Roma, Sinti and related communities face an overwhelming array of social problems, including a lack of adequate housing, denial of access to education and health care, an increase in trafficking in human beings, as well as problems related to centuries-old traditions, such as early marriages and the use of children for income-generating activities.

An essential factor in overcoming these problems is the development of capable domestic organizations that can operate at the local level. Such organizations often lack awareness of the complexity of the issues they face, or simply do not have the resources to combat them adequately.

The ODIHR organizes local and regional meetings where both international and domestic organizations can gather and exchange knowledge and best practices on a range of issues.

Legalizing informal settlements

The last decade has seen a proliferation of inadequate living conditions for many Roma and Sinti communities across Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. They often lack secure land tenure, are subject to forced evictions and have no access to adequate alternative housing. Secure residence is often a necessary condition to exercise other social and political rights. Without an address, it can be impossible to register for public services and earn a living in a lawful way.

The ODIHR has launched a number of project initiatives that deal specifically with legalizing informal settlements. These include promoting the integration of Roma and Sinti settlements into urban planning, engaging local authorities to provide public services to Roma and Sinti settlements, and ensuring that Roma and Sinti residents are registered with the proper civil authorities.

Civil registration

Lack of civil registration has a negative impact in a number of areas, including access to public services, trafficking in human beings and political participation. Following on from its conference on the civil registration of Roma in South-Eastern Europe in late 2005, the ODIHR is setting up task-forces in the participating States of South-Eastern Europe to work with local and national authorities on this issue.

Anti-trafficking

Anti-trafficking organizations are reporting a disproportionately high number of Roma and Sinti victims, especially children. To date, the problem of trafficking of Roma and Sinti has received little targeted action.

The ODIHR has organized roundtable meetings and commissioned country reports to bring attention to this subject. The ensuing recommendations include the need for better co-ordination among Roma and non-Roma anti-trafficking organizations and for Roma activists to raise awareness within their communities of some of the internal factors that can make Roma and Sinti vulnerable to trafficking in human beings, such as early marriages and child begging.

The ODIHR also encourages discussion events within traditional Roma and Sinti communities on topics such as early marriages, emphasizing the rights of children and identifying ways to maintain traditions and group identity while observing the rule of law.