Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts
These values fuel our fight for a world where Romani women are not just participants, but architects of gender equality.
The FCRGE is a transnational network of activists, scholars and professionals dedicated to advancing gender equality for all Roma women in Europe. By strengthening the leadership, visibility, and professional opportunities of Romani women in gender justice work, we challenge systemic barriers and build collective power. Through intersectional knowledge-generation, advocacy, and solidarity, we work to ensure that Roma women—whether in expert spaces or in their communities—have the resources and recognition to drive change on their own terms.
We are united by our commitment to:
Roma feminist leadership
Intersectional justice
Collective empowerment
Why Our Work Matters
The Barriers We Face
Low employment rates: 72 % of Roma women aged 16 to 24 years are neither working nor in education or training
Why it matters: Without economic independence, Roma women cannot escape cycles of poverty, invest in their communities, or claim seats at decision-making tables where policies affecting their lives are created.
Education: 16 % of Roma women never attended formal education.
Why it matters: Denying Roma girls education systematically excludes them from leadership roles, political participation, and the ability to advocate effectively for their rights.
Gender based violence: GBV against Roma women in the European Union is a significant concern, yet comprehensive EU-wide data specific to this group remains limited. However, available data indicates that 29 % of Roma women had been first married before the age of 18
Why it matters: Early marriage and unrecorded abuse trap generations of Roma women in dependency, preventing them from becoming the leaders and changemakers their communities need.
Health Inequality: 30 % of Roma women feel that health problems have limited their activities in some way & Roma women live, on average, 11 years less than women in the general population
Why it matters: Health inequality shortens lives, disrupts families, and undermines collective power. When Roma women are denied care, entire communities lose out.
Discrimination: 29% of Roma women reported experiencing harassment because of their Roma background & 38 % of Roma women said that they have experienced discrimination because of their ethnic origin, or skin colour, when looking for work
Why it matters: Discrimination limits access to safety, stability, and opportunity. It reinforces exclusion across every part of life—from the street to the workplace.
We build Roma feminist power through:
Advocacy in national and international policy spaces where Roma women’s voices are excluded
Research by and for Roma women, using our lived expertise
Intersectional Leadership & Capacity Building Program rooted in anti-racist, feminist principles
Roma Feminist Blog, showcasing Roma women and queer artists & writers
Our story
We came to the meeting as experts—with PhD's, policy briefs, and decades of collective experience in gender justice. We left as revolutionaries.
In 2022, we attended what should have been a landmark event - a high-level European meeting dedicated to Roma and Traveller women. As professionals, scholars and activists, we came ready to contribute our expertise. Yet we found ourselves in a familiar paradox: present in the room, but absent from the conversation.
But this time, something different happened.
In the space between formal sessions, we began sharing our stories - not just of exclusion, but of our work, our research, our visions for change. There was power in this recognition: we weren't alone in navigating these challenges. More importantly, we weren't waiting to be given permission to lead.
By October 2022, what began as shared frustration became determined action. We founded the Collective not as a protest, but as a proposition: What could Roma women achieve if we created our own spaces? If we valued our own expertise as much as we valued seats at others' tables?
What We've Built Together
A transnational network where Roma women's knowledge is centered, not sidelined
Advocacy platforms that bring our expertise into policy discussions on our terms
Mentorship systems that ensure our collective wisdom gets passed forward
Research initiatives grounded in both academic rigor and lived experience
We honor the vital work of Roma women's organizations across Europe and we believe that when Romani women professionals come together, we can drive real change. With the right support, we can dismantle barriers and ensure that Roma women’s expertise is valued and recognized in all areas of gender equality and policy-making.
This is the work we wish had existed for us. Now we're building it for those who come next.
- Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts team
Sponsors & Donors
Thanks to our generous sponsors and donors, we have the opportunity to develop new projects, reach a wider audience, and have a greater impact. The funding enables us to create meaningful partnerships, organize impactful activities, and implement sustainable initiatives. Their contributions fuel our growth and enable us to further our mission of making a positive difference in the lives of Roma women.
We invite partners, funders, and allies to join us in this mission—whether through funding, collaboration, or amplifying our work
