6 February 2023 Needs Analysis After Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes
According to a report prepared by the Zero Discrimination Association, approximately 2 out of 3 young Roma face discrimination in educational settings.
02 February 2023, Thursday - Time: 10:15 | Updated: 04 February 2023, Saturday - Time: 03:49
DUVAR – The report titled “These Roma Are Always Like This – Discrimination Faced by Roma Youth in Education and Employment”, prepared by the Zero Discrimination Association with the support of the Etkiniz EU Program, has been published.
The report includes findings about the discrimination experienced by Roma (Roma, Dom, Lom, and Abdal) youth living in Turkey in educational and work environments. Additionally, it contains a series of recommendations. The report analyzes findings from educational and workplace settings and reveals the basis of discrimination faced by young Roma.
ROMA CHILDREN AND YOUTH LACK ACCESS TO EDUCATION
The report is based on findings from interviews conducted with 105 Roma youth aged 15-25 from eight provinces in Turkey (Diyarbakır, Edirne, Hatay, Istanbul, İzmir, Gaziantep, Uşak, and Artvin). These findings indicate high dropout rates among Roma children and youth. Of the 95 young people who participated in the interviews, 28 had dropped out of school, while 56 stated that they had interrupted their education for at least half a semester. Economic difficulties and exclusion/discrimination were identified as the main reasons for school dropouts.
Another significant finding is the discrimination encountered in educational settings. Among the 95 participants, 61—approximately 2 out of 3—reported facing discrimination in environments like schools.
When asked who subjected them to discrimination, the majority of the youth cited "friends or their families." Of the 95 participants, 71 stated they were discriminated against by friends or their families, while 17 mentioned experiencing discrimination from their teachers.
The primary reason for discrimination in schools was identified as ethnic identity, with 57 young people stating that they were discriminated against due to their ethnic background.
MORE THAN HALF OF THE YOUTH ARE NOT EMPLOYED
Another key finding from the study pertains to youth employment rates. More than half of the interviewed youth are not employed. Out of 97 participants, 50 stated they were unemployed. Among those who were employed, 23 had irregular jobs without social security.
The reasons for unemployment among young Roma include low education levels, discrimination in job search processes, and exclusion in workplace environments.
Of the 64 young people who shared their experiences, 22 reported facing discrimination during job searches. Ten participants stated that they were asked if they were Roma during job interviews. Meanwhile, 21 participants reported workplace discrimination, with 18 attributing it to their ethnic identity.
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT
The conclusion section of the report includes recommendations on combating discrimination, improving education and employment opportunities, youth policies, and related intersections based on the findings and the demands of the youth. Some of these recommendations are as follows:
- The most important demand of young Roma is increasing their participation in decision-making mechanisms.
- During the preparation of a Strategic Action Plan for Roma Citizens, meaningful participation of the youth and specific strategies targeting young people should be ensured.
- Policymaking processes designed for and with the participation of young people should include groups from Roma communities, particularly young people with varying needs (young women, persons with disabilities, etc.).
- The youth demand that policymakers combat discrimination, enact anti-discrimination laws, and impose deterrent penalties related to discrimination.
