ERRC Needs Volunteer Coordinators For Our Roma Rights Defenders Network!

16 September 2019

Background 

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led international public interest law organisation working to combat anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma through strategic litigation, research and policy development, advocacy and human rights education.

Since its establishment in 1996, the ERRC has endeavored to provide Roma with the tools necessary to combat discrimination and achieve equal access to justice, education, housing, health care and public services.

The ERRC’s main goal is to expose the breadth and perverse variety of antigypsyism in Europe, and to enable Romani organisations and individuals to use a rights-based approach to defeat it. 

In this spirit, the ERRC is pleased to announce our call for in-country Volunteer Coordinators for our Roma Rights Defenders network! 

Our Roma Rights Defenders are a disparate group of people from different backgrounds and countries who support our vision to directly challenge Roma Rights abuses wherever they occur. This network is relatively new and is currently engaged mostly in periodic online campaigns such as emailers and petitions. We think this can be expanded, and we want motivated activists to help us do it.

Your Profile 

You are someone who we can count on whenever and wherever human rights are under attack in various Romani communities across Europe. Your efforts, big and small, will put pressure on governments, institutions and decision-makers to improve the human rights situation of the largest ethnic group in Europe. 

You like to assist with practical solutions to concrete human rights issues by joining our online campaigns, petitions, community outreach and similar initiatives that aim to mobilize the Romani communities and help them assert their human rights in non-EU countries.

You are a proven human rights activist or a community organizer with excellent communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.  You are flexible and able to adapt to a work-from-home environment and can dedicate 7 hours per week to ERRC community work. 

Expectations 

• A role that best fits your experience, passion and expectations. 
• An opportunity to develop and implement your own project initiatives; an opportunity to make life-altering changes in the lives of subjugated minority groups across Europe. 
• An opportunity to boost your CV by gaining both leadership and managing experience. 
• A role that will advance your human rights career.
• An opportunity to gain both theoretical and operational knowledge on community activism, advocacy and lobbying.  
• An opportunity to work remotely, independently and as part of an international team. 
• An orientation week and an in-person training with the ERRC President.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Engaging in informal advocacy activities in any of the following countries:  Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine and/or Turkey. 
• Encouraging and mobilizing members of Romani communities to join ERRC campaigns, petitions, community outreach and similar initiatives that aim to improve the human rights situation of Roma in their community, country, and across Europe. 
• Strengthening and expanding the network of Roma Rights Defenders in the candidate’s country of origin. 
• Field visits and community outreach in some of the non-EU countries where the ERRC operates. 
• Contributing to the ERRC’s monitoring and visibility work. 
• Miscellaneous activities.   

Desired Skills and Experience

Education: A bachelor’s degree (or currently obtaining one) in international studies, social science, law, political science, public relations or a related field is required. High school graduation or equivalent with an extensive work experience in community work or community centered activities will be also taken into consideration.

Experience:

• Experience in organizing and commissioning campaigns, petitions and other forms of community work is desirable. 
• Knowledge of languages spoken by many Roma and experience living and working in a Romani community is highly desirable.
• Ability to communicate in English and/or in Romanes with the ERRC team.

Compensation:  The ERRC values your time and commitment, therefore we are willing to provide a beneficiary package that will cover your travel expenses, phone calls, and other related expenses incurred during your time as a volunteer coodinator.

Start date: October 2019

Time Commitment: October 2019 – December 2019 with the possibility of extension for the next year. 

Application Instructions: 

• Curriculum Vitae 
• List of three Roma rights issues in your country of origin that you believe to be of most urgency.
• A short cover letter detailing your current situation, your experience in community activism, and why you want to apply for the Volunteers Coordinator position for your chosen country.

Submission Deadline: Interested candidates are invited to submit their application to tefik.mahmut@errc.org by 1 October 2019 with the following email subject: Name and Surname, country of origin. 

Whilst applications will be dealt with based on merit, the ERRC specifically encourages activists who are of Romani origin to apply. You can read more about our Equal Opportunities Policy in our Policy Manual.