Isaac Blake represented the Romani Cultural & Arts Company as part of EU Roma Week 2019. The event, hosted by the European Parliament in cooperation with the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), took place from 18–21 March 2019 in Brussels. A series of events focusing on Roma inclusion were held throughout the week, many of which were open to the public.
Among the events, the European Commission Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations presented the third EU Award for Roma Integration for the Western Balkans and Turkey. The award recognised “Roma women grassroots activists, the unknown heroes.” In addition, Bodil Valero presented the results and recommendations of a study examining the migration process from EU Member States to the Western Balkans during the event Supporting the Effective Reintegration of Roma Returnees in the Western Balkans.
Eurodiaconia and its members were strongly involved in supporting the inclusion of Roma communities across the European Union, including advocating for access to social rights and equal opportunities. EU Roma Week was recognised as a key moment in the European calendar and a significant opportunity to place Roma issues high on the European agenda.
Isaac Blake said:
“We could never rest until mainstream society moved on from the current acceptable anti-Gypsy narrative. This was an event of great significance.”