Roma
Connect
Roma Connect Final Conference Amplifies Voices of Roma Women
On the 8th of October 8, 2024, in Barcelona, the Roma Connect Final Conference gathered over 90 participants in a powerful stand against anti-Roma racism and in support of Roma women’s voices from Hungary, Romania, Greece, and Spain. Hosted at the Barcelona City Hall and broadcast online, the conference brought together advocates, policymakers, and Roma community leaders to discuss challenges and solutions in combating discrimination and fostering inclusion.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 with opening remarks from 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐮𝐠è𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐆𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫, who reaffirmed the city’s dedication to equality and diversity. 𝐑𝐚𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚-𝐆𝐢𝐥 of Drom Kotar Mestipen and 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐜í𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚, Director for Equality of Treatment and Non-Discrimination, highlighted Roma Connect’s vital role in amplifying Roma women’s voices.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 addressed 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. Dr. Lena de Botton presented the «Upstander» approach, emphasizing visible support for victims and community-driven, non-violent responses to counter online hate. This method fosters empathy, safety, and positive engagement, reducing fear and promoting constructive dialogue.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 brought compelling 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, including Sacri Fernandez (𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧), Petrovici Adina-Petronela and Arslan Marioara-Adina (𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚), and Lorena Imre and Boglárka Orsós (𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲). Their stories of resilience and discrimination served as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by Roma women and a call to action for further advocacy and inclusion.
We want the women to be able to influence and combat existing
antigypsyism discrimination.
Roma Connect is european sponsored project, with the main goal to connect grassroots Roma women across four european countries, and raise awareness against antigypsyism and boost their leadership capacity.
Objectives
The general objective of the Project is to empower and support grassroots Roma women by creating a European network, where they have a common and safe space to support and learn from eachother, and to launch a antigypsysim campaign. The end goal is to have an institutional impact, both on the national and the European level.
- To create trust between Roma and non-Roma communities.
- To create a European Network for the Roma women in all four countries.
- To foster right awareness through training activities.
News
What is Roma Connect
Roma Connect is a European project involving organizations from Spain, Greece, Hungary, and Romania. Its goal is to empower Roma women by creating a supportive European network. This network provides a safe space for learning and launching an antigypsyism campaign. The project aims to impact national and European policies by engaging with public institutions, helping Roma women influence and combat discrimination.
Take a look at our empowering videos on combating antigypsyism
Campaign
The Campaign is the heart of the Project!
One of the results of this project has been the launching of a campaign against gypsyism at national level, in the four countries of the consortium, and at European level. The content of the campaign has been discussed, designed and decided by the Roma women themselves, with the support and help of professionals and staff of the organisations, in order to achieve the greatest possible impact.
The antiypsyism campaign is active!
Follow us for more updates!
News
Consortium
The Roma Connect Project involves four organisations from
Hungary, Greece, Romania, and Spain.
DROM KOTAR MESTIPEN
coordinator of the Project.
Alternative Innovative Development (A.I.D)
AMRITA
Intercultural Institute Timisoara