From 9th to 14th September, the European Youth Centre Budapest is hosting the study session “Youth Ambassadors of the Decade against Antigypsyism: From European Commitment to Local Actions” organised within the Youth for Democracy programme in cooperation with the European Roma Grassroots Organisations Network (ERGO) and ternYpe International Roma Youth Network.

 A group of 27 young people participate in the week-long study session, which is part of the long term strategy of the organisations to empower young Roma and non-Roma activists as ambassadors for the “Decade to counter Antigypsyism”

 The Objectives for the session are:

• To introduce human rights concepts and the concept of antigypsyism to Roma and non-Roma young people;
• To support young people in recognising manifestations and consequences of antigypsyism;
• To share successful approaches of challenging antigypsyism by making use of the CM Recommendation on Roma Youth Participation and the standards on combating antigypsyism from ECRI and the Committee of Ministers;
• To empower participants to implement local educational projects to counter antigypsyism;
• To give young Roma and their non-Roma allies the opportunity to strengthen their support networks.

The study session contributes directly to combating all forms of discrimination, racism and exclusion, including its structural forms. Participants become empowered to stand up for their rights, as well as to educate others on the systemic racism faced by Roma communities.

 The session contributes to the implementation of  Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on Roma Youth Participation and the ECRI Recommendation of the European Commission against Racism and intolerance, on combating antigypsyism and discrimination against Roma.

 The CM recommendation on Roma Youth Partiricipation aims to draw attention to the structural racism, inequities and policy gaps that member States need to address in order to substantive participation, representation and inclusion of Roma youth in all spheres of society and decision-making processes, and well as to combat structural racism. Participants work on translating these recommendations into concrete actions and initiatives in the youth work field.