SUMMIT OF MAYORS ON ROMA - BUILDING MUTUAL TRUST AT THE GRASSROOTS

To address the situation in the field of the Roma and Travelers, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities organized, in co-operation with the Special Representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General for Roma issues, a Summit of Mayors on Roma, in Strasbourg (France) on 22 September 2011. The Summit brought together representatives of municipalities and regions as well as networks, European institutions and Roma organizations in order to share information, experiences and practices, and to identify concrete solutions.

Debates focused on relations between local and regional authorities and Roma communities. They underlined that to fight exclusion and discrimination; the local representatives must be proactive in implementing policies at the local level. Solutions discussed included ending barriers to education that are created through lack of documentation, bringing communities together in order to overcome prejudice, and creating inclusive and flexible services so that the Roma can have equal access to housing, healthcare and employment.

Local and Regional Authorities must lead by example and protect the rights of all their citizens. Hatred speeches in particular must be denounced without ambiguity. In the final Declaration, they recognized the need for cooperation at all levels and supported the launching of a European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion, aimed at providing an interactive and peer-to-peer co-operation network.