Introduction

The past year has witnessed a range of developments local, national and international levels, which have impacted on the nature and extent of the work of the National Traveller Women's Forum (NTWF).

New challenges and opportunities have continued to be presented and the NTWF have responded through active engagement in a range of activities directed at addressing and challenging the on-going exclusion of Traveller women in Irish society and the racism and sexism which they are continuously forced to face

These developments have included:

At Local Level

The on-going development of Traveller women's groups and the growth in the numbersof Traveller women's groups dispersed throughout urban and rural Ireland and a growing demand for support and capacity building measures.

Increased participation of Traveller women in the work of local Traveller organisations and in representing Traveller and Traveller women's interests in various local policy making arenas including - Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees, Regional Traveller Health Units, Area - Based Partnership and Community Group structures, local Community For a, regional Planning Committees on Violence Against Women etc.

At national level

The involvement of the community sector in the negotiation and monitoring of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness

The development of the report of the Monitoring Committee of the Task Force on the Traveller Community and the on-going work of Task Force implementation committees.

The passing of the Equal Status Act and the development of the equality infrastructure at national level including the work of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Inter-culturalism and the Equality Authority.

The changing demographic structure of Irish society and the increase in the numbers of women from minority ethnic groups now living here.

At international level

The review of the Beijing Platform for Action.

The Irish preparations for the third World Conference Against Racism.

The development of the European Network Against Racism and the work of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Interculturalism.

This annual report gives an account of the work undertaken by the NTWF towards meeting our objectives in the context of the above developments. In addition, the report highlights the range of work, which remains to be done in advancing the position of Traveller women and the challenges facing the National Traveller Women's Forum in attempting to overcome the many barriers which continue to prevent Traveller women from the achievement of full self-determination and equality. Clearly, there is an urgent need for additional resources to support the work of the NTWF which to date has been undertaken with particular effort commitment and much overtime on the part of our three part-time workers. Securing core funding, adequate office space and programme budgets will therefore be a priority over the coming year.

NTWF Objectives
The National Traveller Women’s Forum is an alliance of Traveller women and Traveller organisations from throughout Ireland which aims to:
	Work collectively to challenge the racism and sexism experienced by Traveller women and promote Traveller women’s right to self-determination, the attainment of human rights and equality within society.
	To actively support Traveller women to come together, examine and analyse the issues affecting them and develop policies and strategies to address these issues in order to effect change.
	To continue to facilitate and support Traveller women to take up key positions and leadership roles within the Traveller community, within the National Traveller Women’s Forum and within other arenas in society.
	To network and develop solidarity with the feminist, anti - racist and community development movements at local, national and international level and promote solidarity between Traveller, settled and minority ethnic women.
	To develop and articulate a clear analysis of the relationship between sexism and racism and promote a Traveller women’s agenda in all aspects of policy relevant to them.
	To celebrate the role played by Traveller women in the promotion of human rights for their community.
	To promote the uptake a Traveller women’s agenda within Traveller and women’s groups at local, regional and national level.

Current Funding and Staffing Arrangements

The NTWF is funded from two key sources.  The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs are funding the organisation to the tune of £15,000 per annum, with a commitment to funding at the level of £23,800 from 2001 - 2004.

In addition, the Citizen Traveller Campaign funds the organisation's information work and this funding is secure up to the end of 2001.

The NTWF has a staff compliment of 3, including a part-time co-ordinator, a part-time information worker, and a development worker employed on Community Employment. From time to time, the NTWF supports work placements for students studying the Community and Youth Work courses at NUI Maynooth.

Staff Members
Rachel Doyle
Rosaleen Mc Donagh
Cíara Shanahan

Management

The NTWF is managed by a co-ordinating group composed of Traveller and settled women who oversee the running of the organisation and are responsible for staff issues, ensuring that the aims, objectives and principles of the organisation are adhered to, financial matters and accounting procedures, strategic planning and evaluation.

The development of work-plans and policy is also assisted through the organisation of regional membership consultation meetings.

Co-ordinating Committee Members
Biddy Kavanagh - Tullamore Travellers Movement
Mary O' Donoghue - Tullamore Travellers Movement
Catherine Joyce - ITM
Ronnie Fay - Pavee Point
Brigid Ward - Clondalkin Travellers Development Group
Sandra Mullen - Clondalkin Travellers Development Group
Anastasia Crickley - Pavee Point
Oonagh Mc Ardle - Galway Travellers Support Group
Julia Sweeney - Galway Travellers Support Group
Bríd O' Brien - Pavee Point
Nancy Collins - Pavee Point
Margaret Casey - Limerick Travellers Development Group
Julie Nevin - Laois Travellers Views

Membership

Membership of the NTWF is open to Traveller women and Traveller groups from throughout Ireland, which work to promote the aim and objectives of the NTWF and the principles outlined above.

