The UK Civil Society Monitoring Report on progress achieved within the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (which includes Gypsies, Travellers and Roma) will be launched at an event hosted by Soraya Post, a Swedish Roma Member of the European Parliament.
The University of Bristol in partnership with the National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups (NFGLG) and the Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham coordinated a team of community interviewers who conducted interviews and provided input into the analysis. University of Bristol Fellows and drafted the report.
Dr Ryder said: “I was truly shocked at just how much Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are now suffering: not only do they remain one of the most vulnerable groups in society but advances made in recent years are being lost.
“Whilst Wales and now Scotland are following EU Commission advice and developing a strategic approach, England and Northern Ireland are not.
“In England the inter-ministerial working group on Gypsies and Travellers has not met in two years despite receiving, in 2012, a very negative assessment from the EU Commission as to the effectiveness of its plans to raise inclusion for these communities.
“The EU assessment should have been a wake-up call. The UK Civil Society Monitoring Report indicates the Government is not listening to the good advice it has received from the European Commission and Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities.”
Speaking on behalf of the , Siobhan Spencer MBE said: “The way a government acts towards its minorities is the true indicator of its moral values. Yet for centuries discrimination has deprived Gypsy, Traveller and Roma people from full and equal citizenship. Now is the time for the UK Government to commit to effective action for change.”
Speaking on the report, Dr Cemlyn said: “The monitoring report was project-managed by a Gypsy and Traveller community organisation (National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups) and the research team involved Gypsies, Travellers and Roma (GTR) as interviewers.
“The report has been well received, , and demonstrates the effectiveness of research that is participatory and works inclusively ‘with’ rather than ‘on’ GTR communities.
“Inclusive approaches to research need to be more strongly promoted within the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies to assess and monitor progress.”