Incorporating Roma in European Youth Policies: An Assessment of Inclusion Efforts
The Roma community constitutes one of the largest European minorities. Simultaneously, it has continuously experienced structural and institutional marginalisation, resulting in its persistent exclusion from various spheres of society. This systemic exclusion is reflected in the hindered effectiveness of youth-focused measures within the EU policies that, based on the outcomes of this online survey, are insufficient in addressing the multifaceted needs and aspirations of Roma youth.
Many individuals of Roma youth face substantial barriers impeding their accessibility to essential resources, opportunities, and representation within wide-raging societal constellations. These impediments comprise disparities in education, restricted economic prospects, cultural biases, lack of access to healthcare, or inadequate housing. The identified situation is paradoxical, given that various dedicated efforts aim to foster Roma inclusion nationally and internationally. However, regardless of specific initiatives targeting Roma inclusion, the meaningful engagement and representation of Roma youth remains limited within broader youth-centric policies and related programs.
This survey illustrates an endeavour to underpin the challenges faced by Roma youth and proposes a possible orientation for a more holistic approach to including Roma youth. This survey aims to inform policy decision-makers who seek to address Roma exclusion through empowering Roma youth.
Objectives
To achieve the mentioned aim, this survey consists of four objectives:
- To evaluate the inclusiveness of youth measures concerning the Roma community.
- To identify potential barriers that hinder the effective participation of Roma youth in these measures.
- To gather stakeholders’ perspectives on the importance of Roma inclusion in broader youth policies.
- To provide recommendations for enhancing the representation and participation of Roma youth in youth-focused initiatives.
Recommendations from the Roma youth:
This survey presented the outcomes of an online survey. By analysing respondents’ insights on the general and specific youth policies, it assessed the effectiveness of existing youth measures for including the Roma youth in various policies regarding decision-making and participation within related youth initiatives. The findings of the survey affirm that Roma youth continue to be underrepresented in the European Union’s youth-focused policies despite numerous inclusion efforts.
Regarding that, this survey efforted not only to underpin the challenges faced by Roma youth but also to propose a possible avenue of a more holistic approach to including Roma youth.
Generally, the suggestions revolve around creating more inclusive policies that directly engage Roma youth in decision-making processes, empower them through various educational opportunities, and design workshops or trainings for Roma and non-Roma awareness raising about anti-Roma racism and means of combating them. This survey is expected to bear valuable insights for policy decision-makers aiming to empower Roma youth by reversing the long-lasting Roma exclusion.