World Roma Federation
WRF
The Brussels-based World Roma Federation (WRF) focuses on positively influencing Roma communities globally, by amplifying their voices and tackling daily concerns.
ID: 939911851728-26
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Anti-Poverty Strategy
17 Oct 2025
The World Roma Federation (WRF) welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and fully supports its objective to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Roma communities across the EU remain among the most disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, housing insecurity, discrimination, and barriers to education and healthcare. Despite progress through national and EU frameworks, Roma poverty continues to reflect structural and intergenerational disadvantage. WRF is a Roma-led civil society organisation registered as an AISBL in Brussels and listed in the EU Transparency Register. Through advocacy, institutional engagement, and community programs, WRF promotes Roma inclusion, equality, and participation within EU and UN systems. From this perspective, the Anti-Poverty Strategy presents an opportunity to link poverty reduction directly with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Roma Strategic Framework, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategy should explicitly recognise Roma as a priority target group, ensuring that actions and resources reflect their disproportionate risk of poverty and social exclusion. Roma poverty is multidimensional and intersects with gender, disability, and geographic disadvantage. The Strategy must therefore integrate Roma inclusion objectives across employment, housing, education, health, and digital participation. Effective implementation requires data-driven and accountable governance. WRF calls for measurable, disaggregated indicators on poverty reduction among Roma communities, consistent with EU data-protection standards, to ensure that national reporting reflects reality on the ground. Enhanced monitoring under the European Semester and Social Scoreboard should include Roma-specific benchmarks and policy follow-up mechanisms. Roma participation must also move beyond consultation to co-creation. Roma-led organisations and networks should be formally involved in the design, delivery, and evaluation of anti-poverty measures. The Roma Stakeholder Group initiative, established under the UN Major Groups and Other Stakeholders framework, provides a useful model for structured and inclusive participation. WRF further encourages the Strategy to promote integrated, cross-sectoral approaches that combine social protection with empowermentfostering access to decent work, quality education, secure housing, and community development. Anti-poverty action should be framed not only as social policy but as investment in human capital and competitiveness, aligning with SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 16, and 17. Finally, the Strategy should communicate a clear message that reducing poverty among Europes most excluded populations is integral to the Unions social and economic cohesion. Investment in Roma inclusion is an investment in Europes resilience, unity, and democratic credibility. The World Roma Federation stands ready to contribute to the consultation and to cooperate with the European Commission and Member States in ensuring that the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy becomes a transformative instrumentone that not only reduces poverty rates but removes the structural barriers that have kept Roma families at the margins for generations.
Read full responseResponse to EU Civil Society Strategy
22 Aug 2025
The World Roma Federation welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the EU Civil Society Strategy. As an organization with ECOSOC consultative status, we affirm the vital role of civil society in protecting democratic values, human rights, and equality. Roma civil society organizations are key actors in this space and must be recognized as such. The Strategy rightly acknowledges that civil society is under pressure across the EU. For Roma-led organizations, these pressures include not only legal and financial insecurity but also procedural invisibility. Too often, Roma organizations are engaged symbolically while decision-making power remains elsewhere. The EU must ensure that consultation structures do not reproduce exclusion through category fragmentation, euphemistic framing, or the redirection of Roma issues to general social themes that obscure ethnic identity. As the UN has affirmed in multiple mandates, the protection of civil society space includes ensuring equal access to participation, fair representation, and the right to self-organize. The Roma, as a transnational and stateless people, face specific structural barriers that must be addressed in any serious civil society framework. This includes recognition of the legitimacy of Roma-founded institutions, and the creation of funding mechanisms that support long-term organizational development rather than short-cycle compliance models. We encourage the European Commission to align this Strategy with principles articulated by UN Special Procedures, including the mandates on minority issues, human rights defenders, and civil society space. Roma-led organizations must be given the same level of procedural respect as any other human rights actor. Finally, we ask that the EU Civil Society Strategy include a structured Roma Civil Society Platform to facilitate engagement, monitor participation gaps, and coordinate with existing UN frameworks. This would provide an accountable mechanism for tracking inclusion, identifying soft barriers, and supporting those who work to defend rights under increasing pressure. We thank the Commission for this consultation and affirm our readiness to engage constructively in the next phases of this process. World Roma Federation
Read full responseResponse to 2014-2020 Ex post evaluation of FEAD
16 Feb 2024
