The Situation of Roma women in the EU EESC, Eurodiaconia 21 October 2015

2 Policy Context EC Communication “An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies” Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the Member States – Request by EP Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) – Oct 2013

3 FRA Roma Survey What do the results show? Roma in Europe: the situation on the ground Roma vs. non-Roma Disaggregation by gender FRA Roma survey data explorer – results from the 2011 Roma survey

4 EU 2020 targetFRA Roma Survey DataRoma women Education Reducing school drop-out rates below 10% Early school leaving (%) 14% of Roma children of compulsory school age are not in education (3% non-Roma) On average 89% of Roma aged left school before completing upper secondary education (38% non-Roma) 58% Roma women left school before age 16 At least 40% of 30-34–year- olds completing third level education Tertiary education (%) 10% of Roma aged completed secondary education or higher 23% Roma women completed school after age 16 or are still in education Employment 75% of the year-olds to be employed Employment rate (%) On average fewer than one out of three Roma are in paid employment 28 % of Roma and 45 % of non ‑ Roma living nearby aged 16 and above indicate paid work as their main activity 21% Roma women in paid full- time/part time or ad hoc jobs, or self-employed Poverty & social inclusion At least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion 90 % of the Roma surveyed live in households with an equivalised income below national poverty lines 87% of Roma women live in HH at risk of poverty

5 Education Roma menRoma womenNon-Roma Can read and write 85%77%99% Have never been to school 14%19%2% Remained in education after age of 16 (aged 16-24) 50%37%70% Gender gap in education may be increased by early marriages

6 Literacy rate

7 School attendance patterns Roma aged 16-24

8 Employment Roma menRoma womenNon-Roma In paid work 35%21%45% Self-employed 25%13%3% Working in ad hoc jobs 28%15%2% Unemployed 39%33%11% Perceived discrimination when looking for work 27%22%--

9 Paid work activity

10 Health Care More Roma women say their health is “bad” or “very bad” compared to non-Roma women 18% of Roma women do not have medical insurance coverage, compared to 8% of non-Roma women

11 Perceived health status

12 Limitation in daily activities

13 Housing Housing has impacts on: –Health –Education –Employment –Consequences particularly severe for women 42% of Roma live in conditions of severe deprivation (12% of non-Roma)

14 Housing deprivation

15 Financial Situation Financial situation of women reflected in at-risk-of-poverty household indicator –87% of Roma HH with an income below national at-risk-of-poverty level (46% non-Roma; 17% EU population average) Roma aged 45 and above: 69 % of men and 64 % of women in this age group expect to receive or receive a private or state pension

16 Discrimination & Rights Awareness Roma menRoma women Awareness of anti- discrimination legislation (when applying for job) 45%35% (Non-Roma men – 51%)(Non-Roma women – 47%) Knowledge of organisations providing support/advice to people who have been discriminated against 24%19%

17 Marital Status 6% of Roma women aged who are married or cohabitating are in education (45% for single women in this age group) Roma girls (10-17)Roma (16-17) “Traditionally married” or cohabitating with partner 2%24%

18 What is needed? Disaggregated gender-based data Identification of factors leading to discrimination against women & inequalities Specific objectives & strategies Indicators to measure progress Empowering Roma women Testing approaches engaging with Roma communities at local level

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