National Roma Centrum Adress: "Done Bozinov" 11/5, 1300 Kumanovo, Macedonia Phone/fax: + 389 31 427 658 web: http://wwvv.nationalromacentrum.org e-mail: info@nationalromacentrum.org I" ational rom centru Statment 29. 11. 2011, Geneva Even though important steps have been taken at the international, UN and EU level on gender equality and Romani women issues such as EU Treaty resolutions, reports and the 5th Common Principle of Roma inclusion, we still lack effective gender awareness. That why we recommend to all relevant institutions and governments      Ensure that Romani women's activists and NGOs are represented in national consultation processes; Quotas for Romani women to be ensure in all international, national and local institutions Ensure policies which will enable Romani women to take part equally in the political processes Ensure that national strategies pay attention to Romani women's specific needs and include concrete benchmarks for Romani women; Ensure that national strategies encourage empowerment and leadership programs for Romani women and girls. We the ROmani womenare calling for immediate concrete policies and actions, .which will affirm equal participation of Romani women in all political processes, in order to give opportunities for enjoying their basic human rights guaranteed by the numerous documents and mechanisms in all levels. t on* wen r