European Roma Youth Summit 2010

EUROPEAN ROMA YOUTH SUMMIT

International Roma Youth Network We are a network of youth and youth associations, which creates space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilisation, self-organisation and participation. We believe in the common eorts by creating trust, and mutual respect between Roma and non-Roma youth.

© ternype 2010 www.ternype.eu www.romayouth.com Fotos: Nihad Nino Pusija, Charlotte Bohl, Milos Ondrasik Film: Sami Mustafa, Charlotte Bohl Supporters and Partners The European Roma Youth Summit is an initiative of “ternYpe”. It is supported by the European Youth Programme “Youth in Action”, as well as OSCE-ODIHR, ERGO Network and its campaign “Typical Roma?”, the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”, Open Society Institute Albania and the Consell de la Joventut de Barcelona. The print of this booklet was supported by ERGO Network.

The European Roma Youth Summit While the Spanish EU Presidency invited hundreds of politicians and Roma activists to the 2nd European Roma Summit in Cordoba in April 2010 more than 60 young Roma and non-Roma from across Europe organized the European Roma Youth Summit, which took place from April 7 to 9. In the framework of the youth campaign “Be Young! Be Roma!” the participants from 12 European countries presented their vision and their commitment to fight stigma and discrimination against Roma in discussions and in creative and artistic actions. They called for a greater participation of young people in society and in political decision-making.

“We call for a greater participation of young people in society and in political decision-making.”

“Strengthen Roma youth participation!

Raise the voice of young people!�

Youth participation We want to raise the awareness for active citizenship of ALL in ONE society. On behalf of “ternYpe” we appeal to politicians and policy makers to put the youth issue on the agenda, to include young people in the decision-making processes, and to strengthen the voice of Roma youth. Having a voice is essential for participation and active citizenship and is necessary to ensure a democratic society regardless of social class, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. There is a great need to include a youth dimension in the policies and programmes for Roma and in general, which are developed based on a mutual dialogue between young people, policy-makers and public administrations.

The problem of weak youth participation does not affect only the Roma community – it is a social phenomenon present in all European countries. The access of young people to social and political participation is limited and their voice is seldom recognised by those who decide on their future. Youth participation cannot just be channelled through democractic elections and representation, but requires adequate approaches based on the needs of different young people. In the context of Roma youth, these barriers are even more visible.

Cordoba: Meeting with representatives of the Spanish government and EU Commission As a direct result of the street actions organized on the morning of the 8th of April, the ternYpe participants were invited for an informal discussion with the representatives of the Spanish government and the European Commission, including the Spanish Vice-Minister for Health and Social Policy, Mr. Francisco Moza Zapatero, and the General Director of Social Policy, Family and Children, Mr. Juan Carlos Mato Gómez. The politicians congratulated ternYpe for the successful campaign of the previous day and expressed their curiosity to get to know the youth that stood behind it. As stated by the politicians, they found the initiative very interesting and creative, especially considering the diversity of the participants and the positive approach in the campaign. The discussion circled around the successful strategies for youth empowerment, searching for factors that contribute to the active participation of youngsters as well as identifying the obstacles that impede this participation. The new working methodology of ternYpe was emphasized, stressing the inclusive and positive aspects of self-organization and empowerment.

Empowerment & Mobilization Empowerment and mobilization of young Roma is one of the key priorities in the mission of ternYpe. We want to support the youngsters, as individuals and as a group with all its diversity, to strengthen their identity, to develop their own vision and to realize their dreams. To reach our mission we are searching for new tools to encourage and enable young people to become active citizens, and to influence changes in their communities, as well as in their societies.

As an international network we invest our main efforts into the grassroots on local, regional and national level. Capacity-building, self-organization and networking are key tools to make this long-term process sustainable and effective.

“We want to support the youngsters to develop their own vision and to realize their dreams.�

“Fight stigmatization and discrimination!”

Roma are European citizens. Nevertheless, they face structural discrimination and marginalization. Prejudices and stereotypes are widely spread and remain often unquestioned in the media, in politics and in society. Stigmatization of Roma and anti-gypsyism are some of the main causes of social exclusion.

Roma are usually not accepted as equal citizens. They are often perceived as inactive and incapable people who deserve to be denied social, economical and political rights. Internalizing these negative images themselves, many Roma accept them as normal, reproduce these stereotypes of the majority and are afraid to identify themselves as Roma. Especially young people struggle with their identity.

Roma and non-Roma should take their responsibility as equal citizens in ONE society. We should create trust and respect for diversity and fight discrimination and stigmatization. Striving for a better life for ALL in ONE society, we have to stress that not Roma are the problem, but their marginalization, discrimination and bad social situation. Therefore, we have to address the root causes of their social exclusion: stigmatization and stereotypes.

2010 “Typical Roma?” Campaign (ERGO Network)

“We still have a lot of work to do for our people, for our families. But we need help. We need you to give us your hand and we give you our hand as well!� (Nasko, Bulgaria)

ternYpe - International Roma Youth Network ternYpe was founded by different Roma youth organizations from Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain and Poland in January 2010.

Mission We are a network of youth and youth associations, which creates space for young people to become active citizens through empowerment, mobilisation, self-organisation and participation. We believe in the common efforts by creating trust, and mutual respect between Roma and non-Roma youth.

Members Amaro Drom, Germany Harangos, Poland Roma Active Albania, Albania Roma Onlus, Italy Roma Education Centre, Slovakia Romaversitas, Hungary Ternikalo, Spain Youth Network for Development, Bulgaria Contact ternype@romayouth.com www.ternype.eu

International Roma Youth Network

“BeYoung, Be Roma� campaign to strengthen the identity of young Roma The youth campaign seeks to strengthen the awareness of identity, critical reflection and self-confidence of young Roma, who often have difficulties with their cultural background because of the ongoing experience of discrimination and stigmatization. We want to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices and show the diversity of young people and their lifestyles by strengthening the visibility of role models, empowering young people to take responsibility and developing mutural trust and respect between Roma and non-Roma.

