Empowering Roma Women: Advancing Gender Equality and Inclusion in the Context of SDG 5

 Roma women continue to face discrimination and marginalization
across Europe, experiencing gender inequality and intersectional discrimination.
This exclusion limits their ability to contribute to sustainable development. SDG 5
calls for gender equality, recognizing it as essential for sustainable development.
The event will address the challenges Roma women face and explore solutions to
promote their inclusion in SDGs through policies and initiatives ensuring equal
access to opportunities.

Context: This event comes at a pivotal moment as we continue to strive toward achieving the United
Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5, which calls for gender
equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. However, Roma women across
Europe remain among the most marginalized and discriminated against, facing both gender
inequality and intersectional discrimination.
This exclusion limits not only their personal opportunities but also hinders broader progress
towards sustainable development. To address these challenges, we must ensure that the
voices of Roma women are included in shaping the future of our societies and that their
rights are fully recognized within the framework of SDG 5.
This event will further allow us to highlight the challenges faced by Roma women,
particularly in relation to the Beijing Platform for Action +30 reviews. These reports, which
examine the progress and gaps in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action, have consistently shown that Roma women are excluded from national policy
measures at the national level and continue to face significant barriers in education,
employment, healthcare, and political participation. These gaps must be addressed if we are
to fulfill the promises of gender equality made decades ago.
Moreover, it’s important to acknowledge the efforts made by regional and international
bodies, such as the European Union and the Council of Europe, in supporting Roma
inclusion. The EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation,
which outlines the European Union's commitment to improving the lives of Roma people,
includes critical objectives to combat discrimination and enhance opportunities for Roma
women. Yet, despite these frameworks, the full realization of equality for Roma women
remains an ongoing struggle. This event seeks to bridge these gaps by bringing together
policymakers, civil society, and Roma women themselves to discuss actionable solutions for
meaningful inclusion. Furthermore, the Council of Europe has long been involved in
advancing the rights of Roma women, advocating for legal reforms and policies that address
gender-based violence, economic inclusion, and political participation. This includes pushing
for Roma women to be meaningfully represented in political spaces and decision-making
bodies, ensuring that their needs are not overlooked in the development of policies and laws.
The OSCE Action Plan for Roma and Sinti offers a strong framework that aims to enhance
the protection of Roma and Sinti rights, with specific focus on their inclusion in the political,
social, and economic spheres. It also highlights the need for targeted measures to address
the specific challenges Roma women face in their daily lives. This Plan underscores the
importance of education, employment, healthcare, and anti-discrimination measures — all of
which are vital to achieving equality for Roma women.
This event aims to build on these frameworks and commitments, focusing on how we can
make SDG 5 a reality for Roma women. We will discuss the intersectional barriers they face,
explore regional and national solutions, and work together to ensure that Roma women are
fully included in sustainable development processes.

——–
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions (10 minutes) Marija Sulejmanova, Romalitico
Roma Women Experiences on the Ground (25 minutes)

– Speakers TBC
Activist and personal testimonies from Roma women across different regions
(Ukraine, UK, Turkey, Albania, Spain) who will share their work and lived
experiences with gender inequality and intersectional discrimination. This
section aims to provide a human perspective on the challenges Roma women
face and illustrate the need for inclusive policies.

Regional and national-level measures and gaps (40 minutes)

– Speakers TBC: National Gender Equality Agencies, OSCE, Council of
Europe, UN Women
This section will examine current policies and initiatives addressing gender
equality and inclusion of Roma women at the regional and national levels.
Key speakers from institutions highlight the strengths and gaps in these
efforts. This session will focus on identifying the barriers that still prevent
Roma women from accessing opportunities and how they can be addressed
through policy reform.
Concluding remarks: (10 minutes)

– Speakers TBC: CEDAW members, UN Special Rapporteurs
A high-level summary of the key findings from the discussions and a call to
action. This section will highlight the importance of continued efforts to
include Roma women in SDG-related decision-making and the need for
collaboration between various stakeholders to ensure long-term progress.

Discussion: Attendees engage with panellists (10 minutes)

Open discussion between attendees and panellists to address any remaining
questions, insights, or suggestions for further action. This section provides
space for participants to share their perspectives and engage directly with the
experts and speakers.

Summary of key takeaways and next steps for continued advocacy and collaboration (5
minutes)

A final recap of the event’s main points, with a focus on actionable next steps.
This section will encourage participants to commit to concrete actions for
Roma women’s inclusion in future SDG-related initiatives and collaborative
efforts. It will also highlight the need for ongoing advocacy and collaboration
beyond the event.

● Date & Time: April 3, 2025, Lunch slot (1:15 – 2:45 PM)
● Registration: Meeting Registration – Zoom