Bucharest to host conference on promoting participation of Roma women in politics
(OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel)Lala Weiss, a prominent Sinti activist from the Netherlands, talking to press in Vienna during a special OSCE meeting on Roma and Sinti issues, 10 April 2003. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
WARSAW, 14 April 2004 - An international conference on promoting the political participation of women from Roma communities and other national minorities will be held in Bucharest from 16 to 18 April. It will focus on Romania's experience in promoting the participation of national minorities, especially Roma, in democratic institutions.
The conference will consider best practices in encouraging the participation of women in politics, including through legislation, institutional arrangements, and monitoring mechanisms that have been used in the past. It will also focus on personal experiences in overcoming disadvantages and provide a forum for discussing the recently adopted OSCE Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.
The conference is being hosted by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Romanian Parliament, with support from the European Commission and in co-operation with the Council of Europe, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and three non-governmental organizations: the Project on Ethnic Relations, the European Roma Information Office, and the Romani Centre for Social Intervention and Studies.
Members of the media are invited to attend the entire conference, which will open on Friday, 16 April, at 09:30.
The speakers at the opening session will include Ms. Minodora Cliveti, Chairperson of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Mr. Nicolae Paun and Ms. Mihaela Muraru-Mandrea, members of the Romanian Parliament; Ms. Simona Botea Lupu, from the Delegation of the European Union to Romania; and Ambassador Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.
The conference will consider best practices in encouraging the participation of women in politics, including through legislation, institutional arrangements, and monitoring mechanisms that have been used in the past. It will also focus on personal experiences in overcoming disadvantages and provide a forum for discussing the recently adopted OSCE Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.
The conference is being hosted by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Romanian Parliament, with support from the European Commission and in co-operation with the Council of Europe, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and three non-governmental organizations: the Project on Ethnic Relations, the European Roma Information Office, and the Romani Centre for Social Intervention and Studies.
Members of the media are invited to attend the entire conference, which will open on Friday, 16 April, at 09:30.
The speakers at the opening session will include Ms. Minodora Cliveti, Chairperson of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Mr. Nicolae Paun and Ms. Mihaela Muraru-Mandrea, members of the Romanian Parliament; Ms. Simona Botea Lupu, from the Delegation of the European Union to Romania; and Ambassador Christian Strohal, ODIHR Director.