Presentation by Michael Guet, Council of Europe, on the occasion of the EESC conference on 'Better Roma inclusion through civil society initiatives: focus on education, employment, housing and antidiscrimination' (Brussels, 7 November 2014).

1. Roma and Travellers’ Education
A summary of the standards, case-law,
projects and actions of the Council of Europe
EESC meeting, Brussels, 7 November 2014

2. Roma and Travellers’ education
Endorsed CAHROM thematic reports
• CAHROM (2012)6 Thematic report on school drop
out and absenteeism of Roma children
 The Netherlands (requesting country)
 Hungary, Spain , Sweden (partner countries)
• CAHROM (2013)5
Thematic report on school attendance for Roma children, in particular Roma  Finland (requesting country)
 Latvia, Norway, Sweden (partner countries)
• CAHROM (2012)18
Thematic report on inclusive education for Roma children as
opposed to special schools
 Czech Republic & Slovakia (requesting countries)
 Hungary, Slovenia, United Kingdom (partners)

3. Roma and Travellers’ education
Next CAHROM thematic reports
•CAHROM Thematic report on pre-school education of Roma
children (19-21 November 2014)
 Czech Republic (requesting country)
 Hungary, Latvia, Poland, “FYROM” (partners)
• CAHROM Thematic report on school inclusion of Roma
(migrants’) children access to education and distance learning
for Travellers’ children (March or April 2015)
 France (requesting country)
 Albania, Belgium, Italy (tbc), Norway (tbc),
Switzerland (tbc) (partner countries)

4. Roma and Travellers’ education
Main issues and obstacles
Roma families face multiple issues,
(poverty, unemployment, debt,
domestic violence, etc.) which leads to
more attention being paid by the family
on solving socio-economic issues
rather than on children’s education.
School drop-outs, absenteeism and
lack of school enrollment (due to
tendency for overprotection; low
education of Roma parents; lack of
dialogue between schools and
parents; fear of assimilation; travelling
A lower expectation from teachers way of life; early marriage...
concerning Roma children, lower
quality education provided to Roma
children and a lack of knowledge of
Roma culture and history.
Language barriers (many children
speak Romani at home and have little
knowledge of national language).
Other barriers include lack of ID,
ghettoisation/housing segregation,
constant evictions, health problems...
School segregation, special
classes and enrolment in schools
for mentally disabled.
Negative attitude and perception
from non-Roma parents, and
sometimes school professionals based
on prejudice and stereotypes. Refusal
from schools/local authorities to
accept Roma or Traveller children.

5. Solutions
Roma and Travellers’ education
• (Roma) school mediators/ assistants
• Romani language teachers/mediators/school
assistants and Romani textbooks
• Pre-school enrolment of Roma children
• Free meals, transport, textbooks
• Training of teachers on cultural diversity,
including Romani culture
• Roma history in school curricula
• Incubators and inclusion of Roma parents
• Fighting bullying and discrimination at school
• Raise awareness on prejudice/stereotypes
• Collect data and assess education policies

6. Roma and Travellers’ education
Standards and case law
• 1950 Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Art. 14-
Prohibition of discrimination); Protocol 1 (Art. 2-Right to
education), and Protocol 12;
• 1961 European Social Charter and the Revised ESC;
• 1992 European Charter of Regional or Minority Languages;
• 1995 Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities
• Council of Europe Convention on the Exercise of Children’s
Rights
• Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children
against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
• Council of Europe Convention the Rights of the Child
• European Court of Human Rights’ case law, such as D.H.
and Others v. the Czech Republic; Sampanis and Others v.
Greece, and Oršuš and Others v. Croatia

7. Roma and Travellers’ education
Standards (Recommendations)
• CM Recommendation (2000)4 on the education of Roma/Gypsy children
in Europe;
• CM Recommendation (2009)4 on the education of Roma and Travellers
in Europe;
• CM Recommendation (2008)5 on policies for Roma and/or Travellers in
Europe;
• CM Recommendation (2012)9 on mediation as an effective tool for
promoting respect of human rights and social inclusion of Roma;
• CM Recommendation on policy to support positive parenting
• ECRI General Policy Recommendations No. 3 on combating racism and
intolerance against Roma/Gypsies (1998); No. 10 on combating racism
and racial discrimination in and through school education (2006) and
No. 13 on combating anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against Roma;

8. Other reference texts
• Final Declaration of the 22nd session of the Standing Conference
of the Ministers of Education, on “Building a more humane and
inclusive Europe: role of education policies” (Istanbul, 4-5 May
2007);
• Recommendations and policy orientations included in the White
Paper on Intercultural Dialogue “Living together as equals in
dignity”(Strasbourg, 7 May 2008);
• Strasbourg Declaration (20 October 2010);
• CM Declaration on the rise of anti-Gypsyism and racist
violence against Roma in Europe (February 2012).

9. Projects and tools 1/2
• Project “Education of Roma children in Europe” (2002-2009)”
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/roma/histoCulture_en.asp.
• Programme « Building a Europe for and with children »
• Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015)
• CM Guidelines on child-friendly justice
• Child participation assessment tool (including indicators to
monitor progress of children’s participation)
• Guidelines on integrated national strategies for the protection of
children against violence
• Publication « Children and young people in care – discover your
rights! »
Roma and Travellers’ education

10. Projects and tools 2/2
• CoE/EC ROMED Programme
• Framework Curriculum for the Romani
language
• Roma history factsheets
• Dosta! campaign against prejudices
• No hate speech campaign
• Online database on Roma-related policies and
good practices

11. ROMED I and II
• ROMED is not just about training (Roma) mediators but about mediation as a
process (each actor has responsibilities and accountability).
• Some lessons from past experience: There is a need of a code of conduct and a
clarification of the role of mediators in order for them to perform their work
properly (ref. CM Rec (2012)9 on mediation), as well as a need for
institutionalisation (good example: Republic of Moldova) but even more important
is the whole process of mediation.
• Aim: the mediators should shift from service providers to facilitators of processes.
ROMED component on education includes school governance (through which
mediators, parents, teachers, education professionals, etc. are involved in the
process of education of Roma).
• ROMED2’s focus is on governance at local level, including governance in schools
and therefore ROMED is a learning exercise for Roma and non-Roma who sit
together and agree on matters concerning them through effective participation (in
decision making process, again including in schools).

12. Roma and Travellers’ education
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
www.coe.int (Human Rights / Roma)
www.coe-romed.org
www.coe-romact.org
www.dosta.org
Michaël Guet
Head of the I-CARE Unit
Support Team of the Special Representative of the
Secretary General of the Council of Europe for
Roma Issues