Roma integration in the Netherlands, developments in 2013

Peter Jorna, Consultancy Social inclusion – Roma & Sinti Issues (26 June 2014)

INTEGRATION OF ROMA, SINTI AND TRAVELLERS COMMUNITIES IN DUTCH SOCIETY 20131

I. Implementation of action plans, policies, and measures aimed at Roma integration

After the gradual upgrading on the political agenda since 2009, Roma issues remained on the

radar in the Netherlands. In 2013 , a number of relevant activities took place and several

documents were published following up (in)directly on the Dutch contribution submitted

to the European Commission in 2011 for the EU Framework National Roma Integration

Strategies.

First of all, a national conference took place on March 14, titled ‘Multi Problem Families with

a Roma background, towards a switching between care, law enforcement and investigation’.

The event brought 150 professionals together from all over the country and was organized

by the Ministry of Security and Justice in cooperation with the Association of Dutch

Municipalities (VNG), Police Academy and the Platform Roma Municipalities. On this

occasion a book was presented to the minister, based on a research carried out by the Police

Academy and commissioned by the ministry of Safety and Justice, titled ‘Multi-Problem

approach for families with a Roma background’.

The Police Academy started the programme in January 2011 after consultations between the

ministry of Home Affairs and national chiefs of police. Goal of this study was to build on

knowledge, knowhow and expertise of and for professionals working in this particular field,

in order to improve an efficient cooperation between all partners involved on local as well as

national level. Desk research has been carried out and relevant respondents were

interviewed in four indicated experiments called ‘Proeftuingemeenten’ (the municipalities of

Nieuwegein, Veldhoven, Ede, Lelystad). In addition 21 key persons were interviewed,

selected from the police, educational and social institutions, ministries, Public Prosecution

Service, Child Protection, Platform Roma Municipalities.

The research is part of the programme developed by the ministry of Safety and Justice, titled

‘Combat of crime in general and exploitation of Roma children by members of the Roma

community’, as referred to in the national set of general policy measures on Roma Inclusion.

The programme follows three tracks: 1) Strengthen and safeguarding knowledge by

collecting data and carrying out research in order to facilitate an individualised and

comprehensive approach, 2) Implementation through four experiments (municipalities)

based on the method of ‘Carrot and Stick’, 3) to combat the cross border aspects of child

exploitation and criminality through European cooperation.

Attention to this issue was also raised in parliament, when coalition parties questioned the

minister after media exposure of the involvement of Roma children in criminal activities.

The Ministers of Safety and Justice, and of Social Affairs and Employment responded by a 1 This document by Peter Jorna (Consultancy Social Inclusion, Roma & Sinti Issues) is based on his contribution

to Dutch FRANET in function of the overall FRA Annual Report on Fundamental Rights 2013 (June 2014).


joint letter referring to the findings of the study. The minister referred to the evaluation of

the programme, foreseen at the end of the year, and decided to extend the financial support

(60.000 Euro) of the Platform Roma Municipalities for another year (2013). The Roma

Strategy was conceived as a means to handle international exchange with other European

countries as well as to tackle human trafficking including child abuse. Instrumental to this

are, according to the government, the National Roma Contact Points of the European

Commission and the monitoring study on the four main NSRI domains (education,

employment, housing, public healthcare) added to the initial Dutch priority program.

A corresponding initiative was taken by the Netherlands through the creation of a European

working Group on Child Abuse, announced by the Dutch National Roma Contact Point on the

occasion of the 8th EU Roma-Platform - dedicated to Children and Youth –. This European

Working group chaired by the Netherlands had been joined so far by Poland, Czech Republic,

Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia.

Shortly after these initiatives are mentioned in a letter of the minister of Foreign Affairs to

Parliament discussing the EC (draft) proposal of June 26 for a Council Recommendation on

effective Roma integration measures in the Member States. In this letter the government

expressed its appreciation for the fact that the European Commission explicitly mentions the

combat of child abuse and protection of women in its communications (‘to the contrary of

the earlier communication of 2011’). The minister reiterated the Dutch approach and its

justifications, which is also reflected in budgetary terms. The government sees no cause to

assign additional financial means to the set of policy measures, as it does not support direct

budget allocation to any specific target groups in Dutch society.

Sinti & Roma Inclusion Monitor

At the advice of the European Commission the Netherlands decided to conduct a monitoring

study on Roma inclusion, the minister of Foreign Affairs continued, to be implemented every

two years, taking into account the four EC domains plus the Dutch priority on child abuse

and early marriage. The government underlined that this will be a qualitative study, since

the Roma are not registered as such in the municipal personal records database

(Gemeentelijke Basisadministratie/GBA), which makes quantitative monitoring difficult.

The Monitor, commissioned by the ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, was carried

out in 2013 by Movisie, Netherlands Centre for social issues. This base line research started

in January, its report being delivered in July 2013 and finally published at the end of the

year.

The researchers qualify the results as ‘indicative’ and not ‘representative’, as the Monitor

only follows a qualitative methodology in which professionals and Sinti and Roma are asked

to express their opinions about the social inclusion of Roma and Sinti on the domains

education, work, housing, health and safety.


All in all the research reached 99 unique respondents, of which 68 took part in organized

meetings (‘work sessions’): 60 professionals and 8 respondents from the category of ‘Roma /

Sinti’. Additionally, in-depth interviews were held with 36 respondents, 14 of which were

professionals and 22 ‘Roma / Sinti’. Furthermore, a questionnaire (‘a list of topics and

statements’), including ‘expectations for the next five years’, was filled in by 68 out of the 99

respondents (13 Roma/Sinti, 55 professionals). In addition the researchers consulted

relevant literature. The research was accompanied by an Advisory Committee in which

central and local authorities were represented. Initially, one Roma representative was part

of the Advisory Committee, but she left the Committee after two preparatory meetings

because of ‘mixed feelings’.

