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Roma people


At present, the Roma origin ethnics live primarily in Europe, and in almost every country of the continent. Their number is estimated to be between 8 and 10 million in Europe, and the largest population of the European Roma - approximately 70% - is to be found in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Roma community in Slovenia is a sizable ethnic minority, which despite its long presence has been insufficiently integrated and is one of the groups most vulnerable to social exclusion. Even though official data report 3.246 citizens of Roma ethnic origin it is unofficially estimated there are between 6.500-7.000 members of Roma minority in the country, since many Roma have not officially registered as members of the Roma community in the census. Slovenia offers comprehensive and constitutionally guaranteed minority rights to its Hungarian and Italian minorities, including the right to bilingual administration and education, as well as parliamentary representation. However, these rights are not guaranteed to at least 7,000 Roma or to other minority groups.

Public attitudes towards Roma are generally negative and public perception of the Roma is evolving; attitudes of older generations are being passed on to younger ones, often in a persistently negative tone, with intolerance promoted as a way to be. Younger generations are not stimulated to become more open, there are few programs concerning anti-discrimination or minority rights targeting teenagers or students. Both the government and civil society have made little effort in the sectors of youth and education, though it is precisely these areas that could make a considerable difference in changing attitudes towards the Roma and creating a more flexible and tolerant environment for the future.

It is here that our project intervenes. Unlike other projects oriented towards inter-ethnic understanding and minority acceptance, its focus will be in the area of youth and education of youth, with follow up results that will engage further attention to the issue and stimulate action in Slovenia and in the wider European community. Moreover, the project wishes to make one step further from similar initiatives and use innovative, informal, interactive methods to promote inter-ethnic dialogue.

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