CHILDREN OF ROMA

AND TRAVELLER PRISONERS

A Short Guide
 Children of Roma and Traveller Prisoners: A Short Guide

Based on a report by
Rachel Brett

Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is a pan-European network of non-profit organisations working on behalf of
children separated from an imprisoned parent. The network encourages innovative perspectives and practices to
ensure that children with an imprisoned parent fully enjoy their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and that action is taken to enable their well-being and development.

This report has been produced with the financial support of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the
European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of Children of Prisoners Europe and can in no way be taken
to reflect the views of the European Commission.

Children of Prisoners Europe is a non-profit organisation registered in France under French Association law 1901.

SIRET : 437 527 013 00019

Children of Roma and Traveller Prisoners

© 2017

Children of Prisoners Europe

 Introduction

R
oma and Travellers tend to be overrepresented in prison populations in Europe, although it is

not possible to document this fully and exact numbers are unavailable, as some countries in

Europe do not provide prison population statistics by “ethnicity” and “race”.1 Yet it is estimated

that over one half of sentenced prisoners in Bulgaria are Roma,2 with numbers being comparable

in Hungary and Romania, while Travellers make up less than 1 per cent of the general population

in Ireland, yet nearly 25 per cent of the female prison population.3 Reasons for overrepresentation

include, inter alia, increased likelihood of racial profiling, greater incidence of poverty, and lack

of eligibility for alternatives to sentencing before and during

trial and after sentencing. With the exception of Ireland, the

UK and Finland, this exploratory study, carried out in eleven The Council of Europe uses

countries in Europe4, has found that there appears to be a the term “Roma and Travellers”
which encompasses the wide
notable lack of studies and attention to the specific situation
diversity of groups: a) Roma,
and challenges faced by Roma prisoners and their children/
Sinti/Manush, Calé, Kaale,
families in those countries surveyed. Romanichals, Boyash/ Rudari;
b) Balkan Egyptians (Egyptians
Coming in the wake of preliminary mapping efforts undertaken and Ashkali); and c) Eastern
groups (Dom, Lom and Abdal);
by the Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) network across the
and, on the other hand, groups
region, this publication, based primarily on a report by Rachel
such as Travellers, Yenish and
Brett and drawing on information gleaned from members of
the populations designated under
the COPE network, aims to bring together information, good the term “Gens du voyage”, and
practice and recommendations to provide a guidance tool persons who identify themselves

for further investigation with respect to addressing the specific as Gypsies. This tool uses ‘Roma
and Travellers’ in the same way.
challenges and problems experienced by Roma and Travellers

in prison and in maintaining quality contact with their children.

These efforts are underpinned by United Nations, European

Union and Council of Europe treaties and by the European Prison Rules,5 notably Prison Rule 38(1),

which stipulates that “special arrangements shall be made to meet the needs of prisoners who belong

to ethnic or linguistic minorities”.

1 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs, Vienna, 2009, p. 58.
2 Written Comments of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Concerning Bulgaria for Consideration by the United Nations Committee
on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its 92nd Session (March 2017), pp. 7-8.
3 11 COPE countries participating in the study
4 Irish Penal Reform Trust: Travellers in the Irish Prison System (19 May 2014); Tanya Lalor: Ethnic Identifiers in Irish Prisons (Travellers in
Prison Initiative, March 2017); Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre and National Traveller Women’s Forum: Irish Traveller & Roma
Women, Joint Shadow Report (20 January 2017).
5 Recommendation Rec(2006)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the European Prison Rules (Adopted by
the Committee of Ministers on 11 January 2006 at the 952nd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies).

