Fourth Forum on Minority Issues — 29-30 November 2011 Statement by Mr. Kalman Kali-Horvath, Special Advisor of the State Secretariat for Social Inclusion, Ministry of Public Administration and Justice on the Hungarian National Strategy for Roma Integration Thank you, Madame Chair. On the basis of the recently adopted EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies, Hungary, after broad professional and public consultation prepared the draft National Social Inclusion Strategy which is to be adopted in the coming days. The Strategy spans a ten-year horizon and should result in reducing the number of three million Hungarians living below the poverty line by at least half a million. During its implementation, the full involvement of Roma in all related areas of community life should be ensured and their role must be enhanced in relevant representative bodies. Developing statistical databases and systems which monitor implementation are essential to assess the effects of the Strategy. . In addition to measures in the four priority areas of the EU Framework: education, employment, healthcare and housing, the Hungarian Strategy puts a special emphasis on public security issues. Prior to drafting the Strategy, the Government conducted several surveys which showed the need to focus on Roma women in order for the inclusion policies to be successful. Indeed, through generations, the traditionally patriarchal society of Roma has perpetuated the factors that prevent integration. Through the training of Roma women this harmful process could be stopped. Surveys show that Roma women, unlike the male members of society, clearly see the heed for inclusion and are inclined to actively participate in programmes designed to achieve that goal. They are willing to take part in the labour market and therefore likely to participate in training aimed at increasing their employment chances.