Recommendations

• Author: Chryso Pelekani, Loizos Symeou
• Pages: 22-23

22

RECOMMENDATIONS

Situation of Roma women

1. Local authorities and all stakeholders should inform the Roma women about

opportunities in participating in vocational education and training in Cyprus. If

Roma w omen cannot meet the criteria to attend the existing programmes, they

should be provided with specific training and lifelong learning programmes to

improve their lite racy, to de velop their skills, and be provided with skills

certification. Adapted teaching material (by qualified teachers with experience in

teaching Roma adults) should be adapted.

2. Local authorities and all stakeholders should find resources and create special jobs

for Roma women.

3. Conducting research by universities or other institutions to identify the problems

faced by Roma women in Cyprus, focusing on their immediate needs. Based on the

results findings, recommendations should be formulated to address the problems

of Roma women.

4. The Nat ional Contact Point for Roma (Ministry of Labour), local authorities, non -

governmental organisations working on human rights and social affairs should have

an ongoing dialogue with the NGO CYPROM, and especially directly with the

representatives of Cypriot Roma women, in order to be informed about Roma

women’s living conditions and problems, and to organise common actions and

information campaigns to combat discrimination and racism affecting Roma

women.

Roma’s mobility and internal migration

5. Research institutes and universities should conduct research to verify the reasons

for Roma em igration from Cyprus, mobility within Cyprus, and what immediate

needs these relocations are attempting to meet. Based on the findings, suggestions

should be made for improving local solutions to the basic problems of the Roma.

6. The Interior Ministry should come into direct dialogue with representatives of the

Roma and try to find immediate solutions to the housing issue and to res olve the

existing housing problems of the Roma.

7. The Turkish Cy priot Properties Management should increase and intensify its field

inspections of T/C residences and prefabricated houses occupied by Roma in all

provinces of the RoC.

8. Local communities who coexist with the Roma should be sensitised as to how to

mitigate or prevent conflicts and stereotypes and should aim for social cohesion.

9. Common cultural events should be locally organised among the Roma and members

of other groups to develop intercultural dialogue.

Impact of drug distribution and use

10. The government should design and reproduce audio-visual, digital and print

materials in Greek and Turkish to inform Roma about the issue of preventing drug

distribution and use.

11. Responsible authorities should organise seminars for Cypriot Roma to raise

awareness about drug distribution and use, including interpreters and mediators

from the Roma community.