3
 Methodology

T
his report is based on information from members and affiliates of the COPE network, desk

research and responses to specific requests made by the author to various organisations and

individuals during 2017. The initiative for this report was a decision to send a short questionnaire to

the 86 representatives of COPE members and affiliates across Europe and worldwide, inquiring about

their experience of working with children of Roma and Traveller prisoners; a total of 19 countries in

Europe received the questionnaire.6 Twelve representatives responded from nine countries: Croatia,

Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.7 A

preliminary report drawing on the responses to this questionnaire and other materials was drafted,

and a follow-up questionnaire formulated to obtain additional information from those who had

responded. A representative from the association NGO Krits in Finland, who had not responded to

the initial questionnaire, did so during the second phase of the survey and their responses have been

incorporated into the findings. Although this study is exploratory in nature, with several methodological

limitations—its limited scope, for example, with some respondents representing local organisations and

not operating nationwide—it is believed to be the first of its kind, with its specific focus on maintaining

the relationship between children and their Roma and Traveller parents in prison.

Although many European institutions and some NGOs have a particular focus on the situation of

Roma and Travellers, including in relation to the administration of justice, they have not addressed this

particular area, rather focussing (with justification) on the questions of police attitudes and harassment,

and of hate crimes or racially motivated crimes against Roma and Travellers and the response (or lack

thereof) to them. Studies which have been carried out, and the responses from COPE members and

affiliates in this exploratory study, clearly indicate that there are specificities, some of which are common

across Roma and Traveller communities and some of which are not, as well as some shared with the

children of other prisoners. The additional problems and challenges faced when Roma are imprisoned

outside their own country, whether the children/family are in the same country as the prisoner, in their

own country or another country, also need greater attention, again taking into account the similarities

and differences with other foreign national prisoners.

6 Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Hungary and Poland were not COPE network members in 2016.
7 Respondents included Deputy Children’s Ombudsperson (Croatia), Za Branou (Czech Republic) , Hoppenbank e.V. and a social
worker in Cologne Prison (Germany) ; Bedford Row Association and Irish Penal Reform Trust (Ireland), Exodus (the Netherlands), FFP
(Norway), BUFFF and Solrosen (Sweden), Heilsarmee Gefängnisdienst (Switzerland) and Play Factors (UK).

4
Carrying out such a study can act as an impetus for stakeholders and civil society organisations to

expand their frames and the way they work. The element of process plays a key role here: surveying

COPE organisations supporting children with imprisoned parents raises awareness of the need to reflect

more deeply on ways in which they can support children of Roma prisoners as well. Likewise, through this

report, non-COPE organisations and partners who have developed or are currently developing support

schemes for Roma can reflect on how to incorporate aspects that address issues relevant to children of

Roma prisoners. In this way, The recent Roma and Travellers Team training organised by the Office of the

Directorate General of Programmes8 for staff at Sliven Prison, Bulgaria’s sole female prison, in November

2017 is a good example. The training looked at ways in which discrimination can be tackled and how to

work with women with special needs, and will be ultimately rolled out to the male prison in Sofia. This kind

of training session could provide an ideal platform for exploring ways in which to expand the frame to

incorporate a more in-depth focus on the needs of children of Roma prisoners and on how prison staff can

help support the relationship with their parent. As COPE launches a support initiative for imprisoned fathers

in Sofia in 2018,9 we hope to work closely with prison staff to together foster ways to better address the

needs of all children separated from a parent in prison.

8 The Office of the Directorate General of Programmes (ODGP) designs and coordinates Council of Europe cooperation activities
in member states.
9 “Papa Plus” is a positive parent support initiative for imprisoned fathers in Bulgaria, co-developed with the Sofia-based
organisation Child & Space and drawing on expertise from the Fédération des Relais Enfants Parents in France.

55 --
 A few figures

A few figures
As previously indicated, exact numbers are unavailable, as some countries in Europe do not
provide prison population statistics by “ethnicity” and “race.”