Compared to the initial Dutch EC contribution on policy measures relating Roma (December

2011), the Monitor defines the target group more inclusively, namely Roma as well as Sinti.

However, Roma-newcomers such as the refugees in the nineties of the twentieth century

and those immigrating since the EU enlargement period, have been largely left out. In

addition to the indicated research fields (education, employment, housing and health/care) ,

the Monitor introduced the additional domain Safety, a common denominator referring to

various forms of law offending behaviour. Criminality is treated (including child abuse and

early marriage, but also discrimination (in relation to Dutch society as well as ‘intra group’,

towards Romani women and children). The Monitor added a chapter too on contacts and

relationship with public authorities.

Main findings of the Dutch Roma and Sinti Inclusion baseline Monitor (not translated in

English yet) are described in its Summary. Only Monitor observations taken over and

provided with measures in the ministerial letter will be treated briefly here.

As there is no mentioning of the existence of an English version of the Monitor, major

findings will be briefed here, including – where relevant – the descriptions or qualifications

used in the text of the Summary between quotation marks.

The Monitor classifies Education as the domain ‘most extensively researched when it comes

to social inclusion’. Primary education is judged by most respondents as proceeding

‘reasonably’ when it comes to enrolment, participation and finishing, Although participation

in secondary education is ‘growing’, school dropout among youngsters of 15/16 years

especially remains to give reason for concern. A variety of influencing factors are mentioned:

a lack of perspective on the labour market (boys) and the focus on house holding (girls),

scarcity of trainee posts, outright discrimination and ‘attitude’. Early childhood education

leaves room for improvement too (participation in pre-school arrangements).

Education and (perceived) discrimination is mentioned to have an impact on Work

(perspectives). However, ‘more and more’ Sinti and Roma acquire a job, as is notified by the

respondents. Undefined is the extense of this trend. Employed Sinti and Roma prefer to hide

their identity avoiding discrimination. Preference, still, is given to self-employment but


regulations and administration hamper a sound start or are conducive to operating in the

margins (‘grey circuits’ or ‘black markets’). Dependence on social benefits is mentioned as an

alternative income and poverty occurs within ‘certain Sinti and Roma circles’.

Poverty and debts are affecting (access to) Housing, states the Monitor, even more so when

administrative obligations are intensifying. Residents might protest to ‘gypsies’ settling in,

referring to expected or existing nuisance. Differing ‘style of living’ is mentioned, coming to

the surface for example on special family occasions (extensive visits, from other places and

abroad) and because of small, nuclear family based housings. ‘Living together’ is reported as

an important factor, especially on a campsite and in a mobile home. Some municipalities

participating in the Monitor continue maintaining one or more campsites, others discourage

this life style.

Increased poverty observed among Sinti and Roma has its impact on Health in its mental and

physical aspects as well as in terms of healthcare, the Monitor states. Respondents refer to

obesitas and depression, and a lower life expectancy among Sinti and Roma as compared to

the Dutch population at large. Topics related to sexuality, disease and death are difficult to

touch upon and occasionally tabooed. On the other hand, changes are reported as well, for

instance relating teenage pregnancies (the age tends to rise gradually).

Safety is the most extensively treated domain in the Monitor. Relating this domain, crucial

changes in traditional patterns are reported (between men and women, between elder and

younger generations). Generation- and role conflicts come to the surface, for instance when

alternative options and available choices concerning mates and marriage partners occur.

Other topics are treated such as the occurrence of (honour related) violence, variable forms

of police performance, accessibility of housing and work (especially in case of statelessness),

(underreporting of) discrimination and negative stereotyping of Roma and Sinti in Dutch

society.

Criminality is specified by respondents as petty crime, shoplifting, swindle and black market.

Respondents consider human trafficking and forced prostitution (reported in literature)

more of an ‘eastern European matter’ than occurring among Dutch Roma and Sinti.

Involvement of children in petty crime ‘might occur among certain Roma-families indicated

as multi problem families’.

Finally, the Monitor introduced a separate chapter on Contacts and relations with public

authorities. Considering the challenges that lie ahead of both Sinti, Roma and municipalities,

the Monitor states that ‘there is an effort to be made’. Despite the progress made, contact is

‘sometimes stiff’. Relating the national government, the attitude of Sinti appears to be

coloured by the process of World War Two compensation, specifically concerning the

allocation of the remaining funds. On the local level, the situation in municipalities shows a

large deal of variety. Generally Sinti and Roma don’t feel taken seriously or involved in

policies to them concerned, while public authorities and professionals consider Sinti and


Roma as ‘closed’. The Monitor ends with the observation that ‘investment in a good contact

between Roma and Sinti and (local) public authorities is very important on all domains –

education, work, housing, healthcare and safety’.

Examples of such investments in good contact are mentioned by the Monitor elsewhere in

the report, for instance profiling Roma and Sinti role models , or employing mediators and

facilitating organisations . These good practices, the Monitor states, appeared not

sustainable, mainly due to lack of continued financing. In an Epilogue the Monitor refers to

currently existing projects: the supralocal Platform Roma Municipalities and the related local

experiments on multi problems in the four municipalities.

