SİROMA Launch Event

Launch event of “Technical Assistance for Promoting Social Inclusion at Densely Roma Populated Areas” was organised at Ankara Sheraton Hotel on May 24, 2017.

Mr. Mehmet ERSOY, Deputy Minister for Family and Social Policies, Mr. Ahmet Baha ÖĞÜTKEN, Deputy Minister for Health, Mr. Yusuf BÜYÜK, Deputy Undersecretary of Ministry of National Education, Ms. Radiye Sezer KATIRCIOĞLU, Chair of Gender Equality Commission and Kocaeli MP, Ms. Ayşe DOĞAN, Tekirdağ MP, Hüsniye ERDOĞAN, Konya MP, deputy governors, district governors, province directors, representatives of non-governmental organisations, high level representatives of various public institutions and agencies and Roma people participated in the event. Awarding ceremony of photo contest with the motto “Our Difference is Our Unity, Our Unity is Our Future” was held during the event as well.

During his opening remarks, Mr. Mehmet ERSOY, Deputy Minister for Family and Social Policies, stated that “Each citizen living in this geography is a key element of our existence; each is A-class citizen. It is our task to assure that every citizen benefits from all services and opportunities offered by the state in an equal and fair manner”. Mr. ERSOY indicated that they wish that all objectives set in National Roma Strategy Paper are attained one by one. 

Mr. Ahmet Baha ÖĞÜTKEN, Deputy Minister for Health, stressed that under health component of the project, training programmes are implemented with the aim of raising awareness of health and promote healthy life and that they reached high number of Roma people through information sessions on basic health issues. Mr. ÖĞÜTKEN added that under health component, awareness raising activities are conducted and personal health kits are prepared and distributed for adults and children.

Mr. Yusuf BÜYÜK, Deputy Undersecretary of Ministry of National Education, pointed out that the project sets a good model of coordination for three major ministries. Mr. BÜYÜK expressed that as MoNE, they pay great importance to students’ access to education and their school attendance and added that “This project, aspiring to enhance the welfare of the Roma people, is indispensable for us; we intend to contribute to their being good human beings and citizens”.

Ms. Simona GATTİ, EU Minister Counsellor, underlined that as the EU, they attribute great importance to SİROMA Project. In the meeting, Dr. Muhammet ÖRNEK, MoFSP Director General of Family and Community Services and SROB made a presentation on the background, objectives, activities and results of the project.

Turan Topalar, Alev Özcan and Emine Toprak and other successful photograph artists received their awards from deputy ministers, deputy undersecretaries and from Ms. Radiye Sezer KATIRCIOĞLU, Kocaeli MP, Ms. Ayşe DOĞAN, Tekirdağ MP, Hüsniye ERDOĞAN, Konya MP within the framework of photo contest with the motto “Our Difference is Our Unity, Our Unity is Our Future” organised with the aim of raising awareness of the Roma people among general public.