BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) today announced a new three-month training program designed to empower Romani & Traveller women activists and women-led civil society organisations working on human rights and gender equality. The program,funded by the Council of Europe,aims to build capacity in utilizing international human rights standards to address injustices faced by their communities.
The training will focus on equipping participants with the skills to describe rights violations using human rights language, understand relevant Council of Europe standards, and prepare reports and submissions to bring issues to the attention of council of Europe bodies. Practical sessions will cover the workings of two to three Council of Europe bodies, using real-life examples to connect legal standards to everyday problems. Mentorship will be provided to assist in preparing short reports or submissions. Learning materials will be accessible to participants with varying levels of education and experience.
“This training is designed to build confidence and provide the tools necessary for Romani & Traveller women to effectively advocate for their rights on a local and national level, connecting their experiences to the broader framework of international human rights law,” stated the ERRC.
The program is open to Romani & Traveller women activists and women-led organisations who work on human rights and gender equality, are interested in learning human rights law, and want to use legal tools to address the challenges they observe.
Interested applicants should submit a brief description of their organisation or activist profile (including goals, activities, geographical scope, and community engagement) and a statement of interest (maximum 500 words) outlining how the training would benefit their work to capacity.building@errc.org by 23:59 on September 15, 2025.
The ERRC will accept applications from individuals with heritage from ethnic identities commonly collectively referred to as ‘Roma and Travellers’ by the Council of Europe, including Roma, Sinti, manouche, Calé, Kale, Romanichal, Romany Gypsy, Gitanos, Bayash, Rudari, Traveller, Yenish, Gens du voyage, Balkan egyptian, Ashkali, Abdal, Dom, and Lom. Only selected applicants will be contacted.
