Roma Europese Unie Romani Evropaki Unija JEKHIPE
MACHT IS IN DE EENHEID
Meeting of REU-JEKHIPE Representatives with MEP Kathleen Van Brempt
Meeting of REU-JEKHIPE Representatives with MEP Kathleen Van Brempt Representatives of the Romani European Union – JEKHIPE met on [date of meeting] with Member of the European Parliament, Ms. Kathleen Van Brempt, in Brussels. During the meeting, we presented the work and objectives of our organization, including the REU-JEKHIPE Strategic Plan for the period 2025–2030, as well as our key program areas: empowering Roma communities, combating discrimination, and promoting Roma culture. Special attention was given to the situation of Roma communities in Spain, Romania, Portugal, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia, where Roma continue to face serious challenges of poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion. Ms. Van Brempt expressed her interest in the topic, particularly in the context of her engagement with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and EU Enlargement. She announced that during her upcoming visit to Serbia, she would pay special attention to the situation of Roma communities. REU-JEKHIPE conveyed an appeal for stronger representation of Roma rights within the EU enlargement process and called for continued cooperation with European institutions. On this occasion, we handed over our informational materials (Handout) and the REU-JEKHIPE Strategic Development Plan 2025–2030, which were received with great interest. We believe that this meeting will contribute to strengthening the voice of Roma in European political processes and to opening new spaces for cooperation.
REPORT ON THE CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY — APRIL 8, 2025
REPORT ON THE CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY — APRIL 8, 2025 Organizers: Roma European Union and Roma Cultural Center JEKHIPE Location: Sint-Niklaas, Belgium In cooperation and support of: City Administration of Sint-Niklaas On the occasion of International Roma Day, April 8, 2025, the Roma European Union and the Roma Cultural Center JEKHIPE organized a ceremonial program in Sint-Niklaas, with the strong support and cooperation of the City Administration. The event was officially opened with speeches by: Imer Kajtazi, President of the Roma European Union JEKHIPE Lieven Dehandschutter, Mayor of Sint-Niklaas H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Montenegro The speakers emphasized the importance of April 8 as a day dedicated to the struggle of Roma for equality, freedom, and dignity, and the need for continued joint efforts to build a society of equal opportunities for all. Following the opening ceremony, a panel debate was held featuring: Safet Hajvazi Senema Mustafa Nora van de Calluwe Wouter Van Belingen Lieven Dehandschutter, Mayor of Sint-Niklaas The debate was moderated by Matthias, who skillfully led the discussion. The main topics of the debate addressed critical issues facing the Roma community and society at large: Discrimination and Racism: Participants discussed ongoing forms of racial discrimination against Roma and proposed concrete measures to combat prejudice. Employment: The debate highlighted the importance of creating equal opportunities in the labor market, promoting vocational training programs, and inclusive employment practices. Education: Special emphasis was placed on education as a foundation for a better future, calling for greater support for Roma pupils and students, including scholarship programs and mentorship initiatives. Throughout the debate, numerous issues were raised and solutions proposed for improving the position of Roma within Belgian society, with a strong focus on the importance of cooperation between local authorities, civil society organizations, and Roma institutions. The event concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere with a reception where guests enjoyed traditional Roma specialties, fostering informal networking and the exchange of ideas. Conclusion: The event successfully promoted the values of mutual respect, equality, and inclusion. The organizers express their heartfelt gratitude to all speakers, debate participants, guests, and the City Administration of Sint-Niklaas for their active support and engagement, with the hope that such events will further strengthen community ties and continue the affirmation of Roma culture and rights.
Report from the Conference Held in Düsseldorf – December 15, 2024
Report from the Conference Held in Düsseldorf – December 15, 2024 Organizers and Objectives of the Conference: The Roma European Union (REU) Jekhipe, in collaboration with Roma Center e.V. and with the support and partnership of CARMEN e.V., organized a joint meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together Roma organizations operating in Germany to discuss potential cooperation and strengthen joint actions. Roma organizations from Germany, Serbia, Belgium, and Bulgaria participated in the event. Location: The conference was held at AWO ZentrumPlus in Düsseldorf. Program and Activities: 09:00 – 09:15: Opening Remarks The conference was opened by representatives of Carmen e.V., Roma Center, and REU Jekhipe, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of collective efforts to improve the political representation of Roma at both national and European levels. 09:15 – 10:00: Presentation of Participating Organizations The participating organizations introduced their activities, projects, and the challenges they face in their efforts to advance Roma rights in different countries. 10:00 – 11:00: Presentation and Discussion – Insufficient Political Representation of Roma A presentation was given on the current situation in Germany, emphasizing the limited political influence of the Roma community. The discussion focused on the reasons for this underrepresentation and potential ways to address it. 11:00 – 11:15: Coffee Break Participants had the opportunity to network informally and exchange ideas. 11:15 – 13:00: Workshop – Political Representation of Roma in Germany and Europe: What’s Next? Participants worked in groups to develop strategies addressing key issues, including: Structural and institutional discrimination and racism Combating right-wing extremism Roma participation in elections Structural funding for Roma organizations Strengthening cooperation among organizations 13:00 – 14:00: Lunch Break Participants enjoyed lunch and continued informal discussions. 14:00 – 15:30: Presentation and Discussion of Workshop Results The working groups presented the results of their discussions, which were then thoroughly reviewed. Key conclusions included the need for joint initiatives and enhanced political lobbying for Roma at all levels. 15:30 – 16:30: Plan for 2025 Participants agreed on key priorities for the upcoming year, including planning future meetings, raising awareness of Roma issues, and strengthening cooperation among organizations from different countries. Closing Remarks and Farewell: The conference concluded with the shared understanding that only through joint efforts can Roma organizations achieve significant progress in the fight for Roma rights and political representation. Conclusion: The conference in Düsseldorf provided an important platform for exchanging ideas, experiences, and strategies. The organizations agreed that cooperation is essential to overcoming challenges and improving the position of Roma across Europe.
