Roma Education Fund

Last updated
Roma Education Fund
FoundedMay 12, 2005 (2005-05-12)
Founder Open Society Foundations
World Bank
TypeNon-profit organization
Headquarters Budapest, Hungary
Key people
Ciprian Necula, Executive Chair
Website www.romaeducationfund.org

The Roma Education Fund (REF) is a non-governmental organization established within the framework of the Decade of Roma Inclusion by Open Society Foundations (formerly Open Society Institute) and the World Bank in 2005. [1]

Contents

History

In July 2003, a conference "Roma in an Expanding Europe: Challenges for the Future", co-financed by the Open Society Institute, was held in Budapest. The conference resolved to establish the Decade of Roma Inclusion and the Roma Education Fund. [2]

European Court of Human Rights cases

In 2007, research and observations by the Roma Education Fund were cited in the decision of the landmark case of D.H. and Others v Czech Republic concerning the discrimination of Romani children in the Czech educational system. [3] REF noted the high incidence of placing children into special schools in the Czech Republic compared with other Central and Eastern European countries, the lack of a national definition of "disability" in countries within the region, and the negative effects of special schools on educational achievement. [4]

References

  1. "Poor and Unloved". The Economist. February 3, 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  2. "History of REF".
  3. Thorpe, Nick (16 November 2007). "Roma welcome anti-segregation ruling". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. "Case of D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic". European Court of Human Rights. Retrieved 17 June 2013.