As the Movisie project group stated already in its Memo to all persons interested, Sinti and

Roma inclusively (February 2013), the Inclusion Monitor does not pretend to ‘provide

solutions to the problems and bottlenecks experienced’, referring to the descriptive

approach. However, in a paragraph titled ‘How could Roma and Sinti possibly benefit’, the

project group defines explicitly a threefold answer to ‘how this information could contribute

to an improvement of the position of the Roma and Sinti in the Netherlands’:

• ‘Interest-organisations could use the description to address public authorities

concerning their situation. They could use the information in a project proposal, for instance

to be submitted to a private funds.’

• ‘National as well as local governments can use the description to make an effort in

order to improve the position of the Roma and Sinti’.

• ‘Movisie inquires people with a Roma and Sinti background as well as others involved

about their wishes for the future’.

Although the project group came up with several recommendations, in the end the Monitor

has been ‘restricted to its descriptive assignment’. According to the project group, the main

recommendation – the one already mentioned - shows up in the Summary: to ‘invest in the

good contact between Roma and Sinti and the (local) public authority, on all domains:

education, housing, health and safety’. In the Epilogue, when it finally comes to ‘Future

challenges’, another recommendation might have been implicitly built in: ‘Changes seem to

have a chance when Roma and Sinti are pivot in this process’. Publication of the Monitor

was pending since Summer 2013, dependent on the accompanying interdepartmental

letter. Although this letter - dated 11 October 2013 - remained unchanged, it took another

timespan before the letter and the report were sent to Parliament (2 December 2013).

Ministerial Letter to the Monitor (December 2013)

The letter is a joint response to the Monitor by the minister of Social Affairs and

Employment (National Roma Contact Point and coordinating the Dutch Integration Agenda

in general), the minister of Safety and Justice, and the state secretary of Education, Culture


and Science. The letter states in its introduction that the Monitor is the result of the

European Commission’s advice to measure every two years ‘the impact of Dutch mainstream

policies on the situation of Roma and Sinti’. The ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

commissioned Movisie to carry out the baseline Monitor as far as the qualitative

methodological aspects are concerned. The decision to not include the quantitative aspect

of monitoring is argued as ‘not really possible, among others because Roma and Sinti are not

registered in the local administrations (Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie/GBA’). The

implication of this decision is mentioned (‘the results of this Monitor are indicative, not

representative’) and underlined is that the annexed report ‘provides insight how different

people, professionals as well as Roma and Sinti, think about the situation of Roma and Sinti’.

Finally, the letter states in its introduction that ‘Roma and Sinti don’t know of representative

organisations’ and that the Monitor takes, ‘the diversity of Roma and Sinti in the

Netherlands as much as possible into account’.

In the next paragraph called ‘The position of Roma and Sinti in Dutch society’ the letter

focuses on the findings of the Monitor. According to the government the Monitor shows in

its essence ‘a large gap between some Roma and Sinti groups and other groups in the

Netherlands, in terms of lifestyles and views, such as young people need to go to school and

criminality is punishable as well as undesirable in society’. Key message is that ‘a large part

of the Roma and Sinti population has not internalized the core values of Dutch society (yet)’,

which ‘hampers a quickly making up the backlog’. The gap mentioned before is explained by

a ‘cultural-historical background, partly due to the characteristic of the closed Roma and

Sinti culture’. This presumed closed Roma and Sinti culture is ‘based also in the traumatic

experiences from the past, such as the persecution of Roma and Sinti during World War

Two, and the concomitant mistrust of some Roma and Sinti against public institutions’.

The letter refers as well to ‘a number of positive developments’ pointed out in the report ,

but concludes that (the summarized) problems are predominating in the Monitor. The letter

treats in its final paragraph, titled ‘Participation and setting boundaries’, measures tackling

the problems considered.

At forehand, the national government mentions the Platform Roma Municipalities to be key

partner, generating ‘perspectives and sharing best practices regarding law enforcement and

integration’. This governmental body of mayors and aldermen is linked to the overall

Association of Dutch Municipalities (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten/VNG).

Members of this Platform are Amsterdam Zuid-Oost, Capelle aan den IJssel, Ede, Enschede,

Lelystad, Nieuwegein, Oldenzaal, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Utrecht, Nuenen and Veldhoven.

In short, the government draws five conclusions from the Monitor and connects the

following measures to the problems derived:


- ‘The Monitor shows that Roma and Sinti participation falls short in early childhood

education (Voor- en vroegschoolse education / VVE)’.

In 2013 all Dutch municipalities will have agreed upon a covenant with partners concerned

(such as health centres and Inspection Healthcare), to trace targeted (‘vulnerable’) children,

refer them to VVE institutions for participation in VVE (2015), as indicated by the state

secretary of Education, Culture and Science.

- ‘According to the Monitor, school dropout among adolescents from 15/16 years on is

relatively high’.

The minister of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for the Program Offensive to

School dropout (2006), aiming to reduce the number of adolescents leaving school without

start qualifications to 25.000 individuals (2016). Currently this program is halfway (35.000).

Another Action plan (Youth Unemployment) aims to upgrade the number of Apprenticeships

/ Trainee posts in vocational training.

About the combat of fraud (inclusively registering Roma and Sinti either in or leaving

municipalities in order to escape compulsory education, youth care or social security

supplements) a national approach will be published at the end of 2013.

- ‘The experience of discrimination, especially on the labour market, appears to be one

of the conclusions most often mentioned in the Monitor’.

Local provisions and facilities are at place for reporting discrimination, the letter states,

according to the Law Municipal Anti-discrimination Provisions (Wet Gemeentelijke Anti-

discriminatievoorzieningen).

- ‘Explicitly mentioned in the Monitor is the unsafety among Roma and Sinti

themselves as well as the alleged forms of criminal behaviour’.

