EUROPEAN PLATFORM FOR ROMA INCLUSION

8th Meeting of the European Platform for Roma Inclusion

27th June 2013

Brussels

Zoltán KovácsMinister of State for Social Inclusion

HUNGARY

Axioms

‘‘The substance of the new conception is multi-dimensionality: that is to

say that education-, social-, employment- and health-related problems

are to be improved simultaneously. Only such a complex and

multidisciplinary approach can bring positive and qualitative results in

disadvantaged areas.’

National Social Inclusion Strategy 2011-2020

‘The Roma community is an opportunity – a hidden resource for the

country’s economy.’

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (7 May 2013, Roma Affairs Council)

The Hungarian paradigm shift• Anti-discrimination – pragmatism• Long-term problems – long-term solutions• Positive action

‘With a view to ensuring full equality in practice, the principle of equal treatment shall not prevent any Member State from maintaining or adopting specific measures to prevent or compensate for disadvantages linked to racial or ethnic origin.’ (Council Directive 2000/43/EC, Article 5)

• Think beyond• Focus on children

Preliminaries

• 2003 - Budapest Conference - Hungary is a founding member of the Roma Decade Programme

• 2011 - Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU• 7 April 2011 – 5th Meeting of the European Platform for Roma

Inclusion in Budapest• HU initiated the European Framework for National Roma

Integration Strategies• HU was the first EU Member State to adopt the National Social

(Roma) Inclusion Strategy (NSIS)

Basic principles• Integration through active participation

involvement, not coercion • the Hungarian meaning of ‘INCLUSION’ (felzárkózás vs. felzárkóztatás)

• Result-orientation

• Comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach

• Innovation and sustainability

• Sure start, safe future: life-long assistance, from conception to a

secure living

• Programmes based on personal responsibility and participation

• Principle of communal participation and support

• Well-founded planning, regular monitoring of efficiency

Best practices• Early childhood education

• Sure Start Children’s Centres (41 centres, 5 257 children) • State + EU-funded projects

• Education• Integrative Pedagogical System since 2003 (1 600 institutions, 300 000 pupils and 13 000 teachers) – €23.3 million• ‘For the Road’ three-level scholarship package (9 646 new

entrants, 5 439 participants of Roma origin, 5 558 mentors in 2012/ 2013) – €6.85

million• Roma College System (5 colleges, more than 100 students) – €822 000• A groundbreaking initiative – Gandhi High School

altogether 17 000 children, mostly Roma

Best practices• Employment and training

• Public employment scheme (providing employment to 100 000

people, out of whom 54 800 people are of Roma origin in 2012 –

more than €450 million)

• Social land programme Social/community employment

(providing employment to 1 400 people – more than €580 000)• + educational programmes

• Housing• Complex settlement programme (22 settlements so far – €19.5

million)

Social development – local practices• Rozsály

• located in one of Hungary’s most disadvantaged areas• social cohesion and peaceful co-existence between Roma and

non-Roma inhabitants. • an exemplary, self-sustaining Hungarian village, with no

unemployment• social land programme• public employment programme

• Bódvalenke• ‘fresco village’, unique in world terms and a tourist sensation

Unemployment rate in the 15-61 age range

Proportion of tax payers inthe 15-61 age range

Monitoring system• A separate monitoring system has recently been

established to follow the implementation of programmes in a unified framework

• Monitoring is assisted by the social inclusion indicator system developed by an independent research institution and with data uploaded by the Central Statistical Office by the end of the first half of 2013

• The Interministerial Committee for Social Inclusion and Roma Affairs has also set up a separate Monitoring Working Group with the cooperation of the public administration departments concerned

Partners• Forums for discussion

• Roma Affairs Council (CET)• Roma Coordination Council (ROK-T)• Evaluation Committee of National Strategy ‘Making Things Better for

Our Children!’ (ÉB)• Committee for Social Inclusion and Roma Affairs (TFCTB)• National Human Rights Working Group• Anti-segregation Roundtable

• Role of churches• Stakeholders with a long tradition of promoting solidarity and

experience as promoters of inclusion, who have been engaging in charity activities and have also been actively participating in the work of relevant bodies and committees

• Christian Network of Special Colleges for the Roma

Future – Think beyond 2020

• The Roma Decade and EU-related Roma affairs are

being brought into harmony, because ‘solving issues

affecting the Roma is a long-term task that needs

effective assets operating in the long-run’

• Integrated and continuous assessment and renewal

National Social Inclusion Strategy 2.0• Updated version• to be launched in December 2013• various approaches and solutions according to the needs

of each village and region – and nationwide – in order to promote social inclusion

• practices and methods also recommended at EU level, shareable know-how

To be continued…

Zoltán Kovács, PhDMinister of State for Social Inclusion

Ministry of Human ResourcesHUNGARY