INSOC ИнСоК Иницијатива за социјална промена Нашата визија е НАДГРАДУВАЊЕ на секој поединец и општеството во целина. Ние сме АКТИВНИ за социјална промена и правичен национален развој Miladin Popovik 4/1a, 1000 Skopje +389(0)2-5511820 UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES FOURTH SESSION 29-30 NOVEMBER 2011, GENEVA InSoC Initiative for Social Change Our vision is ASCEND of every individual and the society as a whole. We are ASCEND – Active for Social Change and Equitable National Development. +389(0)2-5511821 insoc@insoc.org.mk www.insoc.org.mk STATEMENT MADE BY ALEKSANDRA BOJADJIEVA INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE – INSOC Thank you Madam Chair, My intervention will focus on the meaning of “specific measures for employment of Romani women” from some practical experiences. The fact that the Romani women are suffering grave unemployment and exclusion from labour market is well known. Just to illustrate, in Romania the unemployment rate of Romani women is four times the unemployment rate of women in the general population; in Macedonia the unemployment rate of Romani women on age of 1524 is 93 percent. It is self evident that something has to be done, both to apply human rights and provide for overall economic growth. There are initiatives and policies throughout Europe, as we just heard from Finland and Croatia, and measures have been implemented to tackle unemployment of Roma. These have rarely yielded results in terms of employment of Romani women. To have results in this sense, specific circumstances have to be considered within the employment measures for Romani women. This necessity has been included in the Draft Recommendations from this Forum in general terms. I would like to focus on those specifics relevant for employment of Romani women from some communities throughout Europe. The first specific is the traditional role of the Romani women in the family and the community. Several elements are important in this regard: 1. Romani women are often not allowed to act on their own [my organization had itself such experience with the newest employee who came for the interview with her husband and father in law who were present throughout the interview]. So, any measure for employment of Romani women has to follow wide discussion with the whole Roma community, including both men and women, and should gain the trust and acceptance all. 2. Romani women sometimes have specific obligations at home, meant for specific time of the day or the year, incompatible with the standard working periods [as example, Muslim Romani women are sometimes not able to participate in any activities during the Ramadan month]. If this is the case, employment measures for Romani women should consider flexibility in the time when beneficiaries are expected to participate in the measures and the actual economic activity emerging from them. 3. Related to this, Romani women are often already engaged in various, including economic activities, on daily basis, and they are expected to give them up in order to participate in employment measures. It is difficult to motivate them to do so, even when the new activities are more profitable. Thus, employment measures for Romani women might consider gradual engagement of Romani women, or added value that would motivate them to participate. 4. Care for the children is something very sensitive in many communities, particularly minority communities, including Roma. Employment measures for Romani women must consider the issue of taking care of the children of those women involved in the measures, and offer such care that is trustworthy and acceptable for the Roma community. This could be seen rather positively, as additional employment for Romani women to take care of children can be provided, and early child development can be achieved if this is combined with measures proposed yesterday under the topic of education. Special measures for employment of Romani women pg. 1 of 2