solutions to ensure people can take back their lives and recover from the devastation caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

To this end, we proudly support the work of Roma mediators and civil society organizations who have worked hard and effectively to reach the most discriminated Roma communities to support their empowerment, and access to rights and services. We welcome the adoption of the National Strategy for Roma Inclusion and the National Action Plan for Roma, calling for the full implementation and development of related local Action Plans. It must be a priority for authorities at all levels to support the meaningful and effective participation of Roma communities in decision-making on gender-responsive and inclusive recovery. These policy instruments are essential to place Roma inclusion high on the Ukrainian agenda and to support Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

The ICRG and the United Nations in Ukraine are committed to continuing to support and facilitate such initiatives and efforts that are in line with European and international human rights standards.

Opre Roma! Bahtalo Internacionalno Romano dives tumenge!

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Note to editors:

• The International Coordination Roma Group, coordinated by the Council of Europe in Ukraine (CoE), is composed of UN agencies in Ukraine, including UNICEF, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UN WOMEN; the World Bank; the European Commission.
• The United Nations Country Team in Ukraine is composed of over 20 agencies and offices.