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee estimates that over 50 per cent of sentenced prisoners in Bulgaria
are Roma.10 An unsourced report in 2015 by Agence France Presse indicated that most of the
inmates in one juvenile detention facility in Bulgaria were Romani.11

In Croatia, Roma are overrepresented in the prison population; this is particularly disproportionate
in the case of minors and young adults.12

In England and Wales, about 5% of prisoners self-identified as Gypsy, Romani, Travellers in 2012-13,
according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons,13 or approximately 4,200, with 12% in facilities for
15-18 year olds. This may not include foreign Roma as they may have been recorded only under their
nationality.14

In Finland, it was estimated in 2010 that 6% of the prison population was Roma who comprise
0.2% of the general population of the country.15

In Germany, the Federal Government disputes the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s finding
of a disproportionate application of pretrial detention in the case of foreign nationals and Roma,
including minors on the basis that there are no figures to support it.16

In Hungary, although data is not collected, empirical studies indicate that Roma are overrepresented
in the criminal justice system17 with possibly 45% of prisoners being Roma13; similarly in Romania.18

In Ireland, Irish Travellers make up 0.6% of the general population but 15% of the male and 22%
of the female prison population.19

In Italy, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has particularly noted the need to
monitor and remedy the disproportionate application of pretrial detention in the case of
foreign nationals and Roma, including minors.20

A study in Spain in 1999 found that 25% of women prisoners were Roma although only 1.5% of
the general population are Roma.21

10 Written Comments of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Concerning Bulgaria for Consideration by the United Nations Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its 92nd Session (March 2017), pp.7-8
11 http://www.romea.cz/en/news/bulgaria-most-inmates-in-shocking-juvenile-prison-conditions-are-romani (accessed 24/9/17)
12 According to the Republic of Croatia Ombudsperson for Children around 38% of those in the Correctional Institution in Turopolje are
Roma (response to COPE questionnaire, 14 September 2016)
13 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP): People in prison: Gypsies, Romany and Travellers (11 March 2014), p.7
14 “Bridging the Gap between Academics and Policy Makers” Thematic Meeting Report and Policy Guidance from a Council of
Europe/European Academic Network on Romani Studies funded International Seminar “Crime and Punishment: Gypsies, Travellers and
Roma in the criminal justice system” 3rd December 2014 Venue: New Scotland Yard, London, UK, pp 45 and 46
15 Krits Probation Foundation response to COPE questionnaire, 1 August 2017
16 Report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Follow up Mission to Germany, A/HRC/30/36/Add.1, paras. 12-13, and 72
(10 July 2015)
17 Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mission to Hungary, A/HRC/27/48/Add.4, paras. 118–121, 3 July 2014
18 Response to COPE questionnaire by Winie Hanekamp (Exodus)
19 Irish Penal Reform Trust: Travellers in the Irish Prison System (19 May 2014); Tanya Lalor: Ethnic Identifiers in Irish Prisons (Travellers in Prison
Initiative, March 2017); Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre and National Traveller Women’s Forum: Irish Traveller & Roma Women,
Joint Shadow Report (20 January 2017)
20 Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Follow up Mission to Italy, A/HRC/30/36/Add.3 (10 June 2015)
21 Barañi Project: Study of Romani Women in Prison in Spain (1999)

6 6 --
 Disproportionate representation in prison -07

populations: some hypotheses

Several factors, including racial profiling, a lack of legitimate opportunities for securing income, and

ineligibility for alternative sentencing, can lead to higher rates of incarceration for Roma/Travellers. Many

of the reasons for the over-representation of Roma and Travellers in European prison populations are

identified as priority issues to be addressed in the European Union’s Roma Integration Strategies. The

European Commission has linked monitoring progress in Roma integration to its wider growth agenda,

Europe 2020.

• Roma/Travellers being more often subjected to police stop and search operations increases the

likelihood they will enter the criminal justice system22

• Greater frequency in reporting offences committed by perpetrators from Roma/Traveller backgrounds

• Discrimination in sentencing23

• Difficulty in claiming state benefits24 and punitive

denial of benefits25 increases the likelihood of both

poverty and ‘antisocial behaviour’ (e.g., begging)

leading to arrests, unpaid fines and imprisonment26

• Greater reliance on court-appointed defence counsel, who tend to be less active in defending their

clients as they are often poorly paid

• Alternatives to imprisonment before and during trial and after conviction27 (including early release28)

may be premised on the offender having a certain identity, residence, family and social network, job and

roots in the community29

• Because Roma are often amongst the poorest members of society, they are not in a position to post bail

(pre-trial) or pay fines instead of a custodial sentence.

