ROMA CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICIES - SASTIPEN

TO TOUCH THE UNTOUCHABLE:COMBATING TRADITIONAL AND NEW ANTI-ROMA STEREOTYPES

JUST/2010/FRAC/AG/1108-30-CE-0377116/00-43

“To touch the untouchable: combating traditional and new anti-Roma stereotypes”, financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

Program

Main activities and results of SASTIPEN within the project

Creating a clear picture of the situation in the geographical area and field of action where the project will be implemented: a map of traditional and new stereotypes• 1 methodology for realizing the study, agreed upon by the coordinating team assigned by Sastipen;• 1 study realized in Romanian and translated in English regarding the old and new stereotypes amongst the

local authorities regarding the Roma minority Creating Intersectorial Mobile Join Task Force• 1 collaboration protocol signed with the Prefecture Institution in Neamt county with the purpose of creating

a Intersectorial Mobile Joint Task Force and to organize work meetings in a formal framework• 1 Mobile Joint Task Force with representatives from local authorities• 1 launch event of the Intersectorial Mobile Join Task Force (JTF) within an official meeting organized within

the Prefecture of Neamt County• Work meetings organized with the members of the Intersectorial Mobile Join Task Force, resulting in 1

activities plan for Neamt county• 1 training carried out by Sastipen team with the members of the JTF in the areas of human rights and

interculturality, with the purpose of preparing the JTF team in order to organize follow-up trainings for their colleagues and thus reduce the prejudices and the discrimination

Establishing national inter-sectorial cooperation for fighting anti-Roma prejudices• 3 partnerships signed with the National Agency for Roma, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Administration and

Internal Affairs• 2 partnerships signed with the organizations: Roma Party Pro-Europe and “Pro-Vocatie” Association• Work meetings organized with the representatives of the national authorities in the areas: health, social

work and education Establishing a mechanism for cooperation between Roma community and field workers• 1 Committee for support, managed by the Joint Task Force• Meeting organized with the representatives of Roma at the level of Neamt county, in which there have been

presented the directive lines of the Committee for support• Putting on the agenda of the Mixed Commission for Roma within the Neamt Prefecture in January on the

need to found this commission and to be managed by JTF members Conducting, translating, and distributing a research on traditional and new stereotypes among public officials and field workers• 1 study research regarding the old and new stereotypes amongst the local authorities regarding the Roma

minority • 1 study research regarding the old and new stereotypes amongst the local authorities regarding the Roma

minority translated in English• Dissemination of study research both in English and Romanian to relevant stakeholders

Main activities and results of SASTIPEN within the project

Implementing seminars and training: special training for covering all administrative layers in the institutions of the education, social, and health fields• Work meetings with the JTF for finalizing the activities plan which would be implemented throughout the

project in Neamt county;• Follow-up course by the JTF members with their colleagues, thus reducing the prejudices and discrimination

existing amongst the employees of the public institutions in Neamt county. Establishing national inter-sectorial cooperation for fighting anti-Roma prejudices• Meetings organized with the representatives of the national authorities in the following areas: health, social,

education;• 1 partnership signed between Sastipen, National Agency for Roma and the National Institute for Public

Organizing Civic education training for Roma community leaders, NGO activists and public persons• 1 Civic education training for Roma community leaders, NGO activists, and public persons from Neamt

county Organizing monthly local consultations with the participation also of officials, field workers, NGO activists, and Roma community leaders• Monthly local consultations amongst officials, field workers, NGO activists, and Roma community leaders in

Neamt county

Main activities and results of SASTIPEN within the project

Establishing a mechanism for cooperation between Roma community and field workers – Council

• 1 mechanism for cooperation established between Roma community and field workers Publishing materials for fighting anti-Roma stereotypes, broad educational materials fostering integration and mutual understanding

• Materials published and disseminated with the purpose of fighting anti-Roma stereotypes Awareness campaigns against anti-Roma stereotypes: different types of activities in education, health care and social care will be undertaken within comprehensive public awareness campaigns

• Awareness campaigns with activities on education, health care and social care implemented at the level of Neamt county with the support of the Intersectorial JTF

Exchange of experience among Bulgaria, Romania, and the Netherlands (meetings of the Project Steering Committee and national conferences)

• Meetings for exchanging experience of the Project Steering Committee.

Main activities and results of SASTIPEN within the project

The research general objective was to identify the prejudices and stereotypes of local authorities, representatives from Neamt County towards the Roma minority, and to determine the communication process between the representatives of local authorities in relation to the Roma beneficiaries.

The research methods used were:• Questionnaires/interviews (30 interviews/questionnaires applied to 30 field workers amongst the local

authorities in areas: health, social, education - in Neamt county• Focus groups (3 focus groups to which participated 21 people from the areas of health, social work,

education).• Case studies with Roma people (3 case studies on restricting the access of traditional Roma women to

medical care services)

Main results:• 30 interviews/questionnaires applied to 30 field workers (both men and women who generally met often

with Roma in their daily work)• 3 focus groups to which participated 21 people (both men and women)• 3 case studies in health area

Research on traditional and new stereotypes among public officials and field workers

Excerpts from the study results:• More than half of the respondents replied that the problems that Roma are facing with are not different

from the problems of non-Roma, while the rest mentionat that the problems are different and related to the Roma lifestyle;

• More than half of the respondents have provided answers based on stereotypes and prejudices induced by the public opinion regarding the Roma minority

Examples of stereotypes and prejudices regarding the Roma community members:• “If you’re not going to behave, I’ll give you away to the gypsies” • “You’re drowning like the gypsy before reaching the shore”• “The gypsies do not like going to school”• ”The gypsies have their own law, their own Courts, and they do not comply with the Romanian laws”• “The gypsies do not want to integrate in the society and they embarrass our country”

More than half of the respondents said that there are not needed any special measures due to the fact that Roma are Romanian citizens and there should be equality regarding the rights.

Most of the respondents consider that the traditional clothes represent a barrier, while providing the following explanation: • traditional clothes create fear amongst public clerks;• traditional clothes, especially worn by Roma women, lead to a bad impression regarding personal hygiene.

Research on traditional and new stereotypes among public officials and field workers

Types of problems do the Roma beneficiaries confront with:• Lack of identification papers;• Lack of health insurances;• Lack of incomes and jobs;• Discrimination;• Lack of access to education;• Lack of stable domicile;• Early marriages.One of the questions within the questionnaire was: Do you think that the media is fueling the prejudices and stereotypes towards Roma? • The respondents have mentioned that the media is fueling the public opinion regarding the situation of

Roma in Romania, but from a negative point of view. Daily, there are being presented news and articles about Roma who are making different problems and are arguing with the law.

Examples of questions for the qualitative part of the study (focus groups): • While carrying out your work activities, do you often meet Roma beneficiaries? What types of problems do

the Roma beneficiaries confront with?• Do you know the difference between “Roma” and “Gypsy”?• How do you react when a Roma traditional women, with colored skirts, comes to you and requests your

support?• If you could change anything regarding the Roma tradition and culture, what would it be?• What would be the solutions for relations between you and the members of Roma communities to improve?

Research on traditional and new stereotypes among public officials and field workers

Thank you for your attention!