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Description
Programme outcome the project contributes to: “Improved situation for the Roma population”.
The project will contribute to improved knowledge of asylum and migration legislation and risks of abuse and exploitation in Bulgaria and EU/EEA among the Roma population. The Roma population are a high-risk group for exploitation and abuse, and the project envisages developing and piloting a prevention campaign related to migration both in Bulgaria and other EU/EEA countries. The Roma population has limited knowledge on the asylum and migration issues such as smuggling, trafficking, selling fake address registrations, labour exploitation and other pertinent challenges related to migration in the EU/EEA.
The project will include, inter alia, the following main activities:
- Elaboration of a comprehensive analysis/assessment of the situation of the Roma population as regards the migration related issues to better target the topics to be tackled;
- Awareness raising campaigns among the Roma communities on legal aspects, rights and responsibilities of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Bulgaria;
- Information sessions, discussions, workshops and other awareness raising activities on legal aspects of working in the EU/EEA, risks and prevention of exploitation, including risks of labour trafficking, conditions for staying and working in EU/EEA; access to social and health services in the EU/EEA
Summary of project results
The lack of knowledge of the institutional structure of the Bulgarian state, criminal law and procedure and the administrative and penal procedures related to asylum and migration issues leads to substantial risks of committing administrative violations or criminal offences in the conduct of activities related to asylum-seekers and immigrants. These risks are particularly heightened among the Roma population in Bulgaria, which is generally characterized by a low educational level, lack of legal knowledge, non-existent or low income, which encourage high-risk endeavors and offences. The project aims to provide detailed information and increase the knowledge among the Roma communities regarding the migration issues and their rights and obligations in other EU and EEA countries, including but not limited to the right to work, stay, access to healthcare services, access to education, administrative and legal services, penalties for violations of legislation, etc.
Challenges identified throughout the project implementation period include:
- The measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were an obstacle to organizing sessions and campaigns during the project''s first phase..
- Frequent parliamentary elections and the escalating political crisis made it difficult to carry out activities in the neighborhoods, especially during election campaigns. The mistrust the Roma community has developed toward institutions, combined with frequent incidents of vote-buying in the neighborhoods, poses a serious barrier to building initial communication based on trust.
Lessons learned and good practices identified within the project include:
- Fieldwork in collaboration with community representatives who are trained, recognized, and empowered mediators—embodying positive leadership and expertise, such as Roma health, education, and labor mediators—is the most effective method of intervention.
- Achieving quality and long-term results requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including local authorities and NGOs, both within the country and those providing support from abroad.
- Art is a powerful tool in the field of prevention.
The project aimed to provide support to the Roma population in Bulgaria. The citizens of this group of Bulgarian society received relevant information about the rights and obligations related to their legal migration in the EU/EEA countries, and enhanced their knowledge on asylum and migration issues such as trafficking in human beings, the sale of false registrations addresses, labor exploitation and other challenges related to the migration to the EU/EEA that put the Roma population in a vulnerable position and under an increased risk of abuse.
The following project activities were implemented by IOM Bulgaria:
- Development of a comprehensive analysis/assessment of the situation of the Roma population with regard to migration issues in order to better target the topics to be covered in the project activities;
- Organization of awareness raising campaigns among Roma communities on the legal aspects, rights and responsibilities of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants in Bulgaria;
- Organization of information sessions, discussions, workshops, seminars and other events meant to raise the awareness of legal issues related to employment in Europe and the European Economic Area, the risk of and protections against exploitation, including the risk of trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation, residence conditions and work in the European Union and the European Economic Area, access to social and health services in the European Union and the European Economic Area.
The main project output is to Increase the awareness of Roma population on asylum and migration matters. The indicators for measuring of the results are: Number of information sessions, discussions, workshops and other awareness raising activities carried out; Number of communities where information sessions are held; Number of awareness raising campaigns carried out.
Within the project, 75 information sessions were held with representatives of the Roma community, exceeding the indicator of 36 sessions. The total number of participants Roma community members was 2183, surpassing the target indicator of 700 Roma community members.
27 events were held as part of the 3 information campaigns in 18 local communities, exceeding the originally planned three local communities.
The information campaigns addressed all five sub-topics – secure job, good money, trustworthy person, good education, trafficking of persons. A large number of promotional and informational materials elaborated under the project were disseminated among people from the Roma target group.
According to the Communication Strategy developed under the project, the information campaigns focused on three target groups, and the key themes addressed were:
- Entire community of a settlement/neighborhood/school, etc.: Prevention of trafficking and migration risks, traveling abroad for work, etc.
- Roma women: Prevention of trafficking, sham marriages and related issues, recognizing children, etc.; sexual and labor exploitation, etc.
- Youth: Opportunities for continuing education abroad, vocational qualification and work; knowledge of professions and development opportunities; risks, etc.
The information campaigns were carried out in interactive format using methods of:
- Theatrical performance and discussions
- Sharing personal stories of women and discussions
Within the project, 75 information sessions were held with representatives of the Roma community, exceeding the indicator of 36 sessions. The total number of participants Roma community members was 2183, surpassing the target indicator of 700 Roma community members. 27 events were held as part of the 3 information campaigns in 18 local communities, exceeding the originally planned three local communities.
Targeted prevention among vulnerable communities, resulting from the continuous and joint efforts of NCCTHB, A21 Bulgaria, IOM Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Association for Family Planning (BASP), the National Network of Health Mediators, with the support of Local Commissions for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, is one of the key tools for providing information on safe labour migration.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the information sessions:
Migration has become the primary strategy for coping with poverty in Roma neighborhoods.
Involvement in sexual exploitation often happens through close acquaintances, family members, or a romantic partner, often a fiancé. There is also male sexual exploitation, but this remains a taboo topic.
Destination countries mainly include Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Greece, with work in construction, agriculture, and elderly care. Recognition of labour exploitation is low.
People reported that child sales are common in their community. Another phenomenon is arranged marriages with foreigners, where Roma women marry third-country nationals without receiving legal documents for the marriage and often not even knowing their husband''s full name. Some receive a small one-time sum, while others receive regular small amounts to avoid divorce. Women continue cohabiting with their Roma partners, with whom they have children. These children are legally considered to be from the marriage, complicating matters further, as the women stop receiving social benefits and cannot travel with their children without the father''s declaration.
Main arguments for education and work abroad include:
- More opportunities for realization and finding well-paid jobs.
- A more tolerant environment.
- Broadening the worldview and experience of young people, getting to know a new culture, and meeting different people.
Main arguments against working and studying abroad include:
- Bulgaria offers many good opportunities for continuing education, with the advantage of language proficiency.
- The need for young people to try to improve life in Bulgaria.
- Proximity to family and friends.
- Risks of fraud (shared stories of experiences faced by acquaintances) due to unfamiliarity with the rules of life in the new country.
Additional negative practices shared during the sessions:
Lack of employment contracts (i.e., no health and social insurance) leading to expensive treatment abroad in case of a serious workplace incident.
Lack of an employment contract resulting in fraud, non-payment of the agreed amount, forced return to Bulgaria, loss of savings, and unforeseen expenses.
More people participated in the information sessions than reported, as not all attendees registered, and the set indicator was achieved and exceeded.
Overall, the project covered Roma communities from all over the country. With the implementation of the project, the main goal was achieved - improving the situation of the Roma population. In addition to the information sessions and campaigns conducted, the project results reached a very wide range of stakeholders through social media.