22 Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Non-discrimination and the protection of persons with
increased vulnerability in the administration of justice, in particular in situations of deprivation of liberty and with regard to the
causes and effects of overincarceration and overcrowding (A/HRC/36/28 of 21 August 2017), para. 17; Barañi Project
23 Written Comments of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Concerning Bulgaria for Consideration by the United Nations Committee
on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its 92nd Session (March 2017), p. 30
24 Pavee Point joint submission to CEDAW: for example being unable to demonstrate their right to reside in accordance with
European Directive 2004/38 and other conditions. This problem may also mean that Roma and Traveller victims of domestic
violence may not be able to access services or alternative accommodation.
25 Written Comments of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, op cit, p. 30
26 Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnics Studies: Situation of Roma in Latvia
27 Barañi Project: Study of Romani Women in Prison in Spain (1999)
28 Can Yildiz presentation, “Bridging the Gap between Academics and Policy Makers” report, p. 46
29 Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: General recommendation XXXI on the prevention of racial discrimination
in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system (2005), para. 26(a) and (c); Situation of Roma in Latvia, p. 50

- 7
77 --
 Roma, Gypsy, Traveller, Irish Travellers:
similarities and distinctions relevant to children of prisoners

Although the issues faced by imprisoned Roma and Travellers and the impact on their children
may be similar, there are general differences to consider as well, of course, as their individual
experiences and circumstances differ.

Similarities include:

• Experience of long-term discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion.30

• Negative experiences of governmental authorities, including the police, prison officials and social services.

• Tendency for the level of education and literacy to be much lower than in the general population31,
which may make accessing information, services and resources in prison harder too32 as well as maintaining
contact with family.33

• Tendency for Roma and Travellers to have more children and from a younger age than the general
population.34 This suggests a need to be alert to the importance of working with those in juvenile detention
facilities as well as those in adult prisons.35

• As with prisoners in general, who looks after any children not imprisoned with the mother varies with
extended family often stepping in with the usual benefits and challenges of these arrangements.

• Foster or state care may raise concerns about the safety of the children and their losing their Roma/
Traveller cultural identity.36
• Generally high levels of poverty and social deprivation reduce the possibilities of travelling to visit an
imprisoned parent, the frequency of phone contacts and access to services and assistance.37

• Added difficulties of maintaining contact with family arise for those who are nomadic or semi-nomadic,
or live on temporary sites from which they may be moved on, so that mail may not be received, and
internet access and mobile phone signals may be limited.38

• Lack of data is correlated with lack of support.

30 See European Commission: Assessing the implementation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and the
Council Recommendation on Effective Roma integration measures in the Member States 2016
31 Families Outside response to COPE questionnaire; TPI Stategic Plan: 53.5% of Travellers in British prisons have self-reported literacy
problems. p.6; Overlooked and Overrepresented: Gypsy, Traveller and Roma children in the youth justice system (The Traveller
Movement, 2016); Pavee Point joint submission to CEDAW; The situation of Roma in Latvia (Riga, 2003)
32 Rachel Doyle: ‘Hearing their Voices’ Traveller Women in Prison (Travellers in Prison Initiative, Draft, March 2017)
33 Situation of Roma in Latvia
34 According to HMIP, in England and Wales Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners were significantly more likely to report having
children under the age of 18 (64% compared to 51%). According to Overlooked and Overrepresented: Gypsy, Traveller and
Roma children in the youth justice system, one in ten of the boys (aged 15-18) in Young Offender Institutions reported that they
had a child. In Ireland, the Pavee Point joint submission to CEDAW reports that “There are 252 married 15-19 year old Travellers
of which 91 are males and 161 are females; 27% of Traveller women have had 5 or more children compared with 2.6% of
women overall.” Also Families Outside response to COPE questionnaire, and Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, p. 30.
35 Maria Baum, Caritas Erzbistum Cologne, interview with Claudia Vogg, 25 April 2017; Republic of Croatia Ombudsperson for
Children response to COPE questionnaire 14 September 2016.
36 Rachel Doyle: ‘Hearing their Voices’ Traveller Women in Prison (Travellers in Prison Initiative, Draft, March 2017)
37 Republic of Croatia Ombudsperson for Children response to COPE questionnaire 14 September 2016.
38 I-HOP Recognising the Needs of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) Children Affected by a Family Member’s Offending (10 July 2017)

