International Charitable Organization “Roma women fund “Chirikli” Olena Vaidalovych elenavaidalovych@gmail.com Thank you madam Chair, distinguished colleagues! As we say in Romanes, Teyaven Bakhtala, I wish all wellness. Let me first begin, by introducing myself. My name is Olena Vaidalovych. In the Romani language my last name, “Vaida” means leader, so I am here today carrying on my shoulders, the leadership of my people. As a twenty-three years old young Roma woman from Ukraine, I want to raise the plight of Roma people whose issues and daily struggles remain unheard. On June 23rd of this year, a young Roma man, my age was killed. This was after many acts of violence were carried on Roma settlements. Why do I speak about these attacks? First, because discrimination is both a cause and a consequence of stateless Roma in Ukraine who face direct and multiple discrimination not only in the documentation procedure but also in accessing fundamental rights and freedoms such as education. Roma women, are particularly vulnerable to this, as they face triple discrimination: As woman. As Roma woman

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