Call for Experts to Join the Working Group on Antigypsyism in EU funded project “Beyond the Barriers: Roma Resilience in the Western Balkans”

Background

The “Beyond Barriers: Resilience of Roma in the Western Balkans” project is a regional initiative aimed at improving the economic status, social inclusion, and fight against antigypsyism among Roma communities in five Western Balkans countries: North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Research and Policy Analysis Romalitico as a lead organization.

Working group on Antigypsyism

The Working Group on Antigypsyism will be established to combat the widespread issue of antigypsyism through a combination of public policy advocacy, legislative reforms, and fostering regional and national dialogues. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of antigypsyism on Roma communities, while advocating for legal and policy changes that explicitly address the issue and protect the rights of Roma people.

The project will involve the creation of five country-specific working groups and one regional working group, engaging key stakeholders from national and regional levels to create lasting, effective solutions.

The aim of the Working Group is to tackle the prevalence and harmful impact of antigypsyism across the Western Balkans. Our goal is to ensure that antigypsyism is appropriately recognized and addressed in national policies and legal frameworks. By incorporating antigypsyism into public policy and fostering awareness at all levels, the Working Group will promote greater social inclusion, equality, and justice for Roma communities.

Working Group Structure

The project will commence by establishing working groups in each participating country and a regional working group. Each group will consist of at least 10 members. These groups will play a central role in the project, leading advocacy efforts, producing policy recommendation and law reforms, while fostering dialogue with relevant

stakeholders.

Core Activities and Outputs

1. Recognition of Antigypsyism in Public Policy and Legislation:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing national and regional legislation to identify gaps where antigypsyism is not adequately addressed.
• Formulate proposals and recommendations aimed at integrating references to antigypsyism into national and regional laws.
• Organize training sessions for policymakers, legal experts, and government officials to deepen their understanding of antigypsyism.
• Provide resources such as informational materials, case studies, and research findings to help stakeholders integrate antigypsyism recognition into their work.

2. Research and Reporting:

• Conduct research to document the prevalence and impact of antigypsyism in the region.
• Produce reports to document the manifestations of antigypsyism, its impact on Roma communities, and the necessary policy recommendations for each country.
• Develop at least 15 country-specific policy recommendations aimed at preventing and addressing antigypsyism.

3. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Organize regional and national stakeholder engagement conferences (online and in-person) to foster inclusive dialogue and share best practices for combating antigypsyism.
• Create a collaborative platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges, exchange insights, and propose actionable solutions for combating antigypsyism.

Timeline and Expected Outcomes:

• Establishment of Working Groups: March 2025
• Legislation Review and Research: April 2025 – June 2025
• Advocacy and Policy Proposals: 2025-2027
• Stakeholder Conferences and Collaboration: 2025-2027

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased recognition of antigypsyism in national and regional policy frameworks.
• Improved capacity of stakeholders, including policymakers and legal experts, to address antigypsyism.
• Actionable research findings and policy recommendations for national and regional anti-discrimination policies.
• Sustained collaboration and dialogue between key stakeholders to combat antigypsyism beyond the project's duration.

Call for Experts:

We are seeking qualified individuals to join the Working Groups. If you are an expert with experience in policy development, human rights, non-discrimination, Roma advocacy, or legal reform and have a commitment to fighting antigypsyism, we encourage you to apply.

The experts to be engaged must meet the following conditions:

• At least a higher education degree;
• At least 5 years of work experience in activities related to Roma inclusion, Human Rights and or Antigypsyism;
• Candidates who have conducted research related to the topics of Roma inclusion, Human Rights and or Antigypsyism will be given priority.

How to Apply:

Please send your application, including your CV and two reference people relevant for the field of Antigypsism to [email protected] no later than 5th March 2025.

Selection of candidates:

• The selection of eligible candidate will be carried out by a committee within the Roma Versitas Kosovo.
• Roma Versitas Kosovo respects the principle of equal treatment and non discrimination in decisions.

Selection criteria:

• Fulfillment of the call conditions
• Quality of the submitted documents
• References

Only selected candidates will be notified of the selection decision. Roma Versitas Kosovo reserves the right not to inform rejected candidates of the reasons for their rejection.