The members of our Care4Youth team enthusiastically discussed in Kino Usmev about document “Neviditelne deti – Invisible Children” from the “Hrdinovia medzi nami – Heroes between us” series with his director Marek Franko and Marek Roháček from the civic association Navrat.

Currently, several thousands of children live in Slovakia who suffer violence from their closest ones. However, we do not know about most of them. Where is the border between individual failures, system malfunctions, and the apathy of society? We discussed this and a lot more.

Towards a European framework for national strategies for Roma inclusion after 2020

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities participated in the conference against anti-Gypsyism held on 27 November in Vienna, Austria, as part of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The objective of this conference was to develop recommendations for a possible European framework for national strategies for Roma inclusion after 2020.

Participants exchanged examples of good practices and discussed the establishment of anti-Gypsyism monitoring mechanisms that would be extended to all European countries and more sustainable. They also discussed ways to inform the population about anti-Gypsyism and develop a more positive image of Roma and Travellers.

John WARMISHAM (United Kingdom, SOC), Congress spokesperson on Roma and Traveller issues, led a workshop on “How to strengthen the recognition and political will of decision-makers at local and regional level to fight anti-Gypsyism and to advance Roma inclusion”. It was in this context that John WARMISHAM presented the initiative to create national networks of mayors led by the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion of the Congress. Such networks can “serve as platforms for the exchange of good practices and dialogue between mayors but also with Roma civil society” in order to allow for a better inclusion of Roma, he explained. The Congress spokesperson also invited the participating of local and regional elected representatives to publicly condemn anti-Gypsyism by signing the Declaration against anti-Gypsyism.

The issues raised during the workshop will be gathered by the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU and included in recommendations which will contribute to the European Commission’s reflections on the post-2020 European approach to Roma inclusion.

Conference on anti-Gypsyism on 27 November 2018. Copyright BKA/Regina Aigner

Conference on anti-Gypsyism on 27 November 2018. Copyright BKA/Gabriel Stern

Conference on anti-Gypsyism on 27 November 2018. Copyright BKA/Regina Aigner

Conference on anti-Gypsyism on 27 November 2018. Copyright BKA/Regina Aigner

Conference on anti-Gypsyism on 27 November 2018 – Family photo. Copyright BKA/Regina Aigner

Conference on Anti‑Gypsyism on 27 November 2018. Copyright BKA/Ines Bind

Our team from Department of Health Psychology met with colleagues from Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry and at the Medical Faculty of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University to prepare details of the new HepaMeta II project.

The project is primarily aimed at solving the syphilis epidemic, in which the clinical part is planned, in addition to hepatitis B and C and parasitosis in Roma settlement in Trebisov in cooperation with Regional Public Health Office in Trebisov.

“How to improve system of care for adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems?” Care4Youth team brainstormed and got inspired together with care providers from wide range of institutions solutions as a part of the workshop focused on mapping and optimalization of system of care for children with emotional and behavioural problems on the 22nd of November. Outcomes could be expected in the upcoming months!

Our colleagues Daniela Fiľakovská and Andrej Belak were invited to facilitate meeting of health care proffesionals who serve as contact persons for Roma health mediators in hospitals.

This activity was an important step in implementation of this pilot activity where health care proffesionals exchanged their experiences and shared their ideas and opinions about barriers and facilitators of pilot implementation. At the same time, material recorded on this meeting will be used in ongoing process evaluation of this pilot activity.

“How to improve system of care for adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems?” Care4Youth team brainstormed solutions as a part of the preparation for upcoming workshop with care providers planned on the 22nd of November.