On 2 December 2019 International Roma Women Network (IRWN) Phenjalipe Board members meet in Strasbourg to discuss follow-up activities to the 7th International Roma Women's Conference and other internal issues, define networks’ priorities, and plan future activities in 2020. All board members had the possibility to talk on activities done in last six months, successes and challenges faced as regarding the issues faced by Roma women and brainstormed on possible ways of creating synergies with current topics discussed in the Dialogue meetings, CAHROM thematic visits and other parts of the CoE.
The board members agreed the most emerging issues to be followed on in 2020 be:
- Forced removal of Roma and travelers’ children from parents;
- Antigypsyism;
- Lack of participation at policy making level;
- Lack of monitoring mechanism of Roma integration strategies
- Lack of Gender component at Roma Policies.
This meeting preceded a Study Visit organized on 3-4 December, which included other participants and where IRWN-Phenjalipe had an active role. During this study visit the board members had possibility to meet with Roma and Travelers Unit and representatives of different departments of CoE, including ECRI, GRETA. They discussed with them issues Roma women are facing and asked support for strengthening networking among Roma women organizations.
They asked COE to support the IRWN network and offer to institutional support. The idea of signing an agreement similar as agreement signed with ERIAC was also brought to the table and was noted as a request by Roma and traveler’s unit
The request done before by IRWN-Phenjalipe to COE to get the observer status at CAHROM resulted successful. CoE included IRWN-Phenjalipe as observer to the new formed structure which will replace CAHROM, ADI-ROM.
Board members listed also as a future action the creation of IRWN-Phenjalipe NEWSLETTER.
For better functioning of the network there were appointed the secretary General, the Treasurer, and the Communication officer as below:
Secretary General - Nesime Salioska
Communication Officer - Norica Costache
Treasurer - Saska Jovanovic
