I-CHANGE self-advocacy training for Roma girls, women and feminist activists from Poland: Call for applications

ODIHR is organizing a four day-long self-advocacy training for Roma girls, women and feminist activists from Poland with the objectives to:

1. Promote, expand and protect civic space across all domains, including online, to support the efforts of women to eliminate barriers to feminist action in all its diversity;
2. Increase the meaningful participation, leadership and decision-making power of Roma girls, women and feminist activists through building self-advocacy skills and improving awareness of their own and group needs and interests to be equally involved in public life and decision-making;
3. Build capacities of Roma women for dialogue with governments and share effective and innovative strategies to address gender stereotypes;
4. Enhance the capacities and empower Roma women in mainstreaming gender equality within Roma communities and beyond.

The working languages of the training, which will involve 15 to 20 participants, will be English and Polish with simultaneous interpretation. 

The training is part of the ODIHR project “Capitalizing on the Human Dimension Mandate to Advance Gender Equality” (CHANGE).

Content

The training seeks to reflect on and analyse the obstacles, needs and current challenges young Roma women face in their communities and to empower them to find their voice and engage in self-advocacy and advocacy for the rights of other women from under-represented groups. Participants will learn self-advocacy skills as a tool to secure more control over issues that affect their lives and more participation in decision-making on these issues. In this context, self-advocacy is a woman’s ability to speak up for herself and for other women facing similar issues that are not visible enough or not urgent enough for policy- and decision-makers. In this way, this training will contribute to diversifying and strengthening Roma women’s leadership and women's movements in Poland.

The training will cover following topics over the course of four days: 1) power, specifically how it can be used positively to bring about change for the participants and members of their communities; 2) how to undertake self-advocacy, whether big or small, by focusing on planning; 3) self-advocates’ leadership characteristics and how they can be used to greatest effect; 4) ways to engage allies and passive opponents of the self-advocacy work.

More information about the content of the training is available in English and Polish in the Resources section below.

Background

The 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality sets out OSCE priorities in promoting gender equality in the Organization and in all 57 participating States. The Action Plan mandates ODIHR to “assist participating States in promoting women’s political participation” and “assist in the development and implementation of specific programmes and activities to promote women’s rights, to increase the role of women at all levels of decision-making, and to promote equality between women and men throughout the OSCE area, particularly through education in gender awareness”[1].

Furthermore, the OSCE Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area (2003)[2], acknowledges the particular situation of Roma and Sinti women; calls for women’s participation in consultative policy-making processes; systematic mainstreaming of Roma women’s issues; providing Roma and Sinti girls with equal opportunities for education and social inclusion; and urges for promoting women’s participation in public and political life.

Eligible candidates

Young Roma women and gender activists from Poland are invited to apply. Eligibility requirements include:

• Roma girls, women and feminist activists who are actively working/volunteering in organizations on Roma issues;
• Young gender activists who are interested to enhance their skills to work on gender equality;
• Motivated and willing to initiate follow-up activities in their home/local communities and organizations; 
• Aged between 18 and 35 years;
• Able to attend the session for its full duration.

In addition to English-Polish interpretation, interpretation in other languages may be available subject to the needs of the participants. It is essential that prospective participants secure their in-person presence for the indicated dates.

Costs

Accommodation, meals and in-country travel costs for public transportation to and from training venue will be covered for participants living outside Krakow. Lunch, as well as the costs of potentially required COVID-19 tests, will be covered by the ODIHR for all training participants.

Application process

Please fill in the application form available here.

Deadline for applications: 26 September 2022, 23:59 CET. 

Roma women with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Please let us know should you require interpretation or assistance related to disability in order to complete the application process.

All applicants will be informed about the outcome of their application by 28 September 2022.

For further information and enquiries, please contact sanja.nikolin@odihr.pl; beata.bislimolahova@odihr.pl; and justyna.szarwacka@odihr.pl.