Advisory Board on Romani Affairs
The National Advisory Board on Romani Affairs
The Advisory Board functions in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Task of the Advisory Board on Romani Affairs is to enhance the equal participation of the Roma population in the Finnish society, to improve their living conditions and socio-economic position and to promote their culture. Its work includes cooperation and expert help in matters involving the Roma and the authorities in Finland. The Government appointed the first Advisory Board on Romani Affairs in 1989, but its work actually began in 1956 under the name Advisory Board on Gypsy Affairs.
The Government appoints the Advisory Board for three years at a time. The Advisory Board includes a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a maximum of 16 other members. Half of the members represent the Roma population; the other half represent the administrative sectors of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of the Environment, and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. The Advisory Board employs a full time General Secretary. The General Secretary prepares the work of the Advisory Board and carries out its decisions.
The Advisory Board convenes about 5-6 times per year. The work section prepares matters to be brought up at meetings. Every year the Advisory Board organises seminars, to which both authorities and representatives of the Roma population are invited. The seminars deal with current themes of development included in the annual action plan of the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board has long been involved in european, international and Nordic cooperation.
The Advisory Board influences the development of Finnish legislation and administration in matters concerning Roma. At the initiative of the Advisory Board, a training group for the Roma population was established in the Finnish national Agency for Education in 1994. In 2000, a reference was added to the Constitution to the right of the Roma to maintain and develop their own language and culture. The Advisory Board focuses on domestic activities.
International affairs have increased significantly in recent years, and this is particularly reflected in the work of the Senior Specialist/Secretary General. The development of international and domestic legislation on human rights, minorities and discrimination as well as monitoring and participating in the work of the Council of Europe, the EU, the OSCE and other international institutions are part of the work to promote the equality and inclusion of the Roma.
The Advisory Board on Romani Affairs cooperates closely with the authorities, organisations and other cooperation partners.
Regional Advisory Boards
There are four Regional Advisory Boards on Romani Affairs. The task of the Regional Advisory Boards is to support the local cooperation and Roma participation in municipalities and to prevent prejudice. Furthermore, they function as a cooperation body between the Roma and the authorities and launch development projects with a view to improving the position of the Roma population. The Regional Advisory Boards have contributed to the fulfilment of the principle of subsidiarity at the local level. They have existed for almost ten years and the experiences gained from their work are positive. Half of the members are Roma and the other half are civil servants.