Youth Summit Discussions Special thematic workshops were organized by and for young people to discuss their issues and share their experience. Even if we were unable to attend the official Summit, we wanted to show that we are actively and productively engaged in discussions and that we develop our own ideas and visions.

a. Yes, we can! TransfoRomers! Empowerment and mobilization of young people b. Giving Roma youth a voice! Political and social participation of young Roma c. Get organized! Strengthening local self-organization of Roma youth d. Be informed! Be a youth reporter! Strengthening the youth information e. Create networks! National networking of young people

Meeting with MEPs Prior to the 2nd European Roma Summit in Cordoba the participants of the European Roma Youth Summit had the pleasure of meeting with two Members of the European Parliament (MEP). Two MEPs participated in the meeting - Maria Muñiz de Urquiza of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE, Spain) and Kinga Göncz of the Magyar Szocialista Part (MSZP, Hungary).

The objective of the meeting was to create a space where the Roma youth and MEPs can exchange their opinions and discuss the issues important for the Roma population in general and the youth in particular. It was also an opportunity for the youngsters to learn about the different mechanisms of participation within the European structures. The meeting was very informal, thanks to which the participants could be engaged in a constructive and open discussion, asking direct questions about the topics that concerned them the most. The discussion was devoted to the strategies for active citizenship and Roma youth participation in the decision-making processes, as well as the role of the European Parliament in lobbying for the interests of the Roma communities.

“My wish is, I want to have a better life, a better world. People who live together and have fun, Roma and non- Roma.� (Emran, Germany)

From seminar to youth campaign The program of the European Roma Youth Summit under the slogan “Be young, be Roma� included art, theatre and cultural performances of the international youth group from 12 countries, which were prepared during a seven day training-course based on professional artistic guidance.

The design of the projects consisted of 5 different main elements: Identifying key messages of a Roma youth campaign, skill training on artistic methods, social campaigning and new media, elaboration of creative youth actions in working groups, realization of a real youth campaign at the European Roma Summit and last but not least, the followup. Besides that, it was a great opportunity for the youngsters to get to know each other, make friendship, and to develop their motivation and self-initiative to continue their commitment to ternYpe.

“We are the new generation, very much capacitated, very active, with a new vision. I am so happy to be here. It is great that there are people from all around Europe here, and the best is, that everyone is YOUNG!�

(Maryana, Bulgaria)

The international seminar As part of the commemoration event about 35 young Roma and non-Roma from Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, Italy and Poland were brought together for a fourday seminar. In addition to the interviews of eyewitnesses and a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial the program included various discussions about the Holocaust, the backgrounds, the mechanisms of exclusion, racism and antigypsyism, with a special focus of its importance for the present. The young people were able to exchange information about the perception and awareness of the Holocaust in different countries. The movies, museum visits and lectures conveyed important background information.

Last but not least the seminar tried to raise the critical thinking of young people to strengthen their civic courage, social engagement and responsibility in society.

Results Even young people who are concerned and have knowledge about the Shoah, know almost nothing about the Nazi genocide on the Sinti and Roma. The current rise of racism against Roma in many European countries, as well as the still existing prejudices and stereotypes in the media, politics and society remind us of the importance of Holocaust and Human Rights Education.

With the number of survivors and witnesses steadily declining, the role of the younger generation in remembering the horror of the Holocaust and the genocide against Roma and drawing lessons for the present becomes ever more important. We therefore hope that this international seminar will establish as an annual educational event for young people to engage in the fight against the current intolerance and racism.

On August 02nd 2010 about 80 young Roma and non-Roma activists met in Auschwitz to commemorate the victims of National Socialism in the so-called “gypsy camp” at Auschwitz / Birkenau.

The event under the auspices of the Polish Minister for Equality Elzbieta Radziszewska was organized by the International Roma Youth Network “ternYpe” together with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE and the regional administration of the region “Malopolska”.

Aim The aim of the event and the four-day seminar was to inform young people with different backgrounds about the genocide of Roma. Moreover, the increasing racism, intolerance and exclusion of Roma in Europe was addressed and a key issue of discussion.

August 2nd Memorial to the murdered Sinti and Roma in Auschwitz In the night of August 2nd to 3rd 1944, 2897 elderly people, women and children, the remaining Sinti and Roma of the socalled “gypsy camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau, were murdered in the gas chambers. On this day we remember the countless people who were persecuted and murdered as “gypsies” under the Nazi rule. Just in Auschwitz there were approximately 23.000 out of half a million Sinti and Roma who were murdered by the Nazis in Europe. The 2nd of August reminds us of these issues but at the same time it reminds us to intervene and fight the multifaceted and never-ending discrimination of Sinti and Roma.

© ternype 2010 www.ternype.eu Fotos: Milos Ondrasik, Israel Ramirez Sanchez Supporters and Partners This seminar is an independent initiative of “ternYpe” under the auspices of the Polish Minister for Equality Elzbieta Radziszewska. The project was supported by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE, especially by the Contact Point for Sinti and Roma, of the regional administration of “Malopolska” region and the American Embassy. Other partners: Jewish youth organization Czulent, the Jewish Cultural Center, the Pedagogical Faculty of the University of Krakow.

31st of July 2010 - 4th of August 2010 Kraków, Oświęcim.

Young Europeans commemorating the extermination of the Roma during the Holocaust.