The event was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Representatives of civil society organizations, women leaders, researchers, and experts working to protect human rights at the local, national, and international levels in different countries joined the discussions.

Over the course of two days, participants discussed the challenges currently faced by Roma and Sinti women, as well as ways to strengthen their voices in decision-making processes. The discussions focused on the extent to which they are involved in shaping policies that affect their lives, the barriers that still remain, and how to ensure that their experiences and needs are heard. Special attention was also given to successful examples of advocacy work, cooperation between organizations, the exchange of experience, and the search for new approaches to protecting women’s rights.

On the second day of the event, Anzhelika Bielova took part in the panel discussion ‘Barriers and Advocacy Practices in Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Roma and Sinti Women in the OSCE Region.’ She shared the experience of Voice of Romni in Ukraine and spoke about the challenges faced by Roma women amid the full-scale war.

“The urgent need for immediate assistance often competes with our advocacy efforts. Balancing these two responsibilities is not simply difficult, it is a constant struggle. While working to address urgent humanitarian needs, we also recognize that systemic issues require long-term advocacy. Our holistic approach is designed to respond both to immediate crises and to long-term social change. However, we face significant challenges. Recent budget cuts to programmes aimed at preventing gender-based violence, as well as the removal of such important terms as gender and gender equality from policy discussions, pose a direct threat to our advocacy efforts. If we cannot name these problems, we risk silencing them altogether and ignoring the real hardships faced by our community,” Anzhelika stated.

During the full-scale war, women’s leadership in Ukraine has reached a new level. At the same time, advocacy work is facing new challenges. To ensure that women’s voices continue to be heard, and that gender equality and the protection of rights remain on the agenda, it is essential to support new generations of women leaders who will be able to continue and strengthen this work. That is why Voice of Romni invests its efforts in the education, development, and support of Roma girls and women. Throughout these years, the organization has actively trained and supported Roma women who strive to become agents of change in their communities.

More and more Roma women are joining civic initiatives, representing the interests of their communities, implementing social projects, and taking on leadership roles. It is this daily work that lays the foundation for long-term change and opens up new opportunities for future generations.

During the events in Warsaw, the guide Human Rights Advocacy for Roma and Sinti Women was presented: https://buff.ly/f0rrLox

The publication contains practical tools for effective advocacy, partnership building, and resource mobilization. It is also designed to strengthen the participation of Roma and Sinti women in decision-making processes and in defending their rights. The guide was developed based on the needs voiced by Roma women human rights defenders and representatives of women’s organizations during a needs assessment conducted in 2024.

Participants in the discussion also emphasized the need for the active involvement of Roma women in decision-making processes at all levels, systematic financial support for women’s leadership, efforts to combat discrimination, and the creation of conditions in which the voices of Roma women are not only heard, but also supported.

Meetings like this create space for open dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the search for shared solutions. They also remind us how important it is for Roma women to come together and support one another.

Photo: OSCE/Piotr Dziubak