Roma policy

The overall objectives of the National Policy on Roma are to promote the inclusion and equal treatment of Roma in different spheres of life.

The programme is a comprehensive action plan, prepared in cooperation with different authorities and representatives of the Roma community. Roma policy guidelines are also defined in a government resolution.

• Building a Roma Platform: from Policy to Practice

• Finland’s National Roma Policy (ROMPO) 2018–2022 (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2019:25)

• Guide for planning the regional and local implementation of the Finnish Roma integration strategy (MAARO-plan)(Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2019:25)

The MSAH works with the Advisory Board on Roma Affairs, which is tasked to
Monitor and promote the development of the economic, social and educational living conditions of the Roma population

• Promote the opportunities for social inclusion, equal treatment and prevent discrimination of Roma
• Function as a cooperative and specialist body for the Roma community and the authorities.

International regulation and cooperation

In recent years the European Union has developed cooperative structures for promoting the inclusion of Roma.

The EU also seeks to further the status of Roma and their social inclusion in EU member states, among other things by spreading information and experiences of best practices between member states, and by supporting the creation and implementation of strategies on Roma.The EU aims to develop a policy on Roma within the Union and its member states.

The inter-governmental Council of Europe has worked for over 40 years to improve the human rights and status of Roma in Europe. Its general assembly and ministerial committee have issued numerous recommendations to member states on promoting the rights and status of Roma.

The European Council adopted conclusions on the welfare economy at its meeting of 24 October 2019. The Commission will therefore begin to prepare a framework for national policies on Roma for the period after 2020. The current framework will expire in 2020.

• An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 (pdf, European Commission)
• Making Human Rights for Roma Reality (Council of Europe)

In addition, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations (UN) work to further the status of Roma in Europe.

Inquiries

For questions concerning the Policy on Roma, please contact: [email protected]