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Slovakia assumes the Presidency of the Decade of Roma Inclusion

Slovakia took over the year-long presidency of the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015) on July 1

Roma Decade

Following a ceremonial hand over from Serbia at the 16th Meeting of the International Steering Committee (ISC) in Belgrade, Slovakia took over the presidency of the Decade. This initiative is an unprecedented proposal of European governments, in collaboration with multilateral organizations and civil society actors, to improve the social welfare and inclusion of the Roma community in Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Dusan Caplovic, representing the Slovak government, emphasised his government’s determination to intensify existing efforts for removing obstacles against Roma inclusion and welfare and towards promoting Roma culture, using the Slovak experience with ethnic minorities. Three priority areas were identified for the coming year in the Slovak Presidency Plan to the ISC: Roma identity; integrated school systems and multicultural education; and the reassessment and revision of national Decade Action Plans. UNHCR delegates also stressed the pressing need to address the issue of undocumented, “de facto stateless” Roma people.

Among other events planned under the Slovak Presidency, an international conference on the problem of extremism in Europe will be held in April 2010. Minister Caplovic asserted that his government has “zero tolerance” for racism and xenophobia, and that it intends to use the conference as a platform for an international dialogue on the threat of extremism and methods of combating it.

For further info: www.romadecade.org

Newsroom

Slovakia assumes the Presidency of the Decade of Roma Inclusion

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