The MARIO project, a collaboration between PILnet and Minority Rights Group Europe (MRGE), is dedicated to supporting grassroots civil society organisations (CSOs) working to represent minority groups across Central and Eastern Europe. We recently attended a series of meetings under the MARIO project that provided invaluable insights into the challenges and successes of these CSOs in their mission to protect minority rights. The takeaways from these three days spotlight the evolving landscape of minority rights, the importance of strategic advocacy, and the resilience of civil society.
Key Takeaways:
- EU Anti-Racism Action Plan: Progress and Challenges: Michaela Moua, the European Commission’s Coordinator on Combating Racism, explained how the EU has made strides in addressing systemic racism with the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, with regular Civil Society Forums which offer critical insights from the ground, while subgroups on national action plan work with member states, acknowledging diverse national contexts. This has shown how Civil society’s continued engagement with policymakers is crucial for effective implementation.
- Strategic Advocacy: Beyond International Efforts: Neil Clarke from MRGE emphasised the importance of grassroots organisations providing on-the-ground information to shape EU recommendations. Engaging with international bodies like the OSCE and pursuing legal action can be effective strategies, but they require careful planning and support. MRGE’s Brussels office for instance is positioned to support grantees with their advocacy efforts, ensuring that their actions focus on impactful legal mechanisms as these processes can be long and costly.
- Shrinking Civic Space: Threats and Resilience: Kerttu Willamo from the European Civic Forum highlighted the increasing threats to civil society, including legal restrictions and attacks on human rights defenders. Despite these challenges, civil society remains resilient and continues to fight for human rights and democracy. One key advocacy priority raised during the meetings was to create a strategy to ensure civil society is a crucial part of decision-making processes.
- Grantee Success Stories and Challenges: The MARIO Project’s grantees shared inspiring stories of their work in their region such as:
- The Roma Parliament Civil Rights Movement succeeded in establishing community spaces for the Roma, while the Somnakuno Drom Roma Women’s Civic Association empowered young Roma to become future community leaders.
- Minority members now feel more confident in openly discussing their identities, a significant step toward increasing visibility.
- (JövőKép and Oltalom Sport Association): CSOs developed innovative tools like the ERIKA Helps app to educate communities about fundamental rights and organise secure spaces for activities. However, challenges such as centralized hate speech and outreach remain key hurdles.
- The Ramuva Union (Lithuania) and POKAZ (Croatia) shared their challenge in two cases of non-implementation of a decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). During the past months, PILnet assisted them with info packages and consultations to address this challenge and in Brussels presented some key strategies to the rest of the grantees. You can find the “Info package for implementation of ECtHR judgments” here.
- A Call for Continued Engagement and Collaboration: Jelena Jovanovic from ARDI highlighted the importance of keeping anti-racism and minority representation on the EU agenda. The upcoming renewal of the EU’s anti-racism strategy presents an opportunity for civil society to inform new policies and ensure that they are supported by sufficient resources and legal protections. Representation gaps, such as the lack of Roma MEPs in the EU Parliament, further underscore the need for inclusivity in decision-making bodies.
The meetings emphasised the importance of sustainability, with participants discussing how to maintain progress beyond the project’s duration. For example, the Roma Parliament’s concern about sustaining community spaces and the JövőKép association’s challenge in reaching target communities highlighted the need for long-term planning and funding.
The insights from the MARIO Exchange & Advocacy meetings reinforce the critical role of collaboration between civil society, policymakers, and legal experts in addressing the challenges facing minority communities. As the EU prepares to renew its anti-racism strategy, it is essential to integrate ground-level insights from grassroots CSOs and ensure that policy frameworks are supported by sufficient resources and legal protections.
PILnet, in partnership with MRGE, is committed to strengthening the legal capacity of CSOs, enabling them to navigate the complexities of advocating for minority rights in an evolving civic landscape.
