Caravan for information and training on anti-discrimination

Background

In light of its recent EU accession, Romania as a NMS falls under the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam (which, in its Article 13 grants the Community new powers to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation).

Objectives

The project is intended to raise awareness about various forms of discrimination as well as about the legal framework and modalities of combating it. With the support of local administration institutions - town halls, Prefect's Offices – the Anti-Discrimination Caravan will organize a series of meetings/debates in several towns of Romania. The purpose of these meetings is to inform participants about non-discrimination and about the principle of equal opportunities. The Caravan will cover two (of the eight) development regions of Romania (North East, South-East and South-Muntenia).

On the overall, discrimination is addressed from the viewpoint of all criteria dealt with and treated by the legislation in force. Participants are presented the legal framework, familiarized with relevant jurisprudence and encouraged to identify specific problems each vulnerable group is facing and means/ ways to overcome such problems. It is, however, intended to primarily touch upon problems of groups vulnerable to discrimination based on ethnicity (with focus on Rroma population), religion, sex, sexual orientation, age and disabilities.

(Achievements &) Expected Results

Through the direct participation of central and local government aimed at improving the dialogue among key state and non-state stakeholders, the project will help developing national capacity, will enhance national ownership and will promote gender equality (as one of the targeted vulnerable groups is women).

We expect findings and conclusions of the Caravan meetings and debates/ training sessions to put domestic stakeholders in a better position to assume a coordinating role in the formulation and implementation of national, sectoral and local developments goals.