At a side event of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), participants highlighted that support for Roma and pro-Roma civil society organizations has dramatically declined in recent years. This reduction in funding has weakened their capacity to defend human rights and hold institutions accountable.
Ðorđe Jovanović, President of the European Roma Rights Centre, emphasized the urgent need to restore sustained funding for human rights monitoring, advocacy, and litigation, along with institutional funding to allow Roma human rights organizations to operate independently. He called on donors to remove bureaucratic barriers and support civil society in safeguarding rights and ensuring institutional accountability.
Limited financial support, bureaucratic obstacles, and a lack of political backing have forced many Roma and Sinti organizations to reduce their human rights monitoring activities or even suspend operations entirely. Democratic backsliding, persistent anti-Roma racism, and the rise of populist narratives have further eroded protections, leaving communities—particularly Roma and Sinti women and youth—more vulnerable than ever.
Participants also discussed strategies to revitalize activism, support local initiatives, and ensure that Roma and Sinti voices remain visible and influential in shaping policies that affect their communities.
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