Sluit je aan bij de Roma Europese Unie JEKHIPE!
Sluit je aan bij de Roma Europese Unie JEKHIPE!
De Roma European Union JEKHIPE is op zoek naar nieuwe leden – zowel mannen als vrouwen – die klaar zijn om zich bij onze missie en gemeenschap aan te sluiten. Als u toegewijd bent aan het bevorderen van Roma-rechten en graag wilt bijdragen aan positieve verandering, dan is dit uw kans!
Momenteel geven we prioriteit aan het uitbreiden van ons ledenbestand in Duitsland. We nodigen iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in het maken van een verschil in de Roma-gemeenschap uit om zich aan te melden.
Als lid van JEKHIPE krijgt u de mogelijkheid om:
Actief deelnemen aan belangrijke besluitvormingsprocessen voor de gemeenschap.
Ontwikkel en verbeter projecten die de levenskwaliteit van Roma in heel Europa verbeteren.
Werk samen met experts en organisaties op lokaal, nationaal en internationaal niveau.
Jouw stem telt. Word onderdeel van een beweging die bruggen bouwt, kansen creëert en de toekomst verandert voor toekomstige generaties! Geïnteresseerd?
Geïnteresseerd? Klik op het onderstaande document voor meer informatie en om u aan te melden voor het lidmaatschap van onze Unie.
Invoering
De Romani European Union (REU) – JEKHIPE is een internationale niet-gouvernementele organisatie die zich inzet voor het verbeteren van de rechten, integratie en status van Roma in heel Europa. Opgericht eind 2020 en officieel geregistreerd begin 2021 als een non-profitorganisatie gevestigd in België.
REU-JEKHIPE nodigt alle organisaties, instellingen en individuen die onze visie delen uit om zich bij ons aan te sluiten in onze missie om de Roma-gemeenschap te versterken. Door samenwerking en actief lidmaatschap kunnen we samen de Roma-eenheid versterken en pleiten voor gelijkheid en rechten voor Roma in heel Europa.
Of u nu een individu, organisatie of instelling bent, uw steun en deelname kunnen bijdragen aan onze inspanningen om discriminatie te bestrijden, onderwijs te promoten en een eerlijkere samenleving voor iedereen te creëren. Sluit u bij ons aan en maak deel uit van de verandering!
Samenwerking met organisaties en instellingen
REU-JEKHIPE werkt actief samen met verschillende organisaties, instellingen en internationale partners om gezamenlijk de rechten en status van Roma in heel Europa te verbeteren. Via partnerschappen met niet-gouvernementele organisaties, overheden, Europese instellingen en lokale gemeenschappen werken we aan het verbeteren van de toegang tot onderwijs, werkgelegenheid, gezondheidszorg en juridische ondersteuning voor Roma.
Onze samenwerking is gebaseerd op de uitwisseling van kennis, middelen en ervaringen, met als doel een meer inclusieve samenleving te creëren waarin de Roma-gemeenschap wordt erkend als een belangrijk onderdeel van de culturele en sociale identiteit van Europa.
Onze visie
Onze visie is een Europa waar Roma gelijkwaardige en gerespecteerde leden van de maatschappij zijn, vrij van discriminatie en vooroordelen. We streven ernaar een maatschappij te bouwen waarin de rechten van Roma volledig worden beschermd en hun rijke cultuur en erfgoed worden erkend en gewaardeerd als onderdeel van de Europese identiteit.
Onze missie
De missie van REU-JEKHIPE is om Roma-gemeenschappen te versterken door middel van onderwijs, juridische ondersteuning en sociale inclusie. We werken actief aan de bestrijding van discriminatie en racisme tegen Roma, promoten gelijke toegang tot onderwijs, werkgelegenheid en gezondheidszorg en pleiten voor Roma-rechten op internationaal niveau.