The ministry of Justice is implementing (2011-2013) the Program Approach exploitation of

Roma children together, with the police, public prosecutor, Councils of Child protection and

Youth Care. Jurisprudence is generated: ‘theft in association’ and forced marriage relating

minors, possibly indicated as human trafficking; cases of serious truancy are brought to

court.

Reference is made, too, towards another program called Multi-problem families with a

Roma background, inclusively the book published in March 2013 under the same title. This

publication is meant to be a tool for professionals (‘chain partners’) working on the local

level. Four of the Roma municipalities are selected as experimental (‘proeftuingemeenten’)

in this program, being Lelystad, Ede, Nieuwegein and Veldhoven.

- ‘The Monitor ascertains among Roma and Sinti that forced marriages and cast off

occurs, and the rights of self-determination are under pressure’.


Roma and Sinti communities are considered to be key in realising a change in mentality, by

bringing these subjects to their agenda and communicate them. Capacity building is aimed at

professionals in healthcare and education. Recently, the penal approach of forces marriage

has been expanded.

International cooperation is considered another important measure relating these five

Monitor conclusions. To affirm this, the letter refers to the recently published Dutch

research (2011-2013) carried out by cultural criminologist professor Diena Siegel on itinerant

(mobile) bands from eastern- and central European origin operating in the Netherlands.

The importance and membership of multilateral networks is stressed at this point: the

European Multi-disciplinary Platform against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) in which the

Netherlands is leading together with the UK (project Human Trafficking), the National Roma

Contact Points Network and the Working group on Roma Child Abuse of which the

Netherlands is chair.

The letter ends by stating that the situation of the Roma in Romania and Bulgaria to be

‘reason for concern’ and ‘an important push factor’.

II. National Roma integration Strategies

In 2013, projects nor any earmarked funds are directly related to the NRIS. However, some

activities explicitly related to Roma and Sinti do exist in some of the domains mentioned

below (especially education). Justice will be briefly dealt with in the funding paragraph (7.4).

Directly related to the NRIS (or: ‘Dutch set of general policy measures’) is the development

and implementation in 2013 of the qualitative baseline Monitor Inclusion Roma and Sinti,

budgeted by the national government at 120.000 Euro.

EDUCATION

No specific Roma related measures can be reported to improve access to early childhood

education and care. The same goes for preventing segregation in education and for

additional support measures for Roma in education (for example, teaching, and learning

programmes in the Romani, language, mediation, after-school learning, parental education,

second-chance classes, awareness raising, etc.), nor specific Roma related measures

concerning tertiary education and/or vocational training (promotion, access, increase

enrolment).

However, regarding primary education there are measures ensuring Roma children to

complete at least primary school education.

Still in existence in 2013, for instance, is the phenomenon of ‘Class assistants’ on primary

schools, recruited from the (Sinti) communities: usually called intermediairs (‘mediators’)

because of the outreaching work (helping hands in classrooms and extracurricular activities,


homework, preschool class, and mediating between schools-pupils-parents). Of the several

educative part-time mediators starting in 2002 (all Sinti cultural background and female)

three are still employed and budgeted by both primary schools and municipalities (2013).

Two positive examples in this respect can be reported, in the ‘Sinti- municipalities’ of

Nuenen-Gerwen and Gemert. Whereas in Nuenen this part-time mediator function -

implemented by the same Sinti-woman since 2002- is budgeted by the school since 2010. In

Gemert the funding (12.000 Euro a year) is a three-way construction maintained by the

school, the municipality and the then existing Netherlands Institute Sinti and Roma (NISR,

extinct in 2012). In 2013 the latter part is even paid for by the mediator herself with her

NISR-redundancy compensation (on her own decision), in order to continue the work she

considers important. One searches for more structural solutions in 2014, expanding towards

preschool and secondary education.

A network exists of 10 education-counsellors for Sinti, Roma and Travellers, mediating

between schools-pupils-parents and employed by education supporting services (facilities

provided / maintained by municipalities).

Besides, the Ministry of Education offers primary and secondary school boards the

possibility (at a yearly base) to apply for extra state budgets relating pupils in need, to be

allocated for purposes of personnel, pupils and material. Among the seven groups

distinguished for targeted budgeting are ‘Zigeunerkinderen’ ('Gipsy children') (Art. 28),

conditioned by: ‘a minimum of 4 pupils with a cultural background of Roma and Sinti,

registered at that particular school’ at the beginning and the end of the year’.

At request the ministry of Education, Culture and Science informed on the number of

primary schools (32) benefitting from the measure in 2013 as well as about the amount of

money involved (612.450 Euro).

- In addition: a National Information and Support Point Specific Target groups (Landelijk

Informatie- en Steunpunt Specifieke Doelgroepen / LISD) is safeguarding expertise, networks

and monitoring, targeted to the following specified vulnerable groups: children of asylum

seekers, scippers, Travellers, Roma and Sinti. This function is jointly carried out by KPCgroep

(former Catholic Pedagogical Centre) and the expertise centre on Curricula Development

(Stichting Leermiddelen Ontwikkeling / SLO).

- Monitoring Travellers, Roma and Sinti: Monitor 2010 – 2011, KPCgroep (ten primary

schools with education-counsellors). Next monitor is foreseen in 2015. The facility (in

operation since 1985) was due to disappear in 2013 (budgetary cuts) but has been extended

to 2013-2018. For the education monitoring study no specific governmental funds are

involved. SLO will take over the website from KPCgroep, acquiring to this end 21.000 Euro

per year from the national government.


EMPLOYMENT

No specific measures have been implemented under the principle of equal treatment to

reduce the employment gap between Roma and non-Roma. For instance measures to

encourage Roma integration into the workplace (for example, mediation, tailored activation

measures, access to open labour markets, social enterprises, etc.).

