The stigmatisation of young women, people with disabilities and Roma people who belong to the LGBTQ+ community is growing, making it harder for them to exist in one or more minority groups. Diverse Youth Network organised the Roma LGBTQ+ Forum, the first of its kind. It was held from 31 May to 2 June 2019 in Pécs, Hungary, with 21 young Roma and non-Roma activists in attendance.

The aim of the forum was to share news about the work of the Roma LGBTQ+ movement, map the participants' experiences, individual and organisational initiatives, best practices in the field of education and human rights advocacy, and develop a common mission and vision. The main outcome of the meeting was the creation of a strategy that outlines the group's workflow and its potential in the international arena. Planned activities include the Pécs Pride 2020 event, which is scheduled for May this year and integrated into the flagship festival (Freedom of My Identity). The forum was the first opportunity for many to live freely and share their true identity among peers who identify with the same issues. Since that event, the organisation has continued its work and set up the LGBTQ+ Diverse Youth Network working group, which consists of 13 Roma young people from both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community.

About Diverse Youth Network:

Diverse Youth Network was founded in 2018 on the basis of intersectionality. Students at the University of Pécs came up with the idea to create an association that seeks justice for all socially excluded groups including Roma, Jews, the LGBTQ+ community and foreigners. The aim was to provide talented Roma students with mobility opportunities through the Erasmus programme to gain international experience and also to empower Roma women through roundtable discussions. They wanted to raise awareness in Roma families about the importance of doing well in school and daring to dream big. They began to interpret the human rights approach through seminars, conferences, workshops and partnerships that include contemporary social issues from a human rights perspective. With Roma leadership, it was important to bring together the diverse youth of our societies who are silenced or left out of decision-making processes.

The Diverse Youth Network is unique because it has Roma leadership and its impact is realized in mainstream civil society. Independent of any political party or donor organisation, the underlying principle of the activities lies in local activism and empowerment of young people who are key agents of ch

reaching out to youth and others. We aim to shape public opinion about various discriminated groups suffering from social injustice. They are courageous and committed to issues that no one talks about.