E-Romnja - the Association for promoting Roma women's rights

E-Romnja is an association established in August 2012 by a group of activists that advocates for a public agenda that must include Roma women’s issues.E-Romnja advocates for the respect, integrity, and dignity of Roma women. Our focus is on working for images of Roma women to reflect the diversity and reality of their lives. Over time, negative images of Roma promoted by media, literature, and even art have had a major impact upon the lives of Roma women,making them invisible and marginalized.They’re voices have yet to be documented – from their experiences as slaves, their inferior position inside their communities and/or families, or the patriarchal system which kept them illiterate, economically dependent, and subjugated to cultural traditions. But most importantly,their invisibility as women has had a major impact upon the policies and programs adopted to improve their situation, which over time reflects the role that they are allowed to have in community and society. This is why we believe that it is important for Roma women to be reflected as they are and to be represented on the public agenda as a first step in asserting their rights. We are part of a Coalition for Gender Equality along with other three ngo’s Centre for Equal Partnership, Front and ALEG We are part of a coalition against sexual violence along with other seven organizations - coordinated by ALEG We have also partnerships with: Romano ButiQ, Centre for Juridical Resources and Human Rights, Centre for Juridical Resources and Human Rights, Centre for Juridical Resources and Human Rights, National Agency for Roma, Sastipen - Roma Centre for Health Policy, National Democratic Institute, E-Civis, We also developed partnerships with schools from Mizil, Spantov and Margineni de Jos and the Office’s mayor in Spantov We are beneficiary within a project run by Resource Centre for Public Participation (CeRe) Projects in partnership     EEA Grants- ONG Fund,’’Women’s participation is EQUAL’’- April 2014 - June 2015     EEA Grants- ONG Fund, ’’I am a model for community’’ -January 2014 - August 2015     Foundation Open Society Institute–Roma Initiative Office,’’Get involved and change perspective’     EEA Grants- ONG Fund,’’Coalition for Gender Equality - April 2014 - August 2015     EEA Grants- ONG Fund, ’’Break the silence about sexual violence: strengthening the capacity of NGOs to integrate sexual violence on public agenda’’- April 2014 - March 2015     Open Society Institute – Human Rights program,''Protection order – advocacy and litigation     Mama Cash Foundation –''Roma women consolidate local democracy’’ project implemented during June 2013 – August 2014 in Mizil and Spantov   Our activities will have two levels of intervention: the local (at the level of communities) and national. Our local level of activities will focus on:     Implementing projects to support Roma women's interests.     Supporting local initiatives for women.     Advocacy at local/county authorities to address Roma women's issues on their agenda.     Creating networks to give women the possibility to affirm and promote their own interests.     Address sensitive subjects in communities, such as early marriages, girls education, women's health, access to jobs, etc.     Develop social and juridical services necessary to protect women's rights.     At the national level our activities will focus on:     Creating a communication bridge between Roma and non-Roma women as a important factor for the success of our campaigns (lobby for different causes found at a local level, partnerships, etc.)     Creating or being a part of national and international networks who support women's initiatives.     Developing campaigns to combat the negative images and stereotypes related to Roma women.     Elaborating shadow reports/research/materials that document Roma women as in a vulnerable position in Romania.     Developing programs to integrate Roma women on the labor market.