Due to cuts in local and national budgets (2012), promising practices were reduced in 2013,

e.g. the one good practice proven effective for a decade among Sinti and Roma, developed

by integration consultancy company WSD Group in Brabant region and based on coaching

towards (self) employment.

Also no specific measures are to be found, providing/promoting financial inclusion of Roma

through for example, micro-credit loans, and particularly for Roma entrepreneurs. Nor

specific or explicit Roma-related measures to encourage employment of more qualified

Roma civil servants in the public sector (public work).

The same goes for specific measures to provide personalized employment services for Roma

(for example, job search assistance, on-the-job training and life-long learning of Roma), as

well as for measures to eliminate the barriers, including discrimination, to re-enter the

labour market, especially for Roma women.

HEALTH

No specific measures have been implemented to increase access to quality healthcare, for

example for Roma women and children (such as training health professionals to work with

people from different socio-cultural backgrounds), nor to improve the access of Roma to

basic emergency and specialized services, increase awareness among Roma of the

importance of regular medical check-ups, pre- and post-natal care, family planning, and

immunization; nor specific measures have been implemented to ensure that preventive

healthcare measures reach out to Roma, or to prevent prejudiced behaviour of health

professionals towards Roma.

HOUSING

No key specific measures implementing the NRIS with respect to housing are reported, for

example relating the promotion of non-discriminatory access to housing for Roma, including

social housing, desegregation, to facilitate local integrated housing approaches with special

attention to public utility and social service.

Concerning measures to improve the availability, affordability, and quality of social housing

and halting sites: it is considered the responsibility of municipalities and housing

corporations to providing and maintaining campsites / locations for mobile homes.

Generally, little progress in this field is reported, also in 2013, due to budgetary cuts and

‘tug-off’ frictions between municipalities and housing corporations.


FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS & NON-DISCRIMINATION

The following measures and their implementation could be reported aimed at to step up the

fight against discrimination and racism affecting also Roma people.

1. In the framework of the EC Progress Call for Proposals in the year 2013-2014

(JUST/2013/PROG/AG/AD, likewise for 2012-2013): by the Dutch government the Roma

issue is classified among the priorities for a number of arguments: 1) the Dutch NSRI 2011,

2) EC-Assessment 2012, 3) Platform Roma Municipalities, 4) Roma themselves and 5)

(expected) political interest for this issue.

Available budget: 250.000 Euro for one or two projects (College/Institute Human Rights

gained the grant).

2. Racism Monitor (Verwey Jonker Instituut, March 2013). Financed by the Anne Frank

Foundation (not by government). Methodology differs from the first nine reports (University

Leiden/Anne Frank Foundation): mainstreamed into reporting racial, religious, anti-Semitism

and based on police data, for reasons of comparability. Roma used to be part in the earlier

reports or reported specifically (See Roma and Sinti Cahier, Anne Frank Foundation,

Amsterdam, 2005). See also chapter, 7.5, page 88.

To step up the fight concerning anti-Gypsyism and/or hate crime against Roma, no specific

measures can be reported, nor measures to raise awareness of the societal interest of Roma

integration, for example opportunities for intercultural encounters that may support such

awareness and facilitate de-stigmatization.

III. Involvement of local authorities and civil society in the development,

implementation, and monitoring of NRIS

Since 2009, several of the Dutch municipalities dealing with Roma related policies operate

together in what is called the ‘Platform Roma Municipalities’. This governmental body of

mayors and aldermen, assisted by their officials, is linked to the overall Association of Dutch

Municipalities (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten/VNG). Members of this Platform are

the ‘Roma municipalities’: Amsterdam Zuid-Oost, Capelle aan den IJssel, Ede, Enschede,

Lelystad, Nieuwegein, Oldenzaal, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Utrecht and Veldhoven. In 2013 one of

the ‘Sinti-municipalities’ joined the Platform. The national government considers the

Platform Roma Municipalities as key partner for cooperation, allocating 60.000 Euro a year

since 2010, for developing perspectives and sharing best practices concerning law

enforcement and integration.

In 2013, the Platform Roma Municipalities was involved in the organization of the national

conference (14 March) on Multi Problem Families with a Roma background. On that

occasion the report of the Police Academy (mentioned under 7.1) was presented and


discussed in four workshops with and among 150 professionals from all over the country

and from different institutions .

The platform is involved in the implementation of both programs (on child abuse and multi-

problem families), in which the ministry of Safety and Justice is leading. In these programs,

four platform members are indicated as ‘experimental areas’: Nieuwegein, Lelystad,

Veldhoven and Ede (see also 7.4). Moreover, the platform liaises directly and indirectly with

the Council of Europe and the European Commission, for example through the Dutch

representative in the Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma (Cahrom, Council of Europe).

Municipalities and institutions are in the position to ‘call the ministry of Home Affairs and

Kingdom relationships for support in terms of general knowledge and expertise in cases

relating upbringing, safety, going to school, violence, debts, health problems, etcetera’. For

this mainstream project titled Comprehensive Approach (Integrale Aanpak), aimed at

‘transformations and innovations in the social domain’, the ministry of Home Affairs and

Kingdom relationships has an expert on Travellers issues at one’s disposal on an ad hoc

consultancy base. Moreover, expert meetings are organized at local request, in which the

ministries are participating (Safety and Justice, Social Affairs and Employment, Home

Affairs), together with the Association of Dutch Municipalities, the Platform Roma

Municipalities and the Police Academy.

