Chisinau, April 2 - Today, within the Roma Week celebrations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Republic of Moldova participated in the first of two-day International Forum "European cooperation for Roma inclusion: from policies to action" as an active member of the Roma Task Force.

The Forum was graced by the opening remarks of the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and by Valentina Olaru, State Secretary, Ministry of Education and Research, Veaceslav Reabcinschii, Director General of the Agency for Interethnic Relations, Jānis Mažeiks, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, Ester Ruiz de Azua, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in the Republic of Moldova, Dominika Stojanoska, Country Representative of UN Women, Guido Beltrani, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova, and Vasile Drangoi, President of the Coalition "Roma Voice". The journalist Valentina Ursu moderated this session.

“For the third consecutive year IOM is participating in Roma Week. For this year’s celebrations, IOM focuses its contribution on the issues of Roma children's education and the social inclusion of the Roma community in the cities of Soroca, Otaci and Edinet. However, IOM's work to ensure that Roma communities have equal access to social services is an ongoing effort. Comprehensive case management, referrals, dignified return, and sustainable reintegration assistance are key activities to facilitate Roma inclusion in local communities, foster social cohesion and contribute to access to essential social and administrative services,” said IOM Moldova’s Chief of Mission, Ester Ruiz de Azua, during the opening remarks.

The 2-day Forum includes panel discussions on “Engaging civil society and international partners in supporting and integrating Roma and building resilience to the refugee crisis” and “Social cohesion and community development”.

Since 2022, the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme has aided close to 1,300 Roma individuals in voluntarily returning to Moldova and successfully implemented over 200 reintegration grants. Additionally, the Mobile Protection Programme has provided legal and social assistance to close to 800 Roma individuals, including women, men, girls, and boys.

The Forum was also organised with the support of IOM within a EU-funded project.
 

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For more information, please contact:

Riccardo Severi, Communications and Public Information Officer, IOM Moldova, rseveri@iom.int