04.05.2001 / As part of the series of
regular consultations with Roma NGOs and experts, the Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Contact Point for
Roma and Sinti Issues organized a consultation and information
meeting in Warsaw with the participation of representatives of the
two leading international Roma organizations, elected Roma
representatives, officials from international organizations, and
independent experts on Roma and Sinti issues.
Principal areas of discussion included the situation in
Kosovo, the need to enhace the co-operation between Roma
organizations, and the implementation of the ODIHR programmes on
Roma for 2001.
It was acknowledged that the two leading Roma
associations, the Intenrnation Romani Union and the Roma National
Congress, have managed to build a good working relationship in quite
a short time and as a result have also reached understanding on some
essential issues, including the assessment of the present situation
in Kosovo and the proposed Consultative Group for the Contact Point.
However, there is still room for improvement. Participants also
advanced the opinion that Roma should be more active in taking on
responsability and raising their
voice on behalf of other Roma living in difficult conditions.
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