Involvement and consultation of Sinti, Roma and Travellers in the development,

implementation and monitoring of NRIS do not take place at a structural and regular basis,

nor on all levels and at all stages – as is also observed by European monitoring and

assessments. Incidentally, for instance relating to the Police Academy research and its

presentation on the national conference, one Rom professional – although not a member of

the Roma group under investigation - can be reported to have been consulted relating the

draft report and participating at the conference.

More frequent and formalised consultations -on an individual base or in group sessions- took

gradually place in the course of 2013. Already mentioned is the Monitor (Spring 2013) and

its work sessions (8 Roma and Sinti participating), in-depth interviews (22 Roma and Sinti)

and questionnaires (filled in by 13 Roma and Sinti).

At the same time, in the (political) sensitive framework of the World War Two II Reparation

Funds (Afwikkeling van het Naoorlogs Rechtsherstel voor Sinti en Roma), the ministry of

Public Healthcare, Welfare and Sport intensified the dialogue - on a face to face basis and

bilaterally – with Sinti and Roma key persons and professionals,.

On 29 November this department officially invited 25 Roma and Sinti in person for a Round

Table (12 December 2013), based on an agenda (goals and activities for remaining funds,

next steps in 2014) and in attendance of the state secretary responsible for this issue.


IV. Funding for Roma integration

Concerning the topic of funding for Roma inclusion, this overview is necessary restricted to

policies, programs, projects or activities directly and explicitly related to Roma, Sinti and

Travellers integration, in so far as relevant information could be gathered from accessible

resources and from contact persons responsible during the short time span available to this

end. So, generic funding’s which may be beneficiary to Roma populations too have not been

elaborated at this place, such as early childhood programs for vulnerable groups, the

Program Offensive to School dropout, the Action plan Youth Unemployment (ministry of

Education), or the local Anti-discrimination provisions (ministry of Justice), and the ministry

of Home Affairs program called Comprehensive Approach (Integrale Aanpak).

As mentioned before, the research monitoring the Dutch general set of policy measures

concerning Roma and Sinti (‘baseline Monitor’), advised by the European Commission, has

been budgeted in 2013 to an amount of 120.000 Euro (see page Chapter, 7.1).

Another 60.000 Euro –on a yearly base since 2010- was allocated by the same ministry

(Social Affairs and Employment) to the Platform Roma Municipalities, in function of

exchanging knowledge and expertise between the eleven members of this governmental

supra local body.

The ministry of Safety and Justice funded the research carried out by the Police Academy

(2011-2013) resulting among others in a book for professionals, which was presented at the

aforementioned conference in March 2013. Information on the funds allocated to the Police

Academy project (2011-2013) could only partially be acquired, being the conference

organisation (18.000 Euro) and 3.900 Euro for the editor of the book.

Funding of the four local experiments (Proeftuingemeenten), however, can be estimated to

be 300.000 Euro. The municipalities of Lelystad (250 Roma), Ede (170), Nieuwegein (400)

and Veldhoven (335) are funded in the framework of Multi problem families with a Roma

background and the Combat of exploitation of Roma children by Roma – both programs

currently evaluated on its effects and possible continuation. Roughly, these four pilots were

yearly funded with similar amounts to be locally allocated to similar coordinating functions.

To this end, the municipality of Lelystad - known for its long term and locally funded

approach on education, healthcare and law enforcement (since 2006) - attributed the

acquired 75.000 Euro in 2013.

The municipality of Veldhoven, was likewise boosted by this pilot (80.000 Euro in 2013) ,

managing to maintain its long term policy mixture of law enforcement and socio-

educational projects. The social domain (‘Samenlevingsopbouw’) of Roma-policies in

Veldhoven is funded locally and usually budgeted to an amount of 180.000 Euro per year

(2010: municipality staff as well as of subsidized organisation Stimulans and its activities).


Meanwhile, in 2012, Nieuwegein redefined its Roma-focused project called Wisselgeld

(‘loose’or exchange money) into the Multi problem project including families with a Roma

background.

Additionally, the municipality of Nieuwegein is leading in a transnational EU Labour Plus

project funded by the European Commission (DG Regions, INTERREG IVC), in cooperation

with the European Towns and Pilot cities Platform (ENTP, Brussels), and in partnership with

nine other members from EU states. The project is dedicated towards exchange of

knowledge and expertise on Roma and Participation (best practices, case studies). This

project was submitted and approved in 2011 and is due to be finished in 2014. The total

budget for Nieuwegein is 335.000 Euro, out of which 250.950 Euro from European funding

(75%) and 84.000 local funding (25%). This year, the preparations for a local action plan are

prepared for a next Labour Plus proposal on vocational training and employment for

vulnerable youth, including Roma.

Several cities with Roma and / or Sinti populations are listed as members of EU networks

(Eurocities, EU) and Council of Europe alliances (European Alliance of cities and regions for

Roma Inclusion, Council of Europe): Amsterdam, Brabant Stad, Eindhoven, Rotterdam ,

Utrecht respectively Capelle aan den IJssel, Nuenen, Lelystad, Nieuwegein, Veldhoven. Not

for every city it remains clear, however, to which extend, stage of activity or European

funding is involved.

V. Discrimination, anti-Gypsyism, hate crime and the protection of fundamental rights

The monitor on racism, anti-Semitism, extreme right violence and discrimination in the

Netherlands mentions discrimination on racial grounds but made no reference to any Roma

groups in particular. Of all local Anti-discrimination Offices, Art 1 Midden-Nederland is one

of the few recording Roma-related complaints specifically since 2009. In 2013 four ‘Roma

related’ complaints were filled, connected with assurances and housing issues, and reported

by Roma themselves,

The Dutch Complaints Bureau for Discrimination on the Internet (Magenta/Meldpunt

Discriminatie Internet) notified that Roma, Sinti and Travellers themselves hardly report. In

2013, of all appearing expressions / statements relating Roma, Sinti or Travellers, 15

complaints were filed. Of these 15 reportings, Magenta/MDI considered 11 liable to

punishment according to article 137, C up till G, Dutch criminal law.

