IFSW Europe’s representative for Romani and Traveller Rights, Allison Hulmes, Senior Lecturer from Swansea University, introduces an important new strategy for Roma and Traveller inclusion across Europe:
“The adoption of the new Roma and Traveller Inclusion Strategy marks an important and long‑awaited commitment to strengthening the rights, dignity and participation of Europe’s largest minority, who continue to face systemic discrimination, antigypsyism, and significant barriers in areas such as education, health, housing and political participation. For social work, this strategy represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a challenge to confront and transform the structural inequalities and harmful stereotypes that have historically shaped practice, and an opportunity to embed human‑rights‑based, culturally informed and restorative approaches that amplify Roma and Traveller voices, promote equality, and support meaningful inclusion. The strategy’s emphasis on knowledge, awareness, gender equality, and the centrality of community participation aligns closely with emerging social work frameworks, such as restorative practice models, such as the Reflection, Objective, Movement, Action (ROMA) Model that aim to counter antigypsyism and create more accountable, relational, and empowering forms of engagement with Roma and Traveller communities.”
Allison Hulmes, Romani & Traveller Representative, IFSW (Europe).