From exclusion to empowerment: How Roma Women in Scotland are building strong communities

Community development is a central element of Scotland’s strategy to support local integration and to address the structural factors that contribute to the exclusion of minorities. Grounded in principles of equality, human rights and social justice, this approach is particularly relevant to challenges such as gender-based violence, unequal access to healthcare and lack of representation. Rather than focusing primarily on service delivery, community development prioritizes empowerment and participation. For Roma women, who experience intersecting forms of gender- and ethnicity-based discrimination, such development offers a pathway for strengthening agency and fostering change within their own communities.