REYN Italy Archives

On the situation of Romani children in Rome, Italy

Category: ECD and Services | Types of resource: Report | Year: 2016 and older | Region: EU |

Getting out to dream, Italy

This report shows the situation of Romani children in the city of Rome, Italy. The presence of Roma in Italy is estimated by the Council of Europe at around 0,25%. 60% of the Romani population is younger than 18. The dramatic living conditions of Romani children, segregated in formal and informal settlements, are characterized by inadequate housing conditions and lack of all minimum services. Limited access to health care, no access to preschool and low attendance rate in compulsory education are the consequences. Furthermore Roma leaving in Rome are often forcibly evicted from informal settlements. These evictions lead to a loss of belonging, interruption of schooling and other services. For Romani children, both in formal and informal settlements, studying, playing and fully realizing their own potential is just a dream.

Download Resource

Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion – Case study Rome, Italy

The case study clearly demonstrates both the urgent need for intervention and the challenges of working in a politically and economically hostile environment marked by discriminatory practices and segregation of Roma. It also showcases the importance of advocacy efforts and actions aimed at addressing child- and human rights and with awareness raising on the importance of inclusion of young Roma children and their families in the mainstream society.

Under the Capacity building of Roma supporting partners project, carried out by ISSA in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (in 2014-2016), three case studies on Roma Empowerment and Support for Inclusion were developed. This is one of the three case studies developed after the projects in Italy, Belgium and the UK/Northern Ireland. A “Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation” is available here.

Read the case study in Italian here.

Download Resource

Synthesis report of the Case Studies in Ghent, Belfast and Rome – Policy Recommendation

Based on the information provided in the three case studies around the projects funded by Bernard van Leer Foundation and implemented by partner organizations in Belfast, Ghent and Rome, this report shows the key findings in the studies. It summarizes the cross-national issues consolidated around four areas: 1. Parenting support; 2. Children’s access to quality early childhood services; 3. Influencing public awareness on Roma inclusion and early childhood development; 4. Capacity building and empowerment of Roma actors.

The policy recommendations were developed based on three case studies (in Belgium, Italy, Northern Ireland) and on the conclusions of the group discussions at the policy roundtable meeting organized by the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation in Brussels, in September 2016. The policy recommendations regarding Roma empowerment and support for inclusion with a specific focus on young children, concerned: the importance of political will and finances; mediators as key actors for inclusion; strengths based approaches and family support as key entry point for inclusion; and comprehensive approaches as ways for breaking the barriers for inclusion.