(Iasi, Romania, 22 October, 2000) - Advocacy and activity to empower and support Roma and Sinti communities are urged on CEC member churches by a decision of the Central Committee of the organisation, currently meeting in Iasi, Romania.

The need to raise awareness of the conditions faced by Roma/Sinti communities and the need to empower those same communities was the motivation behind the recommendation adopted by the 40-person Central Committee.

The Committee also asked member churches to dedicate a specific time each year, at least between 2001 and 2003, as a time to both pray and meet with Sinti and Roma, encouraging appropriate activities according to the country or region. Suggestions were made of possible activities, such as inviting representatives to speak during worship or at special events, distributing information about Sinti and Roma organisations and projects, and possibly preparing an exhibition on the specific situation of the Sinti and Roma.

The Central Committee also agreed that CEC and the Brussels-based Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) should co-operate in organising a consultation on the situation of the Roma in central and eastern Europe.

In a further recommendation, the Central Committee urged member churches to get actively involved in promoting the formulation of just and generous migration and asylum policies in their respective countries.