Project
Lithuanian Roma platform – going local
VI Phase, 2023–2025 m.
From 2023 to 2025, the Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania implemented the sixth phase of the European Commission-funded project "Lithuanian Roma Platform – going local."
The activities of the project "Lithuania Roma Platform – going local" (Phase 6) were divided into three parts:
- Cooperation with Municipalities;
- Empowerment of the Roma Community;
- Promotion of Roma Culture.
To strengthen cooperation with municipalities, Roma mediators worked in Vilnius, Kybartai, Marijampolė, Jonava, and the Panevėžys region. The main functions of the mediators were: assisting in preparing documents for public administration and other institutions; providing accompanying support in public administration and private institutions; helping ensure school attendance and promoting community empowerment. Each mediator worked 80 hours per month and provided services to approximately 20–30 Roma individuals. Additionally, a lawyer worked on the project, providing legal services (15 hours per month).
In 2024, the project's lawyer, Eglė Latauskienė, achieved an important legal victory in defending Roma rights – in July, the Kaunas District Court ruled in favor of the first criminal case on Roma discrimination in the service sector.
A significant focus in the project was on empowering Roma, especially in regional areas. In 2024, the Roma mediator in Jonava formed a Roma self-help group and organized ten meetings. In Marijampolė, two seminars were held for Roma girls and women, discussing career choices and opportunities, as well as addictions and healthy living. Training sessions were organized for project intermediaries, where patient rights and motivation methods were discussed.
Roma culture promotion activities included International Roma Day celebrations in Vilnius and Kybartai, an exhibition on famous Roma figures in the Panevėžys district, a discussion on Roma culture and its impact on integration into society in Akmenė, and a Christmas event in Troškūnai.
A book titled "Roma – Different but Not Alien" was also published.
As part of the project "Lithuanian Roma Platform – going local" (Phase 6), the Department organized two study visits – to Slovakia and Slovenia.
The total value of the project is nearly 200,000 euros.
The project is being implemented from June 2023 to June 2025.
