Roma Health Network

The Roma Health Network is a free to join, non-statutory network established in 2018 by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) following the 12th meeting of the European platform for Roma inclusion. It includes organisations working with Roma communities in Europe addressing social determinants of health, fundamental rights and access to rights and services for improving Roma health, through research, advocacy, policy development, monitoring and community organising.

Roma refers to the political term used by the Council of Europe and designates Roma communities, Sinti, Kale, Manouches, Gitanos, and related groups in Europe, including Travellers and the Eastern groups (Dom and Lom), and covers the wide diversity of the groups concerned, including persons who identify themselves as Gypsies and Travellers

According to the World Health Organization the social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels.

● Involving Roma Health Network’s members in European advocacy in regards with public health and Roma related policies
● Engaging with European and national policy makers and relevant stakeholders
● Initiating policy dialogues with respective stakeholders for achieving positive policy changes
● Conduct research on Roma health inequality issues, its relation to housing and their effect on education
● Compose and submit policy recommendations to national and EU level policy makers
● Making Roma health a priority on EU and national level political agendas
● Developing and promoting political narratives on social and environmental determinants of Roma health
● Contributing to design, implementation and monitoring of public policies affecting Roma communities with focus on health
● Raising awareness of respective communities on recent health policies and their implications on everyday life
● Extend and strengthen the Network’s national level reach out by engaging and liaising with relevant national and local stakeholders in respective countries
● Exchanging information, expertise and best practices through the Network’s Annual Meeting in Brussels
● Organisation of webinars for capacity building, information exchange
● Coordination of joint advocacy actions on relevant issues identified by the Roma health network members
● Organisation of working group meetings and regular calls
● Undertaking joint initiatives involving members acting in different countries
● Designing and leading national advocacy and communication campaigns following joint actions/statements