Municipal Mediators with the Roma Communities
The Projecto-Piloto para Mediadores Municipais Junto das Comunidades Ciganas [Pilot Project for Municipal Mediators with the Roma Communities] is being implemented by the Alto Comissariado para a Imigração e Diálogo Intercultural, I. P. [High Commission for Equality and Intercultural Dialogue] (ACIDI, I. P.), through its Gabinete de Apoio às Comunidades Ciganas [Cabinet for Roma Communities Support] (GACI). The project started on April 2009. All Town Hall in Portugal with Roma population could apply to have financial support in hiring a Roma mediator. The aim of the project is the improvement of the access of Roma to local public equipments, services and facilities, as well as improving the communications between the Roma and the surrounding communities, by granting financial support to local authorities in the hiring of mediators to work before the Roma communities. Any Town Hall, with Roma population can apply to the measure, proposing a mediator. The mediators proposed by the Town Hall should be preferably of Roma origin, in what constitutes a case of positive discrimination regarding the employment of Roma, very rare in Portugal. The project intends to place mediators at the service of the town hall or in projects developed by the town hall, with the objective of training them in a work context. ACIDI has also a training program directed to the mediators, focused on three areas: Laws and Institutional Norms, Mediations and Communication. The total budget of the project is of 451.194,39€. ACIDI supports 75% of the salary of the mediator, the remaining being guaranteed by the town hall. ACIDI will also support the training of the mediators, as well as an external evaluating team.
Source:
ACIDI - High Commission for Equality and Intercultural Dialogue http://www.ciga-nos.pt/Default.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=11&mid=47&ItemID=548
