Focus ROMI.HR

The Roma community in Turkey faces discrimination in various areas, including employment, education, health, and social life. After Turkey's EU candidacy process started in 1999, the Government took serious steps towards Roma social inclusion. The formation of Roma associations began in the early 2000s, following the revision of the restrictive Associations Law in 2004 and the influx of EU funds.

The European Union's efforts in the 1990s to improve Roma living conditions led to the creation of associations and organizations, encouraging countries like Turkey to focus on the issue. The "Roma Opening" initiative, announced in 2009, focuses on research initiatives by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies to defend Roma minority rights and improve living conditions.

A unified approach is needed to address Roma citizens' issues, requiring public institutions to collaborate with state and civil society institutions to implement programs and practices.

In this context, the "Strategic Document and Action Plan for Roma Citizens 2016-2021" was put into effect in 2016 to systematize research and projects for Roma citizens. During these years, Phase I and Phase II Action Plans were implemented. These documents primarily covered activities in the areas of education, employment, housing, health, social services and social assistance, monitoring, and evaluation.

On January 23, 2023, the "Strategic Document for Roma Citizens (2023-2030) and Phase I Action Plan (2023-2025)" was published in the Official Gazette and came into effect.

In addition, supportive projects have been implemented, one of which is the project "Supporting Social Inclusion in Areas with a High Roma Population," which began in 2015 and focuses on combating social exclusion. The SIROMA Project aims to increase social inclusion by facilitating the entry of Roma citizens living in Turkey into the labor market. At the same time, it works on enhancing the potential of institutions in the field of social protection, supporting the operation of mechanisms, and ensuring coordination to facilitate the integration of Roma and other disadvantaged individuals into society. The target audience includes Roma, people living in Roma-concentrated slum areas, and immigrants. Trainings in the fields of health and education have been organized, and efforts have been made to provide employment for Roma citizens who, due to social exclusion, cannot work in regular jobs with medical insurance.

Additionally, since 2020, our Ministry has been implementing the "Project for Establishing an Effective Monitoring, Evaluation, and Coordination Mechanism for the Roma Strategic Document (ROMSID)" with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of services provided to Roma citizens by all government agencies and organizations. Within the scope of this project, activities are carried out to enhance the skills of the stakeholders responsible for the strategy document and action plan in the field of monitoring and evaluation.

Under Erdoğan and the AKP government, Roma issues have worsened, with election promises unfulfilled. A key example is the destruction of Sulukule, a historic Roma neighborhood, displacing many families. Despite talks of "Roma initiatives," these promises are mere tactics to secure votes, as the Roma community continues to face ongoing oppression and exclusion, deepening their struggle for basic rights.

In Turkey, social inclusion projects aim to integrate the Roma community into society. Addressing the issues Roma face requires collaborative efforts between government agencies and civil society, which will help ensure their full integration and the protection of their rights

The Roma community in Turkey faces discrimination in various areas, including employment, education, health, and social life. After Turkey's EU candidacy process started in 1999, the Government took serious steps towards Roma social inclusion. The formation of Roma associations began in the early 2000s, following the revision of the restrictive Associations Law in 2004 and the influx of EU funds.

The European Union's efforts in the 1990s to improve Roma living conditions led to the creation of associations and organizations, encouraging countries like Turkey to focus on the issue. The "Roma Opening" initiative, announced in 2009, focuses on research initiatives by the Ministry of Family and Social Policies to defend Roma minority rights and improve living conditions.

A unified approach is needed to address Roma citizens' issues, requiring public institutions to collaborate with state and civil society institutions to implement programs and practices.

In this context, the "Strategic Document and Action Plan for Roma Citizens 2016-2021" was put into effect in 2016 to systematize research and projects for Roma citizens. During these years, Phase I and Phase II Action Plans were implemented. These documents primarily covered activities in the areas of education, employment, housing, health, social services and social assistance, monitoring, and evaluation.

On January 23, 2023, the "Strategic Document for Roma Citizens (2023-2030) and Phase I Action Plan (2023-2025)" was published in the Official Gazette and came into effect.

In addition, supportive projects have been implemented, one of which is the project "Supporting Social Inclusion in Areas with a High Roma Population," which began in 2015 and focuses on combating social exclusion. The SIROMA Project aims to increase social inclusion by facilitating the entry of Roma citizens living in Turkey into the labor market. At the same time, it works on enhancing the potential of institutions in the field of social protection, supporting the operation of mechanisms, and ensuring coordination to facilitate the integration of Roma and other disadvantaged individuals into society. The target audience includes Roma, people living in Roma-concentrated slum areas, and immigrants. Trainings in the fields of health and education have been organized, and efforts have been made to provide employment for Roma citizens who, due to social exclusion, cannot work in regular jobs with medical insurance.

Additionally, since 2020, our Ministry has been implementing the "Project for Establishing an Effective Monitoring, Evaluation, and Coordination Mechanism for the Roma Strategic Document (ROMSID)" with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of services provided to Roma citizens by all government agencies and organizations. Within the scope of this project, activities are carried out to enhance the skills of the stakeholders responsible for the strategy document and action plan in the field of monitoring and evaluation.

Under Erdoğan and the AKP government, Roma issues have worsened, with election promises unfulfilled. A key example is the destruction of Sulukule, a historic Roma neighborhood, displacing many families. Despite talks of "Roma initiatives," these promises are mere tactics to secure votes, as the Roma community continues to face ongoing oppression and exclusion, deepening their struggle for basic rights.

In Turkey, social inclusion projects aim to integrate the Roma community into society. Addressing the issues Roma face requires collaborative efforts between government agencies and civil society, which will help ensure their full integration and the protection of their rights