8
Distinctions include:
• Nationality and language

• Settled vs. nomadic

• Some may be imprisoned in their own country; in that

case, Travellers are more likely to speak the language of
that country.

• Some Roma may not use the national language as their

mother tongue (may also be an issue for communication
between prisoner and child if the prison authorities do not permit the use of a language they do not
understand).39

• Those imprisoned in another country, like other foreign nationals, may not speak/understand the
language of the place of imprisonment. The prisoner may be subject to deportation at the end of the
sentence, even if there are family members in the country of imprisonment.40 Furthermore, they may be
‘irregular migrants’ which raises issues not only for the prisoner but also for the family/partner/spouse if
they are also in the country irregularly and so may be afraid to visit or contact the prisoner.41 Those without
nationality may have a temporary leave to remain.

• A nomadic lifestyle or living in an informal settlement (even within the country of imprisonment let alone
in another country) makes communication between prisoner and children harder as there may not be
effective postal or phone communication, or only mobile phone access with increased costs.42

• The child, or family members able and willing to look after the baby or child, may be in a third country,
ie neither the country of origin nor the country of imprisonment, and may also not be easy to contact.43
This could also be complicated by immigration status or rules.

• In some communities, it is not common to name the father on the birth certificate which creates problems
for children wishing to visit their imprisoned father.44

39 Czech Ombudsman’s 2009 Report states that it is prohibited for prisoners to speak Romani language to own preschool age
children on telephone
40 Response to COPE questionnaire by Hedy Brenner, Heilsarmee Gefängnisdienst (Switzerland)
41 Example from Terre des Hommes Belgium in email to author
42 HMIP, p.10: Despite being more likely to report that staff had supported them to maintain contact with their family (40%
compared with 35%), a greater proportion of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners than other prisoners reported problems
with sending or receiving mail (52% compared with 45%) and access to telephones (35% compared with 28%).
43 Maria Baum, Caritas Erzbistum Cologne, interview with Claudia Vogg, 25 April 2017
44 Response to COPE questionnaire by Winie Hanekamp (Exodus)

99 --
 Women and children in Finland:

Women and children in Finland:

Romano Missio case study
Romano Missio, an organisation working to support Roma people in Finland, have
been working with Roma female prisoners since 2010, overseeing initiatives such
as a child protection unit for Roma children. After a series of projects, they have
now secured permanent funding for working with Roma female offenders from the
Criminal Sanctions Agency. Their target group is small but demanding, and Romano
Missio’s work is crucial. As part of their work, the “Women’s Turn” project developed
a culturally sensitive service scheme with practices that have been introduced into
mainstream prison services. An initial project was staffed by Roma project workers hired
to support female Roma prisoners on an individual basis, while also leading thematic
focus groups as part of “Voiva” (loosely translated as “able”), a programme launched
in 2011 in Vanaja women’s prison. Voiva has 11 themes, one of which is parenthood.
Discussions draw on a method called “the map of parental roles”, which explores
parenting through a variety of different parental roles, ranging from guardian; to
loving and nurturing; to setting boundaries. Other themes related to children include
child-rearing practices common to Roma culture and the evolution of parenting over
the years. Some 400 people have participated in the Voiva groups in four prisons in
Finland to date. Many women serve short sentences and thus participate in the group
several times.

