Read the workshop summary
This workshop took place online on 27 February 2023. It brought together Equality Bodies’ staff, the European Commission, National Authorities, and Civil Society Organisations to discuss the work of Equality Bodies on National Roma Strategic Frameworks.
Background
In the past year the EU published several important Equality Strategies. Most of these Strategies advise or require Member States to prepare national strategies or action plans, translating the EU Strategies into plans adapted for the national level needs and challenges. Equality Bodies are central to the national equality infrastructure and are, therefore, expected to play a central role in the development, implementation, and monitoring of these national strategies. The EU Roma Strategic Framework and the Council Recommendation on Roma equality, inclusion and participation include particularly detailed expectations concerning the role of Equality Bodies. For Equality Bodies to engage effectively with national equality strategies will require significant capacity-building, planning, and enhancing the resources of Equality Bodies.
In January 2023, the European Commission has issued the communication assessment of the national Roma Strategic Frameworks, which will be used by member states to implement their own national strategy. Here the role of Equality Bodies is key, not only to support Member States, but also to raise awareness, handle victim complaints, cooperate with grassroots organizations, and collect proper data to achieve Roma equality, inclusion, and participation.
Following Equinet’s online workshop in 2022 on NAPARs and National Roma Strategic Frameworks, this online event aimed at exploring how Equality Bodies can and should contribute to National Roma Strategic Frameworks.
Objectives
The objectives of this workshop were:
- Follow-up the 2022 Equinet workshop and reflect on progress in the work of Equality Bodie
- Discuss the role Equality Bodies can play in the implementation and monitoring of national Roma strategic frameworks, and share good practices
- Discuss the underlying challenges and obstacles encountered while monitoring and implementing Roma Strategic Frameworks