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Roma children
Romani children are widely affected by poverty in all European countries. Poverty rates among Roma are four times higher than for non-Romani households in the same (geographical) community. The effects of poverty inside the Roma community particularly affect children. Around 40% of Roma live in households where somebody went to bed hungry at least once in the last month because they could not afford to buy food. According to UNDP survey data, between 70% and 90% of the Roma they interviewed live in conditions of severe deprivation. The proportion of non-Roma in such conditions is significantly lower.
Basic facts on Roma children
With about 12 million people, Roma constitute the largest ethnic minority group in the EU.
Roma have been a part of European civilisation for hundreds of years, as they migrated from the Indian subcontinent Although Roma are often described as leading a nomadic way of life, 95% of European Roma are settled in one place.
Roma have the same rights as any other European citizen, yet poverty and social exclusion is widespread among the Roma population in the EU, as they are frequently discriminated in the fields of education, employment, housing and healthcare.
Roma do not have an independent national homeland state to provide authority over a certain geographic area. This means that the Roma do not have a unified political body to look after and advocate for their best interests.
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RecommendedThe situation of Roma in 11 EU Member States. Survey results at a glance
Roma – Europe’s largest minority of 10-12 million people – are victims of racism, discrimination and social exclusion. Of those surveyed in this report, one in three is unemployed, 20 % are not covered by health insurance, and 90 % are living below nation
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RecommendedVisible, Informed, Strong- Vidljivi, informirani, jaki
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RecommendedNational Study on Children in Street Situation in Albania: From begging in the street toward protection and care
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RecommendedThe Right of Roma Children to Education – Position Paper. UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEECIS). UNICEF 2011
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Mellan Hopp och Förtvivlan: En lägesrapport om minderåriga EU-medborgare i utsatthet
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Every Last Child Country Spotlight: Northwest Balkans
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A Research looking into Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Child Rights
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Child Rights Situation Analysis 2012-2015
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BARN: Romer. Nr. 3, 2015
This issue of Save the Children Sweden’s quarterly member magazine, “Barn”, focuses on Roma and Roma children in Europe. It examines the standard of living that Roma enjoy in Europe; analysis is made on child rights questions such as: access to education,