Seminar: Roma and Multiple Discrimination
19-20 June 2008, Brussels

On June 19^th and 20^th, ERIO held a seminar on discrimination on multiple grounds. The seminar aimed at introducing Roma and Roma rights activists to the topic of multiple discrimination. Specific objectives of the seminar were to discuss key conceptual elements involved, to provide an overview of the legal framework regarding multiple discrimination and to discuss ways of tackling the problem by legal and practical means.

 

Officials from the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Parliament, the Hungarian and Czech governments and representatives from the European Disability Forum (EDF), the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), AGE – the Platform for Elderly People and EQUINET made presentations which were followed by lively discussions. Members of the Roma communities and Roma rights activists from the following countries attended the seminar: Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain and United Kingdom. Among Roma attendees were leading representatives from Roma federations from the UK and the Netherlands.

 

The seminar contributed to a better understanding of the topic among the attendees who contrasted their personal and professional experiences with the legal and practical implications of multiple discrimination. Tackling multiple discrimination is of main importance for Roma communities since many Roma are discriminated against not only because they are Roma but because they are Roma and women or Roma and disabled or Roma and gay or lesbian. Sometimes Roma are discriminated against on several grounds simultaneously which intensifies the impact of discrimination felt by the victim.

 

 

Types of Multiple Discrimination

 

Three types of multiple discrimination were discussed:

 

-   Parallel discrimination: when discrimination arises because of the combination of more than one ground working in parallel, separately; e.g. a disabled Roma woman is discriminated against because of her ethnicity and gender, not having access to high-skilled jobs and because of her disability in a situation where her work place is not wheelchair accessible.

-   Compound discrimination: a situation in which discrimination occurs on the basis of two or more grounds at the same time and where one ground intensifies the discrimination experienced on the basis of another ground; e.g. Roma men are confined to low-skilled and low paying jobs, Roma women are paid even lower and do even lower-status jobs.

-   Intersectional discrimination: discrimination arises as a combination of more than one ground operating simultaneously and in an inseparable manner; e.g. in several European countries Roma women have been coercively sterilised; this practice has not affected women in general or Roma men.

 

 

Discussion highlights

 

The presentations introduced thematic fields for a better understanding of multiple discrimination and how to tackle it. Presentations were delivered on conceptual framework, national and European legislation, practical consequences of multiple discrimination, policies and practical tools for tackling it. The discussions were conducted to answer the following questions: do we understand what multiple discrimination is? Do we recognise concepts/issues of multiple discrimination in our own situations? Can we develop action departing from these issues? Can we draft some recommendations?

 

Outcomes

 

-   The seminar contributed to raising awareness of multiple discrimination among Roma activists, especially of the need to identify it and ways to tackle it through decisive actions; various participants stated that they had not assessed the kind of discrimination they were facing, because it might have a multiple character.

-   The participants received accurate information on the legal framework at the European and national levels, and knowledge of other participants’ initiatives such as EQUINET which is putting forward multiple discrimination in the agenda to be addressed by the National Equality Bodies and on Civil Society Organisations as the European Disability Forum, International Lesbian and Gay Association and/or AGE – the Platform for Elderly People which deal intensively with fighting against multiple discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, disability or age.

-   Roma and Roma rights activists could exchange experiences in regard to multiple discrimination and practical tools for fighting against it; through lobbying legislators and policy makers.

-   The participants concluded that EU anti-discrimination should be improved upon because it does not tackle discrimination effectively and that multiple discrimination should be included in such legislation reform.

  -   Positive action was identified as one of the most useful and practical ways to counter existing inequalities experienced, e.g. from multiple discrimination. People facing different situations should be treated differently. Participants called on European officials attending the seminar to promote positive action for promoting Roma inclusion.

 -   The seminar contributed to raising awareness of multiple discrimination faced within Roma communities. Many Roma face in-group discrimination, e.g. Roma women are often discriminated within their communities and by the majority societies at the same time. Taking this into consideration, multiple discrimination faced by Roma should be fought by Roma themselves; dedicated Roma leaders are needed to help with this issue and they, along with Roma people, shall have a better leverage to improve the Roma situation.

 -   For the first time a Roma organisation held a seminar on multiple discrimination, raising issues for discussion such as problems of LGBT people in the Roma community, which is a taboo topic for Roma, as well as discrimination against elderly Roma people, an issue which has thus far not been discussed at length.

- Collection of Seminar material

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9603685@N06/sets/72157606004325132/