Prague: The Dženo Association, a leading Roma rights group, has released two research papers decrying the lack of progress made since the “Decade of Roma Inclusion Programme” (DRI) was signed in 1995.

The Programme, signed by nine central and southeastern European nations, aims to improve the economic status and social inclusion of the Roma people in the region. It focuses on education, employment, health and housing and urges governments to further take into account issues such as discrimination, poverty and gender inequality.

The Dženo papers explore a lack of commitment shown by several nations who signed onto the program, and the way the media still portrays Roma issues with an “us” vs. “them” mentality. Dženo is a partner of The Advocacy Project (AP), and AP Peace Fellow Colby Pacheco is volunteering with the organization in Prague this summer.

Read Dženo’s press releases on lack of DRI progress and media bias.

To request copies of the research papers, contact Colby Pacheco or Dženo Chairman Ivan Vesely.