The women’s prison also has a family unit where prisoners can reside with their children,
who can stay with the mother in prison if under age 2 at the time of incarceration;
they can remain there until age 3. The family unit staff took care of the children when
their mothers attended the Voiva group; in some exceptions, the children could
accompany their mothers to the group sessions. Likewise, when the women came to
meet the Roma workers on an individual basis, they could bring their children along.
Roma workers also went to visit the women in the family unit.

The Roma workers were in touch with a range of services and authorities, including
child protection services, as well as the families of the prisoners. Some of the prisoners
had children that were placed in the Romano Missio Roma child protection unit.

Responses to the project have been positive: female Roma prisoners have felt that
they benefited from the presence of Roma workers. The women in Roma culture play
a very central role in keeping families together. Helping the mother benefits the whole

10
 -011

family. The women have expressed relief over their having someone to work with who
understands the culture they come from. Roma in Finland speak Finnish as their native
language, but usage differs slightly, which can sometimes contribute to difficulties
in communication. The women have said that they don’t always feel able to
communicate and explain their needs to the prison staff. The prison staff has reacted
favorably to the project and reported gains of important information about Roma
culture that enhanced their understanding of the women. The staff also maintain that
the women seek out more contact with staff as a result.

Romano Missio secured additional funding for a follow-up project in 2015-2016 called
“Time for Change”, which offered female Roma prisoners support during the post-
release resettlement process. In Finland, prisoners can be eligible for probationary
supervised freedom, allowing them to serve the end of their sentence outside the
prison, supervised technically and subject to strict regulations, including participation
in mandatory activities.

Time for Change offered regular, individual support meetings as a part of Roma
women’s supervised probationary freedom. Children could accompany their mothers
to the sessions, with their needs being accounted for as well in terms of age and
development.

After Time for Change ended, in 2016, permanent funding was secured in 2017 for
Women’s Corner, which is a meeting point and support centre in Helsinki. The meeting
point coordinates the prison work and Voiva-work and offers personal support with
post-release resettlement and service counselling. A play corner has been set up
at Women´s Corner and it is developing additional mother-child work. The initiative
involves cooperation with child protection services and other organisations who
support the mother-child relationship. The overall idea is to support the mother to use
existing services with the assistance and help of a Roma worker.

Magazine Title

11
11 --
 Good practice: examples across Europe

G
ood practices do exist and much benefit could be derived from increased sharing of

them. These include working with Roma and Traveller organisations, employing Roma and

Travellers in work engaging with prisoners and their children, and having programmes or

links both within the prisons and in the Roma and Traveller communities. The findings of this exploratory

study clearly indicate that good practice includes working with Roma or Traveller organisations, based

not only on the experience of COPE members who participated in the study, but also on such schemes

as the Irish Travellers in Prison Initiative (TPI), launched in 2014, with a steering group which includes

Traveller organisations. The overall aim of the TPI is to embed positive change in policy and practice.

The TPI has identified five key action areas that have the potential to inform policy and practice in a

pragmatic and sustainable manner. They are:

1. Building a knowledge base about Travellers in prison

2. Increasing and improving access to prison-based services for Travellers

3. Strengthening supports for families of Travellers in prison, and following release, via a multi-agency approach

4. Strengthening self-identity and self-advocacy for Travellers in prison by mainstreaming a peer support model

5. Increasing awareness and capacity through training and learning programmes to prison service and

probation service staff.42

This Initiative and the examples of good practice from the UK (England &Wales) on the next page follow

from the studies undertaken about the specific situation of Travellers in prison in these two countries; in

the latter case, Roma were included in the study.

Given Roma/Travellers’ generally negative experiences with respect to government authorities,

underscoring the non-governmental status of COPE members and affiliates was beneficial.

