Introduction | Dana Brablecova
Chair | Martina Feilzer
Panel Members | Petr Torak MBE, Dr Daniel Balaz, Dr Marius Taba, Dr Laura Cashman
A 2019 report commissioned by the UN found that Roma living in the UK have long endured a “state of invisibility, marginalisation and exclusion” which pervades almost every area of their lives. Moreover, concerns about their legal status after Brexit have posed additional challenges to the work of civil society organisations both in the UK and Europe.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected everyone equally and has unmasked the prevalent socio-economic inequalities that affect racialised populations of the world, including the European Roma community.
Civil society organisations have worked for decades to support the integration, de-stigmatisation, and advancement of Roma people’s rights. Understanding the impacts of Brexit and COVID-19 on segregated populations is one of the most critical tasks researchers and policymakers currently face.
Civil society organisations have worked for decades to support the integration, de-stigmatisation, and advancement of Roma people’s rights. Understanding the impacts of Brexit and COVID-19 on segregated populations is one of the most critical tasks researchers and policymakers currently face.
In conversation with researchers and civil society organisation’s leaders, this panel discusses the challenges and opportunities civil society organisations face in terms of segregation and social integration of Roma in light of the effects of Brexit and COVID-19. Furthermore, the panel will address possible ways civil society organisations can use to mobilise and voice the various concerns raised in the current political context to draw policymakers’ attention to the social inequalities of minority and excluded groups.