On 27 June 2023, the final conference of the Roma Mentors Pilot Project was held at the Park Hotel in Čakovec.
The project was implemented from the beginning of October 2021 under the project “Strengthening human rights protection and public safety through improving the capacities of the Croatian Probation Service”, co-financed under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, in cooperation between the Probation Sector of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and Varaždin Probation Office and Međimurje Police Directorate, Croatian Institute for Social Work – Čakovec Regional Office, Croatian Employment Service – Čakovec Regional Office, Međimurje County, Victim and Witness Support Service Croatia and the Institute of Public Health of Međimurje County, whose representatives attended the conference.
The Roma Mentors Pilot Project employs six recognised and highly motivated members of the Roma national minority from Međimurje County. Roma mentors acted as a the link between members of the Roma national minority and the above institutions and facilitated communication between them, making the content and services provided by the institutions more accessible. Over time, Roma mentors extended the cooperation to other institutions such as UNICEF, Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities, Early Childhood Intervention Center MURID, family physicians, pediatrists, etc.
Since all the institutions with which the Roma mentors cooperated as well as members of the Roma national minority themselves recognised the benefits of such cooperation and recognise the potential of Roma mentors for further positive developments, a model of continuation of the project is sought.
