As part of the Council of Europe’s Visibility Week, national and local authorities, experts and Roma community representatives gathered in Diyarbakır to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on Roma inclusion.  

The programme opened with a workshop where the representatives of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies presented the ‘National Roma Strategy Action Plan’, while the Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate introduced the ‘Local Roma Action Plan’. Sertaç Işık, The Council of Europe Expert then outlined the ‘Roma Employment Strategy and Roadmap’, followed by an interactive discussion on priorities and implementation.

Later in the day, the delegation met with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies, the Family Support Centre (ADEM), and the Diyarbakır Bar Association. These exchanges underlined the pivotal role of local institutions in advancing inclusion policies.

The programme concluded with a field visit to the Dom neighborhood, where participants engaged with community representatives and associations. This dialogue highlighted the priorities and challenges of Roma and Dom communities, reaffirming the importance of inclusive, participatory approaches.

“Ensuring Roma inclusion requires joint efforts at the national and local level, and close cooperation with civil society,” has been the joint message from representatives of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Social Services. “Diyarbakır’s engagement shows that progress can be made through dialogue, partnership, and concrete action.”

This visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Council of Europe, national authorities, and local stakeholders to promote the social, economic, and cultural inclusion of Roma communities across Türkiye.

This activity is organised in the framework of the European Union–Council of Europe Joint Programme “Roma Integration Phase III”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.