Membership currently stands at 70 Traveller women's groups with 40 individual Traveller women who are not currently part of a local group also having joined.

Legal Status

The NTWF is currently being incorporated as a Limited Company and is seeking Charitable Status.

NTWF Representatives

Throughout the year, the NTWF was represented by the following:

The NTWF would like to thank all of our representatives for their hard work throughout the year.

NTWF - A Community Work Organisation

The National Traveller Women's Forum strives to work from the principles of community work and promote equality, an appreciation of diversity and human rights in all of our activities.

Community work enables people to play a role in shaping the society of which they are a part and works towards assisting groups and communities experiencing poverty and exclusion, to articulate their needs and views and to take part in collective action to influence the processes that structure their every day lives

Community work is founded on a number of key principles which are important for the work of the NTWF, these are:

Traveller Women -Has Anything Changed?

Five Years after the publication of the ' Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community' is an opportune time to examine the extent to which policy developments at national level, have had an impact on the lives of Traveller women

The task force report stated that 'The inequalities experienced by women generally are also experienced by Traveller women.  In addition, Traveller women suffer from discrimination experienced by a group in Irish society….much of the discrimination experienced by Travellers in Irish society has an impact on the lives of Traveller women'.

The report highlighted the particular difficulties which face Traveller women in relation to education, training and employment, childcare , violence including institutionalised violence, and health and stressed the need for more information and data on the specific needs of Traveller women in relation to a range of areas.

It is difficult to assess the level of improvement in the lives of Traveller women to-day. The task force report uses 1987 health statistics (the only ones available) as an indicator of the status of Traveller women in Irish society - 'at birth male Travellers can expect to live 9.9 years less than settled males, whereas life expectancy at birth is 11.9 years less for female Travellers'.

There is little evidence to show that this situation has changed and with 1,207 Traveller families living on the roadside in 1999 - an increase of almost 10% since 1995, a damning statistic, it is clear that urgent responses are required to address a worsening situation, which continues to have a devastating effect on the health and well - being of Traveller women.

However, opportunities are opening up for Traveller women in particular in the area of education and training. At local level, new and existing Traveller women's groups are developing, expanding and running training programmes which specifically focus on the needs of Traveller women. In addition, Traveller women are increasingly representing their interests on a range of local policy making fora.

At national level, Traveller women are playing a key role in the development of national Traveller organisations and in representing their community at policy level.  A number of Traveller women are currently attending third level colleges and universities and others continue to take part in community based training and education programmes. 

One of the key difficulties in assessing the level of improvement/dis -improvement in the lives of Traveller women in Irish society, is an absence of dis-aggregated data and statistics, particularly regarding health, education, training and employment. Policy development at national level must be monitored in a way which illustrates outcomes or lack of outcomes for Traveller women. The development of data collection systems which specifically identify Traveller women is key to the successful identification of models of good and effective practice and policy towards the achievement of full equality and human rights for Traveller women.

NTWF Work Areas 2000

Policy Work

Task Force Committees: Throughout the year, the NTWF continued to be represented on the committees established to oversee and monitor the implementation of the Report of the Task Force on the Traveller Community i.e. the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee on Traveller Education, the Task Force Monitoring Committee.  The NTWF has attempted to promote the inclusion of a Traveller women's dimension to the work of the above committees.

Meetings of NTWF and other Traveller representatives were also held to ensure co-ordination and a planned strategic approach to our work on these committees.

National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism - The NCCRI was established in July 1998 and seeks to draw together key government and non-government bodies to address racism and to promote a more inclusive intercultural society. The NTWF is represented on the board of NCCRI and also on it's women's and international sub groups.

Community Platform - The Community Platform comprises national networks and organisations within the community and voluntary sector which are engaged in combating poverty and social exclusion and promoting equality and justice. The Community Platform acts as a mechanism to enable member organisations to engage in social partnership via the Community and Voluntary Pillar.  Throughout 2000, the NTWF participated in the work of the Community Platform and promoted the inclusion of a Traveller women's dimension in the negotiation of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

World Conference against Racism - The World Conference Against Racism in 2001 will be the third UN world conference on this issue.

As part of the European preparations for the conference, the Council of Europe hosted a Governmental conference ' All different all equal

From principle to practice'The European contribution to the World Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Strasbourg from the 11^th to the 13^th of October 2000.  The conference brought together Government delegates from the 41 member states of the Council of Europe to address the persistent rise in racist and xenophobic activity in Europe and the rest of the world and was preceded by an NGO Forum.

