Today, 13 October, an expanded working meeting with representatives of the City Council, Department of Social Welfare and representatives of the new police was held in Svaliava city council. During the meeting the practical steps about cooperation of the members of the Roma Self-Governance Body and government representatives were discussed. The discussion concerned the issue of inclusion of members RSGB to coordinating councils, commissions and committees at city council.

The Resource center of the Roma self-government developed the “Regulations on the mechanism of empowerment of the Roma Self-Governance Body in some powers of the Svaliava City Council, finance transfer and property” to create the conditions for effective interaction between the Roma community and the local authority and providing vital needs and legitimate interests of Roma communities.

The legal basis of empowering RSGB in some powers of council, finance transfer and property is the Constitution of Ukraine, the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Law of Ukraine “On local government in Ukraine”, “On the bodies of self-organization.” Currently, the Regulations are being discussed among the members of the RSGB, and to the end of October will be submitted to the executive committee of the City Council.

PS: The project “Empowering Roma communities of Mukachevo district in decision making at the local level” is implemented by Human Rights Fund “Progress” with the support of Roma program initiative of the International “Renaissance” Foundation.