European Platform for Roma Inclusion, Brussels 27 June 2013 MÁRTON RÖVID Research and policy officer, Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation Civil Society Monitoring of the Implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies

STRUCTURE 2 1. Updates on the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2. Introducing the civil society monitoring reports 3. Assessing the measures of NRIS in 2012

UPDATES ON THE DECADE OF ROMA INCLUSION 3 Decade Focal Points Roma civil society representatives selected after open call Future of the Decade of Roma Inclusion Working group Options Paper Last ISC: continue, but reformed Details of reform and streamlining with the EU Framework to be elaborated

AN IDEAL SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL MONITORING 4 7. FOLLOW UP state task forceNGO inputfollow up rapporteurcommittee visit 6. STATE ACKNOWLEDGES AND PUBLICIZES RECOMMENDATIONS press conferencetranslationNGO dissemination 5. RESOLUTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY AN INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY 4. CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE (PLENARY SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE) between committee and state delegationNGO input (pre-session, side-event, etc.) 3. COMMENT OF STATE ON THE EVALUATION 2. EVALUATION BY A COMMITTEE country rapporteurs/task forcespossible country visit 1. INFORMATION GATHERING BY A COMMITTEE (a) state report(b) parallel report of NGOs(c) other sources of information

EXISTING AND POTENTIAL SYSTEMS 5

EXISTING SYSTEMS OF MONITORING 6 Examples of complete systems Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN) Framework Convention for the Protection of Council of Europe (CoE) Incomplete systems Decade of Roma Inclusion missing: committee of evaluation, international authority, recommendations, follow-up EU Framework missing: committee of evaluation, state progress reports, mechanism to receive and review shadow reports, country-specific recommendations, follow-up

WHAT IS SHADOW REPORTING? 7 Shadow reports are a method for NGOs to supplement or present alternative information to periodic government reports that State parties submit within the framework of international agreements Shadow reports cannot substitute quantitative monitoring and evaluation by state authorities but are vital tools to make states accountable. Shadow reports can channel local knowledge into the policy process and reflect on the real, non-quantifiable social impact of government measures. Shadow reports are fundamental tools to involve civil society in the monitoring of policies and to foster the active participation of Roma.

PILOT YEAR OF SHADOW REPORTING 8 Civil society coalitions selected after open call 8 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Spain Common template and professional review Monitoring both mainstream and targeted government measures Summary report in English and Romany; country reports in English and national languages

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ASSESSING GOVERNMENT MEASURES 10 Positive measures of the Roma strategies Positive mainstream measures Positive but insufficiently designed or implemented measures Largely negative measures of the strategy Largely negative mainstream measures

SUCCESFUL MEASURES OF NRIS 11 Czech Republic: Roma pedagogical assistants Hungary: kindergarten enrolment subsidy for multiply disadvantaged children + integrated pedagogic system + bonus for teachers in this system NRIS monitoring system Macedonia: inclusion of Romani Children in Public Pre- Schools Romania: affirmative action at high school and university levels

POSITIVE MAINSTREAM MEASURES 12 Czech Republic: changing admission criteria for kindergartens Macedonia: project of housing for socially vulnerable groups Romania: the universal Milk & Roll school meal program Spain: Antennas Network fighting discrimination

POSITIVE BUT INSUFFICIENTLY DESIGNED OR IMPLEMENTED MEASURES 13 Czech Republic: Roma health assistants – no sustainable funding Hungary: Roma women social assistants – selection and training to be improved Roma colleges – selection process Romania: Caravans of Roma employment, Job fairs – should be upscaled Slovakia: new provision of the anti-discrimination law allowing for affirmative action

LARGELY NEGATIVE MEASURES OF NRIS 14 Czech republic: no proper budgeting and monitoring of NRIS Hungary: public employment scheme without training for primary labor market Macedonia: infrastructural developments not addressing residential segregation Slovakia: zero year preparatory classes stigmatizing Roma

LARGELY NEGATIVE MAINSTREAM MEASURES 15 Czech republic: social reform – e.g. radically reducing assistance of labor offices to job-seekers Hungary: educational reform – e.g. reducing compulsory age of schooling, changes in the tuition fee arrangements in higher education Slovak: parallel school track for mentally disabled children Spain: reducing support for socially disadvantaged students, the reduction of medicines and vaccines covered by the health system

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Márton Rövid