The University of Lancashire has published a report on how Roma children are responding to covid-19 in the EU and specifically in Bulgaria. The study was born at a time when the EU is about to publish a post-2020 Roma inclusion initiative, however critics highlighted that so far there has not been a clear indication to include the voices of Roma children and young people.
For the report the information was collected from 13 organisations operating in 9 European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Spain and the UK) working with Roma children and young people. The researchers have articulated 3 main areas of challenges that these children face:
1. Lack of Essentials for Basic Health and Income
- Roma families are unable to access food
- Or access basic services (e.g.: clean water, sewage etc)
- Lost their income when returned from Western Europe due to the pandemic, no job perspective in home country
2. Wellbeing and Education
- Restrictions have severe impacts on the wellbeing of children who are not allowed to play outside
- The closure of schools could lead to isolation for them
3. Discrimination and Participation
- New forms of discrimination
- Stricter restrictions for Roma communities and negative attitude from the public and the police
- Limited access to quality health services
- Greater discrimination from employers leading to hardships finding a job
- "Combined effects of poor housing, economic disadvantage and lack of access to online learning"
- Lack of accessable information on safety measures
Recommendations
- Stronger community involvement
- The EU should enable Roma children and young people to be included in decision-making processes
- Social protection is essential