28/09/2001
UNDP to Examine Problems Facing Roma Communities

UNDP is preparing a sub-regional Human Development Report that will analyse social exclusion and poverty facing Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe and offer new approaches to address these problems.

Between 7 and 9 million Romas live in Europe. Of these about 70 per cent are concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe. Romania has the most Romas, about 2 million, but large numbers also live in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

Romas suffer disparities in access to employment, education, housing and health care. In Slovakia, for example, up to 80 per cent of Romas are dependent on social security. In Hungary, only one quarter of Romas are employed, and those that are have mainly low-paid, low-skill jobs. Even so they are better off than Romas in the Czech Republic where an estimated 70 per cent are unemployed, seven times the rate for the population as a whole.

Four out of five Romas live in countries applying for membership in the European Union, and for those countries dealing with discrimination against the Romas is posing a challenge.

So significant efforts are underway to promote economic and political advancement for Romas. Governments, NGOs and international organisations are all involved. Yet critics say that most strategies fail to take account of traditional Roma culture and skills, or even the wide diversity amongst Roma communities.

There is a gap in the trickle-down effect of policies, says Alexandra Raykova of the Bulgarian based Foundation for Promotion of Roma Youth. Although governments may have the right policies, implementation often fails due to lack of capacity, funding and awareness.

This is one of the reasons why UNDP is mounting its own research. "No one knows how best to address the problems of poverty and social exclusion of the Romas," said Kalman Mizsei, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. "We have to explore alternative approaches and develop a new vision which will not simultaneously trigger resentment of other disadvantaged groups."

The UNDP study will examine the nature of discrimination against Romas, social stratification and poverty in Roma communities, and Roma cultural values. It will emphasize that recognition of Roma cultural values and support for economic fields where they traditionally work should be the backbone for new social integration strategies.

Publication should be early next year.