1 Travellers in Prison Initiative (TPI) www.ssgt.ie

12
 Good practice: examples across Europe

England and Wales

Good practice for Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners in England and Wales include:

• At HMP Woodhill, Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners could apply for additional weekly telephone

credit from their private cash if their only means of contact with family was by mobile telephone.

A database of approved Traveller sites was maintained, and Traveller and Gypsy month had been

celebrated.

• At HMP Leyhill, families of Gypsy, Romany and Traveller prisoners were able to collect visiting orders

at the gate.

• At HMP Leeds, links had been established with community organisations to support Gypsy, Romany

and Traveller prisoners on release.43 In addition, good practice guidance, developed in partnership

with NACRO, is available to staff on

the NOMS intranet. The guidance

comprises several annexes including

‘Myths and Facts’ and ‘A Brief History

of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK’.44

• At HMP Ford there is a Gypsy,

Travellers, Romany (GTR) Offender

Representative who meets and greets

new offenders which helps them to

establish a feeling of belonging, and

also a GTR staff member, who is a

member of the education department,

and is someone the prisoners can approach for help and guidance and to act as an interface with the

prison system and prison officers.45

• Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) have hosted offenders on a Community Service placement

within their organisation.

43 HM Inspectorate of Prisons: People in Prison: Gypsies, Romany and Travellers, February 2014, p. 11
44 UK response to OHCHR’s questionnaire on minority issues, 2015
45 Joseph Wenman, Jimmy Wenman, Frenny Green, Sean Price, Jessie Fuller, Aleta Blackall: HMP Ford Model of Good Practice
Gypsy, Traveller, Romany (undated)

13
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 Good practice: examples across Europe

Latvia
The Ilguciems Women’s Prison in Latvia in 2003 was reported as having its own children’s home for

children of prisoners up to the age of three. The nurses at the children’s home speak Romani and a

Romani woman worked there as a nanny for a time.46

Croatia
In Croatia, the Ombudsperson for Children is a source of support for the imprisoned Roma in the same

way as for other imprisoned parents and their children and has encouraged programmes to improve the

parenting skills of prisoners, both for mothers47 and fathers (including juveniles/young adults) because

of their identification of this as a particular need, especially for Roma. These programmes are general

but have a significant participation by Roma because of the high proportion of Roma prisoners. A

notable example is the ‘Be a Man Club Turopolje’, run by the organisation Status: M for the young

males in that Correctional Institution, which includes a broad range of issues around gender equality,

power relations, expressing emotions and domestic violence as well as parenting. In addition, the

programme encourages the young men to continue to work with them in their own communities after

their release and which has resulted in cooperation with the Croatian Roma Union and social welfare

centres with large Roma populations.48

Bulgaria
A similar programme for imprisoned Roma mothers launched by the association Child&Space is

run at the only women’s prison in Bulgaria49. Child&Space support Roma mothers in writing to their

children (low levels of literacy and difficulties in expression), and also have a mobile family counselling

service going from one Roma community to another, thus not only working in the community but also

connecting life in the prison with life outside.

46 Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnics Studies: Situation of Roma in Latvia, Riga, 2003.
47 Children born in prison are allowed to stay with their mothers in the maternity ward of the Pozega Penitentiary.
48 See also Jurica Pacelat, Status: M, Croatia, Strengthening parental competencies of young prisoners”, in European Journal of
Parental Imprisonment, pp. 5-7.
49 Presentation by Vessela Banova, Therapeutic Director of Child&Space at COPE Annual Conference, Naples, 19 May 2017.

