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A Voice For the Voiceless

The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.

The Impact of Service "Speaking with locals and living in a country is the best way to learn about the real lives of citizens, not just the stories in the mainstream media. I will be more critical of what I read as a result of this experience. I also feel even more grateful for my education, and I feel a stronger responsibility to assist others who do not have resources or access to opportunities in their communities." Maria Skouras (New York University) volunteered in 2011 as a Peace Fellow for eHomemakers in Malaysia. For more 2011 feedback click here.

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International Roma Women's Network

The International Roma Women's Network was launched on World Roma Day (April 8) 2003, bringing Roma women from 18 European countries together to lobby governments for the rights of Roma women and increase the visibility of Roma culture. IRWN is the first group to bring together Roma women’s groups from Eastern and Western Europe.  The organization includes Roma, Sinti, Gypsies and Travellers.

AP was instrumental in the formation of IRWN. In 2002, AP board members met with IRWN founders to develop an advocacy strategy and to brainstorm the networking role they would have at a regional and international level. In 2003, AP held a series of training sessions with the IRWN's committee, aimed at helping its members communicate as a “virtual” network and designate clear job responsibilities. While the network formed, AP hosted IRWN’s documents and charter on the AP website. We continue to support IRWN members by publicizing their campaigns.

• Topics: Roma Rights, Women’s Rights
• Area: Eastern and Western Europe
• Founded: 2003

• Mrs Post, the President of IRWN addressed the opening session of a two-day conference on Roma women’s health at the Council of Europe, which was called to review a report drawn from research in 15 countries.

• The network has issued an open letter protesting against recent reports that Roma women have been forcibly sterilised in Slovakia. The letter also claims that Slovak policemen have "intimidated" Roma women in the investigation.

• IRWN has lobbied the governments of Germany and the UK, the UN and the European Commission on behalf of Roma women.

• IRWN has lobbied its members to take up the case of evictions of the Roma community of Dorozhny in Russia. (Russian Roma Face Eviction in the Arctic as Eviction “Epidemic” Spreads in Europe)

• IRWN has asked its network of European members to lobby against a British government housing policy that it fears will result in the segregation of Gypsies and Travelers. (IRWN Uses World Roma Day to Petition British Government Over 'Discriminatory' New Housing Policy)

• IRWN and the Serbian Roma Women Network have distributed two letters against the Miss Roma International beauty competition.

• Advocacy Project News Bulletins: AP has published bulletins about IRWN through the news service, AdvocacyNet.

July 25, 2007
IRWN Protest Against Miss Roma International Competition
Romea.cz

June 2005
EUMC Roundtable: International Roma Women Network
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia

July 22, 2004
Divided We Fall
The Guardian



Outreach Partners

• UK Association of Gypsy Women (UKAGW)
• Dale Farm Housing Association

For more information about networking with IRWN, email them.

• Government Action: Collective action by the International Roma Women’s Network has helped to prompt an investigation by the British authorities into the eviction of 20 Gypsy/Roma families from their own land, and ensure that the incident is treated as a possible case of racial discrimination. (IRWN Protest Prompts Police Inquiry Into Roma Evictions in UK)

Contact:
Email IRWN

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