The World Roma Federation (WRF) appreciates the opportunity to provide feedback on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) initiative. As an advocate for the rights and welfare of the Roma community, we recognize the importance of FEAD in addressing poverty and promoting social inclusion across the European Union. Our research and surveys conducted by the World Roma Federation, along with data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), reveal a concerning trend of Roma exclusion from assistance programs. According to the FRA, approximately 80% of Roma in surveyed countries are at risk of poverty, with no significant progress observed between 2016 and 2021. This persistent poverty among the Roma population underscores the need for a more targeted and effective approach within the FEAD framework. The FRA's findings also highlight that on average, 83% of Roma children younger than 18 lived in households at risk of poverty in 2021. This situation is even more alarming considering the gap in relation to the general population is larger for Roma children than for Roma overall in most countries. Additionally, 48% of Roma surveyed lived in households facing severe material deprivation in 2021, a rate much higher than that of the general population. Our findings indicate that Roma families often lack awareness of available FEAD resources due to insufficient outreach and communication efforts tailored to their communities. Furthermore, the application processes for aid are frequently complex and inaccessible for many Roma, who may face language barriers, literacy challenges, or simply lack the necessary documentation. This exclusion is compounded by the stigma and discrimination Roma face, both within institutions and society at large, which can deter them from seeking assistance. Being frank, the exclusion of Roma from FEAD assistance not only undermines the fund's objectives but also perpetuates the cycle of poverty and marginalization that the Roma face. It is crucial for the European Commission and Member States to acknowledge these challenges and commit to making FEAD more inclusive and accessible to all, especially the Roma, who are among the most deprived in the EU. By addressing these issues head-on, we have the opportunity to make meaningful progress towards the social inclusion of the Roma and truly fulfill the mission of FEAD. The World Roma Federation stands ready to collaborate with FEAD administrators and other stakeholders to ensure that no one is left behind. To address this issue, we recommend the following: Enhanced Targeting: FEAD programs should prioritize the specific needs of the Roma community, ensuring that resources are directed towards those who are most vulnerable. This may involve developing targeted interventions that address the root causes of Roma poverty, such as discrimination, lack of access to education, and inadequate housing. Community Engagement: Actively involve Roma communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of FEAD programs. Their insights and experiences are invaluable in creating culturally sensitive and effective solutions that resonate with the community's needs. Increased Funding: Allocate additional resources to FEAD initiatives that focus on Roma inclusion. This investment is crucial for addressing the deep-seated and complex issues contributing to Roma poverty. Strengthened Monitoring: Implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the effectiveness of FEAD interventions in reducing Roma poverty. This data should inform future policy decisions and program adjustments to enhance outcomes for the Roma community. Cross-Sector Collaboration: Foster collaboration between FEAD, governmental agencies, Roma organizations, and other stakeholders to create a cohesive and comprehensive approach to Roma inclusion. This synergy is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by the Roma community.
Read full responseResponse to Assessing the implementation of the Member States' national Roma strategic frameworks
9 Jan 2024
In response to the EU Commission's call for evidence on the implementation of the National Roma Strategic Frameworks, it's important to critically assess the progress and challenges in aligning these frameworks with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the EU's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development signifies a global effort to eradicate poverty and ensure prosperity, the integration of the Roma community, comprising over 12 million people in Europe, remains a significant challenge. Despite the establishment of National Roma Strategic Frameworks in many EU Member States, there are substantial gaps in their effective implementation. These frameworks, designed to address the historic marginalization and social exclusion of the Roma, often suffer from inadequate resource allocation, outdated online platforms, and a lack of comprehensive national strategies and Roma National Contact Points in some countries. Such deficiencies hinder the realization of SDGs, particularly in areas crucial for Roma communities, such as economic growth, social inclusion, education, and healthcare. The limited progress in improving the socio-economic status of Roma communities, coupled with ongoing issues like social exclusion, poor education access, and inadequate healthcare, underscore the need for a more robust and binding approach from the European Commission. To effectively address these challenges, there's a necessity for enhanced dialogue, reinforced monitoring mechanisms, increased funding allocation, focused capacity-building, and inter-agency collaboration. These steps are vital to ensure that Roma communities are not left behind in achieving the SDGs and that they receive equal opportunities and resources for sustainable development. In conclusion, addressing the systemic barriers facing Roma communities requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders. By prioritizing inclusive strategies, stronger policy enforcement, and adequate funding, significant strides can be made towards a more equitable society where the rights and needs of the Roma are adequately addressed and respected.
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