Newsroom
European network of elected Roma officials established at OSCE meeting
PRAGUE 1 December 2000
PRAGUE, 1 December 2000 - A European network of parliamentarians, mayors and local councillors of Romani origin was established at a meeting of elected Roma officials that concluded today in Prague. This was the first meeting of elected Roma officials ever held, organized by the OSCE in Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We hope that the establishment of this network will facilitate co-operation and exchange of experiences and information among Roma politicians", said Ambassador Gerard Stoudmann, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. "This can also be an important step towards overcoming the pervasive political fragmentation within the Roma communities in Europe."
The meeting provided a first opportunity for the close to 100 participants from mostly Central and Eastern European countries to exchange experiences and discuss strategies to improve the participation of Roma in the political life of the countries they live in. With only five members of parliament, some 20 mayors and about 400 local councillors, the Roma are still vastly underrepresented in public office across Europe, although they constitute significant minorities in many countries.
As another result of the conference, it was decided to institutionalize the discussion initiated by the meeting through the establishment of an expert working group, which was tasked to develop concrete guidelines for the implementation of the recommendations made during the meeting.
For further information contact Mr. Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Public Affairs Officer, at +48-22-5200600-4162 or +48-603683122 (mobile).
"We hope that the establishment of this network will facilitate co-operation and exchange of experiences and information among Roma politicians", said Ambassador Gerard Stoudmann, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. "This can also be an important step towards overcoming the pervasive political fragmentation within the Roma communities in Europe."
The meeting provided a first opportunity for the close to 100 participants from mostly Central and Eastern European countries to exchange experiences and discuss strategies to improve the participation of Roma in the political life of the countries they live in. With only five members of parliament, some 20 mayors and about 400 local councillors, the Roma are still vastly underrepresented in public office across Europe, although they constitute significant minorities in many countries.
As another result of the conference, it was decided to institutionalize the discussion initiated by the meeting through the establishment of an expert working group, which was tasked to develop concrete guidelines for the implementation of the recommendations made during the meeting.
For further information contact Mr. Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Public Affairs Officer, at +48-22-5200600-4162 or +48-603683122 (mobile).