14
 Good practice: examples across Europe

Finland
In Finland, the ‘Womens’s turn’ project developed a culturally sensitive service-package with practices

that have been incorporated into the mainstream prison services. Roma women have been hired

to work as mentors in prisons to support female Roma prisoners. The follow-up ‘Time for change’

post-release resettlement project supported the resettlement of Roma women. Targeted stakeholders

include Roma and non-Roma NGOs and public authorities dealing with crime.50 A core principle of

the prison rehabilitation programme is the involvement of Roma workers who therefore understand the

culture and appropriate approaches so that the participants feel equal and understood, enabling an

open and constructive dialogue about the causes of criminal behaviour and the possibility of other

solutions. In addition, having a Romani colleague in the

prison helps to build mutual trust and understanding with Challenges for NGOs
the other staff. 51
The programme is now being extended

to male Roma prisoners. (For additional information, see The two primary challenges

boxed feature on pages 10-11). according to COPE member

responses were language—

Czech Republic making communication difficult

In the Czech Republic, a programme has been developed and/or requiring the use of an

by the Czech Probation and Mediation Service to ensure interpreter—and lack of COPE

that the Roma minority receives equal access to services members’ contact with Roma

during the implementation of alternative sentences.52 families.

50 European Commission: Assessing the implementation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and the
Council Recommendation on Effective Roma integration measures in the Member States 2016, pp25-26
51 Krits Probation Foundation response to COPE questionnaire, 1 August 2017
52 Handbook on prisoners with special needs, UNODOC 2009,page 68

15
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 Women and children in Finland:

Recommendations

1. The relevant European Union, Council of Europe and OSCE bodies should give attention to the

specific situation of Roma and Traveller prisoners and their children and families.

2. The EU should organise a workshop/focussed discussion on these issues with a view to informing

the strategy for Roma Integration, a better understanding of the difficulties and challenges, and a

sharing of good practice.

3. The experience and materials of the organisations and bodies working with Roma and Traveller

prisoners and their children and families should be widely shared. COPE could assist with this by having

a link on their website to such materials and encouraging others to use and to contribute to it.

4. COPE members/affiliates could undertake studies of the situation of Roma and Traveller

prisoners and their children/families in the same way as has been done in Ireland and the UK, and

which have formed an important basis for subsequent work and initiatives, and ensuring that such

studies specifically include foreign national Roma prisoners.

5. Encourage the European Network of Children’s Ombudsmen (ENOC) to undertake a specific

study of the situation of Roma and Traveller children who have an incarcerated parent.

6. Recognise the additional burden of stigma and exclusion carried by children of prisoners who

are also Roma/Travellers.

7. Encourage contacts amongst COPE members in different countries, and/or with Roma/

Traveller organisations in different countries, where the prisoners’ children are in another country in

order to assist with maintaining contacts between the children and their imprisoned parents.

16 16
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 Useful links

Barnardo’s i-HOP - https://www.i-hop.org.uk

Council of Europe CAHROM - https://www.coe.int/web/youth-roma/cahrom

Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture – www.cpt.coe.int

Council of Europe European Commission against Racism and Intolerance – https://www.coe.int/t/democra-

cy/migration/bodies/ecri_en.asp

Equal Rights Trust - www.equalrightstrust.org

Equality and Human Rights Commission: England’s most disadvantaged groups: Gypsies, Travellers and
Roma, London, March 2016.

European Commission - http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/roma/index_en.htm

European Roma Rights Centre - www.errc.org

Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) – www.gypsy-travelller.org

HEUNI – European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control – www.heuni.fi

Irish Chaplaincy - http://www.irishchaplaincy.org.uk

Minority Rights Group – http://minorityrights.org

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights – www.osce.org/odihr

Penal Reform International - https://www.penalreform.org

Raoul Wallenberg Institute – http://rwi.lu.se

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Children of Roma and Traveller Prisoners: A Short Guide
www.childrenofprisoners.eu
Children of Prisoners Europe is a non-profit organisation registered in France
under French Association law 1901. COPE is grateful for the longstanding
support of the Bernard van Leer Foundation and current financial support of
the European Union for making the production of this journal possible.

SIRET : 437 527 013 00019

This report has been produced with the financial support of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship
Programme of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of Children of
Prisoners Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.