The 11 punishable statements on internet contains hate speech such as ‘All Roma are scum,

to be thrown out of the country’, ‘Roma are liars, thieves and cheats, not having any good

properties as these have been bred out’ (2 times), ‘dirty folk those gypsies, creating


problems in all countries where they settle; workshy criminal scum of the earth’, ‘Gypsies

should be sterilized so they can’t have 20 ones’ (2); ‘Roma are gangsters, thieves and

rapists’, ‘Roma destroy our culture, they’re all criminals’, ‘It’s an illusion to think of solutions

for the structural problems of any European country with gypsies. They don’t give a shit

about society, want to roam, like a plague of grasshoppers, and our ancestors already always

chased and routed them away when they settled in their environment. That’s the only way

to deal with gypsies’. ‘Roma and Sinti are disgusting, un-adapted, criminal scum’, ‘Roma are

disgusting scum, when will they finally be exterminated’ and a radio broadcasted song about

Gypsies and Travellers campsites (‘all unemployed, growing cannabis, criminal and

dangerous’).

When Magenta/MDI evaluates an expression as punishable, next step in the procedure is

sending a request for removal to the website on which the expression is located (Art. 8). If

the website complies with the request from MDI for removal, the complainer will be

informed that the content is removed (Art. 9). If a website does not comply with the request

for removal, this will not automatically lead to a criminal case. The MDI will only press

charges if the MDI deems it necessary.

Another point of concern is the access for people living in a mobile to assurances and

mortgages due to their backgrounds. In 2013, an important judgement has been published

by the Dutch Committee of Equal treatment / College Human Rights, stating that AEGON

assurance and mortgage company has unrightfully denied a mortgage to a couple ‘on racial

grounds’ (College Human Rights, 5 September 2013).

VI. Any other significant developments in relation to Roma integration

In 2013, in terms of media and political interest, criminality surpassed discrimination by far

as an issue in the Netherlands in 2013.

Significant in connection with Roma-related developments was the ongoing stream of news

clippings on (the presupposed negative impact of) labour migration from Bulgaria and

Romania, added by the media attention to a research on mobile banditry The research was

carried out by the Centre for Information and Research on Organized Crime (CIROC, Utrecht

University). This program, financed by the ministry of Safety and Justice, was launched in

2011 with an open-to-the-media seminar and ended likewise with the presentation of the

results on 18 September 2013. The seminar was introduced by the head of the program,

referring to three categories of perpetrators, one of which classified as ‘Romanian and

Bulgarian criminal networks, many of whom are Roma’.

Immediately the Minister for Safety and Justice was requested by Parliament to react on the

findings of the research on mobile banditry , which request was met in the form of a letter

accompanied by the draft research.


The minister stated in his letter that insights into ‘how family clans operate internationally,

lead to an efficient approach in order to dismantle such an infrastructure’. He stressed that

crimes committed by Roma get no more and no less attention than other crimes.

Furthermore, child abuse was mentioned as an issue to be addressed by a programme jointly

implemented with the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in cooperation with the

municipalities. Petty crime is expected to be combatted in a comprehensive Multi-Problem

Approach towards families with a Roma background. The issue of begging was linked to the

possibility of penalties imposed through its incorporation in local by-law (Algemeen

Plaatselijke Verordening/APV) and soon -connected to human trafficking- and part of the

Penal code.

ECRI

Shortly after, discrimination turned publicly an issue again, triggered by a Council of Europe

report on Racism and Intolerance in the Netherlands (ECRI). Since the start in 1998, these

monitoring cycles classify Roma, Sinti and Travellers communities among the several groups

in the Netherlands identified as ‘vulnerable’. The ECRI report ‘welcomes activities carried out

at local level and in the context of the Platform for Roma municipalities’. However, he

Committee of independent experts added, five recommendations to improve the Dutch

approach towards Roma integration. These recommendations included taking up central

responsibility for Roma issues at national government level, the promotion of Roma role

models, a needs assessment with regard to living in caravans and the unequivocal out ruling

of Roma-related ethnic registers. Finally, settling the issue of statelessness –with special

reference to (Roma) children - has been recommended to the Dutch government.

In its communication to the parliament the Dutch government referred to the Roma stating

that ECRI appreciated the creation of the ‘Roma Platform’ in which municipalities are able to

compile their knowledge and expertise. The ECRI recommendations – including the five

Roma related ones - were treated subsequently in an annex to the letter. In connection to

the recommendation on central government responsibility the minister referred to the

Platform Roma Municipalities and the ministry of Safety and Justice Programme on

exploitation of Roma children. The recommendation on role models and affirmative action

is considered not to comply with the Dutch (mainstreamed) integration approach, whereas

the recommendation relating to halting sites for mobile homes is stated not to be in

accordance to Dutch law after the repeal of the Caravan Act in 1999 and is a municipal

responsibility since. The recommendation on separate ethnic registers is endorsed

(prohibited by law), whereas in relation to a recommendation on statelessness, especially

when transferred to children, reference is made to the current legal practice.

