Roma communities in Ukraine face many challenges that have been exacerbated by the full-scale invasion:
Forced displacement and loss of housing
Discrimination and the need for humanitarian assistance.
Limited access to medicine and education.
UN Women, together with the UN Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), supports the project of the Transcarpathian Regional Charitable Fund “Blago”, which helps Roma women and girls in Ukraine. The main goal of the project is to provide access to humanitarian, legal assistance, and education. The initiative also aims to increase the participation of the Roma community in decision-making and promote the integration of Roma women and girls into communities.
Thanks to the project, over 2,500 women and girls were supported during 2024-2025.
“The full-scale war has become a test for all Ukrainian women and men, while at the same time it has highlighted those problems that have long been ignored. However, it was in these difficult conditions that the needs of Roma women became more visible. Organizations such as UN Women and WPHF drew attention to the crisis situation and supported Roma initiatives. Thanks to this, communities gained access to education, legal support and humanitarian assistance,” says Eleonora Kulchar, Director of ZOBF “Blago”.
It is important to continue supporting Roma women and girls so that they have equal opportunities to develop and protect their rights.
The project is implemented with the technical support of UN Women in Ukraine and with funding from the UN Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), a flexible and operational financing instrument that supports quality interventions to increase the capacity of local women to prevent conflicts, respond to crises and emergencies, and use key peacebuilding opportunities.