Happy International Roma Day 2018

April 8 - International Roma Day - is an occasion to celebrate the rich culture, traditions, and heritage of the Roma people. It is also an opportunity to celebrate Roma women, in particular, as this day marks the end of the Month of Roma Women's Activism.

As Europe's largest minority, with an estimated population of more than 10 million, Roma face discrimination and exclusion in social, political, and economic life, and are deprived of fundamental human rights that are guaranteed to them by their countries' constitutions. Roma women face additional discrimination based on their gender.

Supporting Romani civic activists and political leaders for more than a decade, NDI pays particular attention to the inclusion of Roma women in its initiatives. With programs in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia, NDI has seen Roma women win elections, mobilize their communities, and press for changes large and small to improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

The Institute is pleased to feature some of these outstanding Roma women in celebration of this year's International Roma Day, by asking them to share their thoughts about changes they want to see and how they can lead their communities forward.