Civil Society

Several other, mostly one off, activities related to Roma, Sinti and Travellers are – although

not linked to the NSRI - reported to have taken place in 2013, many of which organized by or


in cooperation with representatives of these communities. These include chronologically the

following:

• In the framework of the ROMED programme (Council of Europe and the European

Union) the Netherlands was selected among five countries for the second round of training-

of-trainers, resulting in the certification of two trainers at the closing ROMED Congress. A

kick start for training (candidate) mediators recruited from Sinti, Roma and Travellers

communities is not feasible yet, as the required Dutch letter of commitment to the Council

of Europe and EU ‘will be taking a long time’.

• Nevertheless, also in 2013, interest in participating in such a training programme in

the Netherlands was shown by candidates and civil society.

• Involvement and commitment to Roma issues was occasionally shown by civil society

in letters to departments and members of the Dutch Parliament, for example asking the

Dutch human rights approach abroad to be applied also to the Roma at home.

• The CIROC-research on mobile banditry raised a lot of attention from the media, in

particular referring the reported Roma involvement. Individual letters were written to the

media and to the minister of Safety and Justice criticizing the research, its methods and its

impacts on Roma in particular as well as on society in general. Other articles followed

presenting a supposed causality between (Roma) culture, criminality and prostitution. A

counterbalancing response was published again in newspaper.

• A radio evening programme called Close to the Netherlands (Dichtbij Nederland),

broadcasted a discussion between the chair of the Association of Sinti, Roma and Travellers /

VSRWN) and a cultural criminologist.

• Sinti, Roma and Travellers representatives participated in European events. The chair

of the Platform Roma Netherlands, Kostana Jovanovic, participated at the 4th International

Romani Women Conference (Helsinki, 16-17 September). The chair and two other

representatives of the Association of Sinti, Roma and Travellers Netherlands / VSRWN

participated at the Joint EP Meeting Committees Fundamental Rights and Gender relating

Roma, 18 September in Brussels, presenting their organization and making interventions at

the meeting advocating the lifestyle and corresponding need for sufficient campsites for

mobile homes. Letters were sent subsequently (24 October 2013) to the European

Commission of Justice, European Parliament and Fundamental rights Agency.

• The association Vereniging Sinti, Roma en Woonwagenbewoners Nederland

(VSRWN), created in 2012, advocates a continued way of life in mobile homes and tries to be

a partner for dialogue with public authorities in the domain of housing, education and

employment. This national initiative is connected to other grass roots initiatives by Sinti,

Roma and Travellers in this respect.


• Through the year, several activities are reported concerning Roma and Sinti relating

Second World War commemorations . Among others the Sinti and Roma Round Table on

the occasion of the International Holocaust Memorial Day (27) January. Other related

initiatives took place in the field of (holocaust) education. Royal appreciation (Princess

Beatrix) was shown at the final performance of the Requiem for Auschwitz in presence of

school teenagers (29 October 2013).

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slachtoffers’), Trouw, 18 October 2013. ; Netherlands, Van der Laan, S. (2013), Prostitution

and human trafficking part of Roma culture (‘Prostitutie en mensenhandel onderdeel van

Roma cultuur’), Elsevier, 18 October 2013.

Van Baar, H. (2013), Researchers a bad lot (‘Onderzoeken deugen niet’), Trouw, 26 October

2013, Causes human trafficking in Roma community (‘Oorzaken mensenhandel in Roma-

gemeenschap’),

NTR (2013), Topic: ‘Causes human trafficking in Roma-community’ (‘Oorzaken mensenhandel

in Roma-gemeenschap’), Dichtbij Nederland, 18 October 2013.

Contribution titled ‘Roma in the Netherlands’, written by another Roma Platform member

to inform the conference on the Roma in the Netherlands and send to the Council of Europe

(Michelle van Burik, 12 September 2013, not published).

Actions reported by the Association Sinti, Roma and Travellers Netherlands (Vereniging Sinti,

Roma en Woonwagenbewoners Nederland), available at its website

http://vsrwn.weebly.com/nieuws.html

http://www.kpcgroep.nl/kpc-groep/overheidsopdrachten/overige-opdrachten/lisd.aspx

http://www.kpcgroep.nl/kpc-groep/overheidsopdrachten/overige-opdrachten/lisd.aspx

http://www.owrs.nl/

http://vsrwn.weebly.com/nieuws.html


Association Sinti, Roma and Travellers Netherlands (Vereniging Sinti, Roma en

Woonwagenbewoners Nederland) presented itself as well to ministries, Parliament and

municipalities (Letter 7th of June 2013, not available on internet)

National Committee for 4 and 5 May ( Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei) (2013), ‘Holocaust

Memorial Day op de Vrije Universiteit op 23 Januari’, Press release, 17 January 2013,

available at: www.4en5mei.nl/nieuws/nieuwsbericht/54

Sinti Music (2013), ‘In honour of Mariet Verberkt and our Sinti/Roma children from Venlo,

victims of World War Two’, Web page, available at:

www.sintimusic.nl/projects/Margaretha_105

Alfa Foundation / International Gipsy Festival in the Netherlands Stichting Alfa (2013), ‘My

own Gypsyfestival at school’, (‘Mijn Eigen Gipsyfestival op School’), Webpage, available at:

http://www.gipsyfestival.nl/educatie2.html

Alfa Foundation / International Gipsy Festival in the Netherlands Stichting Alfa

(2013),Tilburg, ‘Requiem for Auschwitz’, Website available at :

www.requiemforauschwitz.eu/index.html

http://www.sintimusic.nl/projects/Margaretha_105

http://www.gipsyfestival.nl/educatie2.html

http://www.requiemforauschwitz.eu/index.html

Roma integration in the Netherlands, developments in 2013

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of Roma integration in the Netherlands, developments in 2013