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It is a pleasure to open the Sixth International Roma Women Conference.

This biennial event is an opportunity for politicians, policy-makers and others to learn from Roma and Traveller women.

It is a chance to share thoughts, experiences and ideas and for all of us to work together on solutions to the issues at hand.

Political representation is of course this year’s topic – and it is a fundamental one.

Supporting the participation of Roma and Travellers in decision making and in particular local decision making is key to build inclusive societies.

The reality is that democratisation in Europe – and greater efforts to recognise Roma rights – have still a lot to achieve in this area.

Whether we look at political parties and their candidates or the numbers in parliaments, governments and the public sector, the story is the same.

And Roma and Traveller women also remain heavily under-represented.

Undoubtedly there is a double-bind here.

There are the barriers that we all know continue to face many women when it comes to politics, and there is the specific discrimination and difficulties that continue to afflict Roma and Traveller people too.

I can say from personal experience that I know the value of breaking down those barriers and fighting that discrimination.

As a politician in Norway I have seen at first hand the benefits to my country of the increased representation of women in our national parliament.

Women bring to politics – and all areas of employment – a unique set of insights and values, borne of their experience as women.

Often, but not always, this means a less adversarial approach and a greater interest in social issues including health, education and housing. These issues are essential for the Roma community.

And when it comes to Roma and Travellers my experience as Secretary General has taught me a great deal.

Over these past eight years I have had the privilege of meeting with many individuals and organisations from our continent’s largest ethnic minority.

I have learned about their culture, history and struggle – and the unique contribution they make to European life.

And I know that too often, too many people still demand that Roma and Travellers should change, but are slow to see the commonalities between us all and the contribution that every community can make to national life – for the benefit of all.

So on grounds of gender and ethnicity, Roma and Traveller women have my personal support and the support of the Council of Europe when it comes to improving representation.

And the Council has indeed been active in both of these areas.

On the representation of women, take for example our Committee of Ministers Recommendation on balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision making.

It asks our member states to put in place a range of supportive measures to stimulate and support women’s involvement, to promote balanced representation, and to encourage greater participation from ethnic minority women especially.

Our Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities are also working to make gender equality central to democratic processes on the ground.

And they are doing this by sharing experiences ranging from the use of quotas and reserve-seat systems to fundraising methods and public administration appointments.

On Roma rights too, there has been action.

Our 2010 Strasbourg Declaration called for co-operation across Europe – at the local, national and international levels – to fight discrimination, promote citizenship and support social inclusion.

Since then we have agreed a thematic Action Plan on the Inclusion of Roma and Travellers that we are taking forward together with the EU.

And we have worked with our member states on a range of further actions with a focus on local good governance, access to justice – and participation and decision-making and political life too.

These are just some examples of the work that we are undertaking.

And when it comes to the representation of Roma and Traveller women, there are some green shoots.

A number of European countries’ National Roma Inclusion Strategies make direct reference to the importance of increase involvement and representation of Roma in the democratic process.

Recent training for nearly 1000 female candidates helped elect eight mayors and ninety local councillors, including the first two Roma women councillors ever elected in the Republic of Moldova.

And further training in local council functions, finance, fundraising and communications was provided to nearly 200 women who had been elected as local and district councillors, better equipping them to succeed in their posts.

But all of us here today know that these examples go nowhere near far enough.

All of us should be looking to the future and what more we can do.

What should be asked of political parties?

What would be the influencing of changing systems for choosing and electing candidates?

And what role should governments and electoral administrators play in order to make sure that more Roma and Traveller women can even get to the ballot box to vote?

As a first step, I invite representatives of the political parties here today to sign the pledge to take measures that will increase gender equality, and Roma and Traveller women’s participation in political life.

This will send a strong signal that those parties support inclusive societies that bring in those groups who are too often shut out.

This Conference is a prime opportunity to debate these questions and others and then to lobby parliaments, governments and institutions like the Council of Europe for the changes needed.

And I would conclude by emphasising that your role in doing that really is crucial.

Because change doesn’t come about by accident.

Freedom and opportunity are rarely handed out impromptu.

Every marginalised group that has acquired rights has done so because they have got out there and made the case with the stakeholders.

Workers’ rights, ethnic and religious rights, the extension of the franchise to women – all of them.

So your participation here today could not be any more valid, worthwhile or necessary.

O Konsilo del tumen vast te aresen opre andi politika! Man si man pakiv ande tumende!

(The Council of Europe assists you in getting into politics. I believe in you!)