Ahead of International Roma day on 8 April, FRA is issuing its Second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey: Roma women in nine EU Member States report. It shows that while women generally suffer from inequality, it is particularly acute for Roma women. Overall, they:
These figures underline the need for Roma inclusion measures that are gender-sensitive, and designed and implemented together with Roma women. They show that we need to examine carefully how to combine social welfare support with opportunities for decent work.
They also point to the negative consequences of a lack of access to early childhood education and care, which could provide Roma women with the time to learn skills and seek employment.
They call, in particular, for giving a strong and prominent voice to Roma women in public life and within their own communities.
The report draws on information collected in nine EU Member States from nearly 8,000 face-to-face interviews with Roma. The information is drawn from the agency’s EU-wide survey of minorities of their experiences and perceptions of discrimination and harassment.