6 – 7 October, 2015
Skopje, Macedonia

The President of the Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., Mr. Štefan Simončič, is one of the participants of the Fifth International Conference of Roma Women, organised by the Council of Europe and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The conference will take place from 6 to 7 October 2015 in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

Since 2003, the Roma Women’s conferences have provided the opportunity for Roma women to address on the international stage the issues affecting them and their families’ lives. They have also provided a space where Roma women have kept each other informed of issues concerning them and exchanged experiences. The 5th International conference will take stock of the developments since the first international conference of Roma women and will aim to build on the latest results of the 4th international conference, including the work of Phenjalipe and the impact of the Strategy for the Advancement of Romani women and girls, 2014-2020.

The main topics to be discussed during the Conference, identified by the Roma women themselves, are:

  • The mainstreaming of gender in the national Roma integration strategies and local action plans and their implementation;
  • Phenjalipe and Romani women’s empowerment, including political participation;
  • Forms of violence against Romani women, with a focus on trafficking and child marriage.

The Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., will present project of social entrepreneurship Romani kafenava and initiative to establish title on EU level European Capital of Roma.