Presentation by Isabelle Beauclercq, International Organization for Migration (IOM), on the occasion of the EESC hearing on Better Roma inclusion through civil society initiatives: focus on health and anti-discrimination (Brussels, 12 May 2014)

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Better Roma inclusion through
civil society initiatives: focus on
health and anti-discrimination
European Economic and Social Committee
Brussels, 12 May 2014

2. MHD, RO Brussels
International Organisation for Migration
 Intergovernmental body with 155 Member States at 450 field locations
 7800 employees working on > 2300 projects
 Committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits
migrants and society
 The following relevant to minorities and migrants areas have been
identified by the Organization as crucial :
• Protection and advocacy of human rights;
• De-stigmatization and inclusion;
• Migrant and ethnic minorities assistance and protection.
 Health is a Human right, health contributes towards the social and
economic development of home communities and host societies
 Migration Health… ? recognition that migrant and minority status are
additional social determinants of health

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IOM Roma Health Activities
 WHO / IOM Sustainable Waste Management Initiative for a
Healthier Tomorrow (SWIFT) project (2009-2012) – Serbia:
• Social mobilization to generate income, promote inclusion, and
improve health access
 Building Healthy Roma Communities Pilot Project (2006-
2009) - Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania:
• Build human capacity to deal effectively with minority group
needs, reduce discrimination and support Roma access to heath
social service
• Provide opportunities for exchange and learning
• Pilot a community assistance model with community mediators
(Equality Support Unit)

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Equi-Health
 Direct Grant Agreement awarded to IOM by the EC/DG Health and
Consumers within the Public Health Program 2012
 Objective: To improve the access and appropriateness of health care
services, health promotion and prevention to meet the needs of
Migrants, the Roma and other vulnerable ethnic minority groups,
including irregular migrants
 Coverage: EU/EEA Member States
 Started February 1st 2013, duration 3 years
• Sub-project I: Promoting appropriate health care provision to
migrants at the southern EU Border
• Sub-project II: Roma Health (nationals’ and migrants’)
• Sub Project III: Migrant Health

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Sub-project II: Roma Health
 Specific objective: To support national
authorities in monitoring, sharing and
strengthening national approaches to
Roma health
 Monitoring Progress and Strengthening
Roma Health Strategies in the EU.
Focus:
• Roma Nationals
• Roma migrants EU citizens
• Roma migrants Third Country Nationals
 Target countries: EU MS with high % of
Roma nationals & EU MS with high % of
Roma migrants (Bulgaria, Belgium,
Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Italy,
Romania, Slovakia, Spain)

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Consultative Process
1. Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) and EWG
meeting on Roma health, May 2013, Sofia
 Bg, Be, Fr, Hu, It, Sk, Ro, Sp
 Status of NRIS in participation EU MS
 Methodology/template for two-steps progress reports
(2014 and 2016)
 Identification of priority areas for further collaboration
between MS
2. EWG “Health mediation and the Roma”, September
2013, Huelva
 Bg, Cr, Ro, Be, Fr, It, Sp
 Development of (Roma) health mediators’ programmes
in different EU MS
 Exchange of experiences on the implementation of
health mediators programs in EU MS

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Regional Pilot Intervention on “Health
Mediation and the Roma”
 Rationale/objectives:
• Outcome of RCC and WGs
• Key planned action in most NRIS
• Mediation practice is often poorly recognized and not clearly
defined in national programs and curricula
• Build a common reference framework for better recognition
• Establishment of continuous network of Roma health mediators in
EU
 Coverage: Be, Bu, Fr, It, Sp, Ro (tbc), Sk (tbc)
 1st workshop: 9-10 June 2014, Sofia:
• Discussions on health mediation models
• Study visit to 2 Roma settlements
• Participants: program coordinator and health mediators
 2nd workshop: in November 2014 in Belgium (or France)

8. MHD, RO Brussels
Progress reports on implementation of national
commitments to Roma Health from multi-stakeholder
perspective
 Baseline report to cover national developments since 2005 to
2013 in the field of Roma health policy interventions:
• Desk research:
 Legal and policy developments (NRIS), health strategies, etc.
 Mapping of promising practices as well as lessons learnt from
unsuccessful/poor practices
• Field work:
 Interviews with stakeholders
 Identification of case studies with objective to support
prioritizing next step intervention/support
 Second report to assess the progress made in comparison to
the baseline situation in 2015
 Coverage: Bg, Be, Cr, Cz, It, Ro, Sk, Sp

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Roma Health Integration Policy Index
(RHIPEX)
 Piloting
 Inspired by the current work undertaken with the
development of the health strand within the MIPEX
 Example for Czech Republic:
Nr Questions Answers
Section B: POLICIES TO FACILITATE ACCESS
7a Targeted information for Roma concerning
entitlements and use of health services
 Targeted information for Roma on health system and use
of services are not systematically provided
Targeted health promotion/education is not provided;
measures to reduce practical obstacles to access do not
exist
7b Groups covered by the above targeted information
8 Information for service providers about
entitlements
Section C: RESPONSIVE HEALTH SERVICES
13a Requirement to provide qualified interpreters for
patients
 Multicultural training is including in nursing graduate
education
Policy supporting training of staff in provision responsive
health services to patients with specific needs is defined -
but Roma are not targeted explicitly
14 Requirement for 'culturally competent' or
'diversity-sensitive' services
15 Training and education of health service staff

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
More information:
http://equi-health.eea.iom.int/
ROBrusselsMHUnit@iom.int