Call for proposals (2022 – 2024)
Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary

Representatives of the Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., presented proposals to promote equality and fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination in the framework of the PRESS project.

The coordinator – Minority Rights Group Europe from Hungary and its partners, the Advisory Council for Obcian and Human Rights from Košice, Slovakia, and the Association EPEKA, Soc. Ent., within the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (REC), have the overall objective of promoting and protecting the rights of Roma who are victims of discrimination by raising awareness among society and stakeholders, improving the implementation of non-discrimination legislation, and empowering Roma to use legal remedies, in Slovakia and Slovenia. The REC programme has been established in the framework of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (REC).

The project activities include:

  • Research and baseline study on Roma discrimination and access to justice
  • Training on discrimination for legal professionals, civil society organisations/Roma activists.
  • Field work by Roma mediators to identify cases of discrimination
  • Legal assistance to Roma victims of discrimination
  • Reporting discrimination cases to the Equality Authority
  • Round table for equality bodies to exchange experiences
  • Advocacy against discrimination
  • Report on lessons learned and exchange of experience

The beneficiaries over a period of 24 months are:

  • 30 legal professionals and 30 civil society organisations/ Roma activists benefited from the training
  • 120 Roma benefited from legal advice
  • 12 cases of Roma clients brought to the attention of national equality bodies
  • 3 equality bodies benefited from exchange of experience
  • 10 decision-makers receive information on discrimination
  • Roma communities are more aware of discrimination and legal remedies

Planned results:

  • Knowledge of legal remedies against discrimination and access to justice improved.
  • Increased capacity and willingness of legal professionals to provide legal assistance to Roma and to challenge cases of discrimination.
  • NGO capacity strengthened to provide information to the Roma community on anti-discrimination legislation and remedies
  • Increased access to justice for the Roma community.

The project results are:

  • 1 baseline report and 2 conferences
  • 4 trainings and 4 training materials
  • 84 fieldwork reports
  • 120 legal advice cases
  • 12 discrimination cases before the Equality Authority
  • 1 round table
  • 10 advocacy meetings
  • 2 shadow reports�
  • Lessons learned report and 2 conferences

The programme is funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV).