{"id":1336,"date":"2026-08-30T22:54:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T12:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childrensvoicesconference.csu.domains\/2026\/?p=1336"},"modified":"2026-08-30T22:54:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T12:54:15","slug":"cvc2026-628","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childrensvoicesconference.csu.domains\/2026\/cvc2026-628\/","title":{"rendered":"CVC2026-628 \u2013 Between mistrust and engagement: Supporting participation of Roma children in Poland \u2013 A literature review"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"cvc-hero alignfull\">\n  <span class=\"cvc-chip\">Presentation \u2013 CVC2026-628<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Between mistrust and engagement: Supporting participation of Roma children in Poland \u2013 A literature review<\/h1>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"cvc-authors\">\n<p><strong>Paulina Domek,<\/strong> SWPS University, Ombudsperson for Children Office, Poland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"CVC2026-628 Between mistrust and engagement: Supporting participation of Roma children in Poland\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tydaRsfE2p4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p><strong>Background: <\/strong>Roma children in Poland continue to experience social, educational, and institutional exclusion that limits meaningful participation. Although inclusion policies exist, formal access to services does not necessarily create trust, safety, or real influence over decisions affecting children\u2019s lives. Since 2022, the arrival of Roma families displaced from Ukraine has added further challenges linked to refugee status, interrupted schooling, language barriers, housing insecurity, and anti-Roma prejudice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aim: <\/strong>This paper reviews recent literature on how institutional mistrust shapes the participation of Roma children in Poland, including Ukrainian Roma refugee children, and identifies approaches that may support more child-centred and trust-based practice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Method\/approach: <\/strong>This paper is a narrative literature review based on academic literature, Polish and European policy documents, civil society monitoring reports, and practice-oriented publications on Roma inclusion, education, discrimination, child participation, and refugee inclusion. The present version relies only on secondary sources, so ethical approval was not required.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Results\/findings: <\/strong>The review identifies three main findings. First, Roma children\u2019s participation is constrained by mistrust rooted in historical marginalisation, anti-gypsyism, and repeated experiences of discrimination. Second, Polish policy and practice often frame Roma children mainly through education, attendance, and integration, while participation involving voice, agency, and influence remains less developed. Third, Roma education assistants, cultural mediators, Roma-led organisations, and long-term community-based work are promising trust-building mechanisms, but their impact is weakened when support is temporary or underfunded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong> Meaningful participation of Roma children requires more than formal inclusion. It depends on sustained, culturally responsive, and rights-based relationships that make institutions predictable, safe, and accountable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Implications for children and families: <\/strong>Your voice matters, and you have the right to be heard. But real change happens when trust is built over time. You should feel safe, respected, and included in decisions that affect your life \u2013 not just invited, but genuinely listened to.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Implications for practitioners:<\/strong> Roma children should be listened to safely and respectfully, while practitioners should prioritise continuity, anti-discrimination awareness, and cooperation with Roma assistants, mediators, and communities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keywords<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong> Roma children, child participation, institutional mistrust, Ukrainian Roma refugees, Poland<\/p>\n<p>This presentation relates to the following <a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\"><strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<ul class=\"cvc-sdgs\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal3\">SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal4\">SDG 4: Quality Education<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal10\">SDG\u00a010: Reduced Inequality<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal16\">SDG 16: Peace<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal16\">, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal16\">Justice <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal16\">and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\/goal16\">Strong Institutions <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paulina Domek, SWPS University, Ombudsperson for Children Office, Poland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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