Supporting and promoting participation and inclusion of Roma young people is central to the response of the Council of Europe to challenges faced by Roma youth across Europe, particularly in relation to their empowerment, participation in policy decision-making processes and structures at European level, and multiple realities of discrimination.

The work on Roma youth participation is currently based on two main types of intervention:

  • Developing policies and programmes in support of Roma youth participation, including the preparation of a Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states, based on a double mainstreaming between Roma and Youth policy areas;
  • Capacity-building of and with Roma youth-led organisations and networks, including education and training activities at the European Youth Centres.

The work of the youth sector with Roma youth supports the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2022-2025). It is run in close cooperation with Roma Youth organisations and network and with the Council of Europe Roma and Travellers Team. These activities follow on the experiences and results achieved with the Roma Youth Action Plan (2011-2019).