"The American civil rights activist Malcolm X once said that "education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." This photo exhibition that we open today is a reminder that we are not all equal when it comes to the right to education", stated Rudko Kawczynski in its speech for the inauguration of the exhibition "Failing another generation: addressing the segregation of Roma children" today, in Strasbourg, during the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)'session.

This event was co-organised by the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) and the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) in the framework of the PACE debate Ending discrimination against Roma children. The work of the acclaimed photojournalist Stephanie Sinclair brings to life the experience of young Roma who challenged the practice of school segregation in their country.

Strasbourg, 8 April 2013: Today, on International Roma Day, the European Roma and Travellers Forum declares its strong solidarity with many Roma who still experience extreme poverty, miserable conditions, fear and discrimination in their daily lives. Current conditions are an affront to human dignity everywhere.

We take this occasion to pay tribute to those who have fought, and continue to fight – despite the hardship and sacrifice involved – for equality and the right of all people to live with respect and dignity. The struggle to break down the prejudices towards Roma and to eliminate discrimination is essential to the struggle for social justice and a better world, which is the responsibility of us all.

On 20 March 2013, the ERTF addressed the Assembly of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) during its plenary session in Strasbourg. This exchange of views with the experts coming from the 47 member states of the Council of Europe has given the ERTF an opportunity to present its activities and objectives, but also to sensitize the ECRI members to the main issues and challenges faced by the Roma communities in Europe.

This was also an occasion to elaborate on the cooperation possibilities between this Council of Europe monitoring body and the ERTF. Followed by a presentation by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), the discussion was a big success and aroused a lot of interest from the ECRI members.

Strasbourg, 20 March 2013," The Alliance project is timely because the situation of Roma remains an affront to our democratic ideals and values. But all these efforts will come to nothing unless both, national and local authorities are politically committed to make radical reforms. We hope that this political commitment and goodwill will be forthcoming at this project", stated Rudko Kawzyncki in his speech during the launching ceremony of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion.

Other speakers addressing the audience were the Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, the Deputy Mayor of the one of the eleven founding participants, the City of Heraklion, Despoina Syggelaki - together with Congress President Herwig van Staa.

The Alliance's project was initiated following the Summit of Mayors on Roma in 2011, and aims at providing support to local and regional authorities in implementing inclusive policies, especially through exchanging experiences and practices, organising thematic workshops and training or study visits as well as sharing information on policies and sources of funding. Its focuses on thematic issues such as education, housing, health care and employment, as well as cross-cutting issues such as empowerment and participation, access to public services and funding, rights and duties.