ARA ART welcomes the Council of the European Union’s recent adoption of the Recommendation
ARA ART welcomes the Council of the European Union’s recent adoption of the Recommendation on Roma equality, inclusion and participation and appreciates the fact that the Recommendation contains a specific reference to LGBTIQ Roma. The Council of the EU, which is an essential EU decision-maker that negotiates and adopts legislative acts, approved it on 12 March 2021 based on a proposal by the European Commission (EC). The proposal is part of the Commission’s 10-year action plan and strategic framework, announced in October 2020.
Historically, for the first time ever, the Council Recommendation makes a direct reference to LGBTIQ Roma not only in relation to the diversity of Romani communities but also with regard to the urgent need to resolve and tackle the structural, multiple and intersectional discrimination against LGBTIQ Roma. This commitment is part of the Recommendation’s horizontal objectives concerning equality, inclusion and participation.
At a time of the dangerous strengthening of right-wing populist forces and the weakening of human rights legal standards across the EU, ARA ART sees the Recommendation as a significant signal sent to all EU Member States governments, emphasising the need to pay adequate attention to socially marginalised and persecuted groups such as LGBTIQ Roma.
ARA ART and the European LGBTIQ Roma, Sinti and Traveller Platform considers it essential that it becomes an equal partner for EU institutions. We offer our expertise producing knowledge on LGBTIQ Roma, including strategic documents, action plans and research studies. This is of particular importance because the conditions and needs of LGBTIQ Roma are very diverse across the EU. Therefore, it is necessary to take these specifics into account so that the proposed and adopted procedures are as effective as possible.
Historically, for the first time ever, the Council Recommendation makes a direct reference to LGBTIQ Roma not only in relation to the diversity of Romani communities but also with regard to the urgent need to resolve and tackle the structural, multiple and intersectional discrimination against LGBTIQ Roma. This commitment is part of the Recommendation’s horizontal objectives concerning equality, inclusion and participation.
At a time of the dangerous strengthening of right-wing populist forces and the weakening of human rights legal standards across the EU, ARA ART sees the Recommendation as a significant signal sent to all EU Member States governments, emphasising the need to pay adequate attention to socially marginalised and persecuted groups such as LGBTIQ Roma.
ARA ART and the European LGBTIQ Roma, Sinti and Traveller Platform considers it essential that it becomes an equal partner for EU institutions. We offer our expertise producing knowledge on LGBTIQ Roma, including strategic documents, action plans and research studies. This is of particular importance because the conditions and needs of LGBTIQ Roma are very diverse across the EU. Therefore, it is necessary to take these specifics into account so that the proposed and adopted procedures are as effective as possible.