ACE – Active Citizenship in Europe Roma participation against discrimination. Building trust between Roma communities and civil society
The European ACE project aims to contribute to the effective implementation of the principles of non-discrimination and the fight against anti-Gypsyism—or, more accurately, Romaphobia—by addressing political participation, promoting active citizenship, and building trust between Roma communities and municipalities in selected areas of Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. Following the “for Roma with Roma” approach, ACE aims to strengthen the involvement of Roma communities in civil society activism and civic organizations, which is currently limited, particularly at the grassroots level, due to top-down political interventions that have hindered the inclusion process in Italy and Spain. Furthermore, the lack of adequate social capital has fueled a sense of mistrust and detachment, making it difficult to promote active citizenship. In Slovenia, where active Roma participation is mandated by law, the project will work toward greater generational and gender turnover in positions of political power.
Through surveys and focus groups, the project will attempt to lead the Roma out of a state of mistrust by embracing their past as a European history, a concept also affirmed in European Parliament resolution A3-0124/94, which invites member states to recognize “the language and other aspects of Roma and Sinti culture as an integral part of the European cultural heritage.”
Project activities will take place in Laterza, Ginosa, Lanciano, San Vito Chietino (IT), Dobrovnik (SI), El Prat de Llobregat, and Sant Boi (SP). Participants will include members of the Roma communities involved in the project, especially young people, as well as operators, officials, and managers from the relevant municipalities and members of civil society who can influence the debate and public opinion. This takes into account that the European Commission has rewritten its frameworks toward a three-point approach: “Equality, inclusion and participation.” With the necessary adaptations, this new working model will be implemented in all project countries: Italy, Slovenia, and Spain https://welfare.irpps.cnr.it/b/luc-sdn-ugt-6va
Expected Results
- Promote trust and empower local Roma communities by providing representatives they can trust. We will work to create sustainable solutions to promote inclusion, combat discriminatory behavior, and increase participation in social life.
- Motivate Roma communities to feel like an effective part of the Municipality and encourage them toward greater participation to bring forward community requests and mediate them with the administration. Furthermore, increase knowledge and awareness of prejudices and stereotypes, particularly among policymakers, media professionals, and institutions.
- Raise the level of trust between the local Roma population and administrators, impacting community development at the local level by involving all stakeholders in the difficult but fruitful process of political inclusion for Roma men and women as an important step toward holistic inclusion and participation in society at large.
EU Program, Funding & Duration
- Program: CERV - Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values
- Axis 3: Implementation of non-discrimination principles and the fight against directed political participation, promotion of active citizenship
- Type of activity: Action to promote Roma activism and participation
- Co-financing: European Commission, DG Justice & Consumers (€379,057.00)
- Duration: 24 months (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024)
Consortium
In line with the aforementioned new European approach “with Roma for Roma,” the ACE Consortium includes CNR-IRPPS as coordinator, the communication and research company Ares 2.0, and three renowned European Roma Associations:
- Ares s.r.l. (IT)
- Them Romanò (IT)
- Zveva Romov Slovenije (SI)
- Asociation Multicultural Nakeramos (SP)
Associated partners
- UCRI Union of Romanes Communities in Italy (IT)
- Municipality of Laterza (IT)
- Municipality of Ginosa (IT)
- Municipality of Lanciano (IT)
- Municipality of San Vito Chietino (IT)
- Municipality of Dobrovnik (SI)
- Municipality of Sant Boi de Llobregat (SP)
- Municipality of El Prat de Llobregat (SP)