At the Romani School in Uzhhorod, as part of the human rights programme of the 22nd Travelling Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, a training session for Romani youth took place, dedicated to the topic of human rights, children’s rights and the protection of ethnic minorities.

This meeting became a space where they spoke about equality, dignity, and the possibility of being heard — precisely what is critically important today for young people from the Romani community.

Human rights as the foundation of safety and opportunities

The participants of the training examined the key principles of equality and non-discrimination and learned how Ukrainian legislation and international documents, particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, protect their interests.

A separate emphasis was placed on the question of why knowing one’s rights is not only about legal literacy. It is about safety, self-respect, the ability to influence one’s own decisions and to build the future with confidence.

Photo: Practical part of the training for Roma youth

For many participants, this training became a new starting point: for the first time they saw human rights not as an abstraction but as a real tool that can change their lives.

Practice that shapes responsibility

Alongside the theory, there was also a practical component, where the young people learned how to defend their rights in everyday situations: at school, in interactions with peers or adults, and in cases of discrimination.

The atmosphere of trust proved essential: everyone could ask questions, share their own story and receive support.

Voices of participants

Milena:
“I realised for the first time how important it is to know your rights from childhood. Now I feel confident that I can not only speak about the problems of the Romani community, but also actually solve them.”

Elvira:
“The biggest discovery for me was that mechanisms exist to protect the rights of children and young people. Now I know where to turn for help and how to act correctly.”

Photo: Workshop on how Ukrainian legislation and international documents—in particular, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child—protect the interests of Roma youth

A step towards a stronger community

The training session became an important event for the Romani youth of Uzhhorod — not only educational, but also emotional. It provided knowledge that protects, and skills that help them speak about themselves loudly and confidently. It is yet another step towards ensuring that young members of the Romani community feel visible, heard and capable of affecting change in their communities.

Author: Maria Mendzhul

The 22nd Travelling Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, and International Media Support. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily correspond to the views of the European Union, the governments or charities of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies solely on its authors.