[03/12/07 16:30] Thomas Hammarberg today took part at a conference on "Roma women's rights" in Stockholm organised jointly by the Council of Europe, the Swedish Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, at the request of the Romani Women's Networks.
The Commissioner's intervention focused on the need to emphasise the positive impact of Roma women's participation in the social and political spheres, and highlighted the example of Katarina Taikon, whose campaigns helped improve a better understanding and protection of Roma culture in Sweden.
Before the conference, Mr Hammarberg also held meetings in Helsinki with Finnish authorities, in particular the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chancellor of Justice and the Ombudsman for Minorities as well as representatives of civil society. Discussions focused mainly on the forthcoming Finnish chairmanship of the OSCE, the rights of Sami and the prevention of trafficking in human beings.