The National Traveller Women's Forum attended both the NGO Forum and the Governmental Conference and made a range of submissions in relation to the inclusion of Travellers and women in the documents emerging from the conference.

Beijing + 5 Review - June 2000 marked the 5 year review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Beijing 'Platform for Action'.  In order to input into this process, the NTWF co-hosted a round table discussion with women from minority ethnic groups and produced a report which was forwarded to New York and given to Irish Government representatives at the review.  In addition, a submission was sent from the NTWF regarding the proposed outcome document of the review.

Local Group Support - During the year, the NTWF provided practical support and assistance to local Traveller women's groups throughout the country.  Support given has included the facilitation of planning and discussion sessions, assistance in the writing of women's development plans and the provision of information in relation to a range of issues of concern to local Traveller women's groups.

Networking - The NTWF is committed to building solidarity and support with community sector organisations working from a social inclusion, anti-poverty perspective. To this end we have linked closely and developed joint actions with the other 2 national Traveller organisations, Pavee Point and the Irish Travellers Movement.  We have also continued to maintain strong connections with the Community Workers cooperative and are a founding member of the recently established - Women's Pro-Beijing Coalition, a network of national women's organisations established to promote the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Ireland.

Platform Against Racism

Information Gathering and Dissemination - The NTWF continued to respond to requests for information from Traveller and settled organisations.

The development of our information work was greatly assisted by the contracting of a part-time information worker.  A series of newsletters were produced and distributed widely.

In addition surveys were carried out in relation to Traveller women and accommodation and the establishment and development of Traveller Health Units at local level in order to support the work of our national representatives.

National Networking Events - A number of national networking events were held which focussed on particular themes of relevance to local Traveller women's groups. These included Traveller women and child care, violence against Traveller women and training for Traveller women. The purpose of the national networking events was to provide Traveller women and settled women working with Traveller women's groups with an opportunity to meet, get information on relevant policy developments, exchange ideas and models of good practice and identify appropriate strategies for moving forward in relation to each theme.

Travellers Human Rights Conference

The NTWF in association with the Irish Travellers Movement and Pavee Point hosted a 2 day national conference - ' Travelling Forward - Community Work and Human Rights for Travellers'.

The aim of the conference was ‘ To identify the way forward for Traveller organisations in supporting Travellers as a minority ethnic group into the 21^st Century’. The objectives set for the conference were to reaffirm our understanding of the philosophy from which we work, to critically review our practice over the past decade and to examine future strategies.

The conference brought together approximately 200 Travellers and settled people and provided us with an opportunity to explore a range of issues and current developments  of relevance to our work as well as exploring possible avenues for its future direction.

Traveller Health Network - The Traveller Health Network is a network of local Traveller organisations working on the issue of Traveller health.  The network is convened by the National Traveller Women's Forum and acts as a mechanism for feedback and support for those representing Traveller interests on the National Traveller Health Advisory Committee.

Citizen Traveller - Citizen Traveller is a public education and awareness programme, the objective of which is to create a better understanding between the settled and Traveller communities in Ireland. The National Traveller Women's Forum is represented on the management committee of the Citizen Traveller programme.

Women's Group - As a follow-up to the leadership and community development training programme run by the NTWF in 1999, it was considered appropriate that the women who participtaed on the programme should be given an opportunity to meet on an on-going basis.  The group met five times during the year and used the oppportunity to share information, support each other in their work and become updated on current policy developments of relevance to their work.

Annual Forum Day - This year's Annual Forum Day was attended by aproximately 200 Traveller women and focussed on the theme of Traveller women as leaders.  Creative exercises were used to stimulate thinking on the theme of the day, with Traveller women's groups from throughout the country making presentations, exhibiting their work and engaging in discussions and dialogue.

Planning - The NTWF held a two day planning session towards advancing the position of Traveller women which was attended by members of the NTWF co-ordinating committee, NTWF representatives on various committees and a number of Traveller women who were interested in attending. The event set out a range of priority work areas for the organisation and provided those participating with an opportunity to explore the particular issues and concerns affecting Traveller women and the possible strategies for advancement in the new Millennium.

The Next Steps

A number of key priorities have emerged in relation to the work of the National Traveller Women's Forum over the coming years including;

Policy development and monitoring - with a particular emphasis on:

The implementation of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness with a focus on the development of data collection and monitoring systems which specifically address Traveller women's access to, the uptake of and outcomes from a range of services.

The implementation of the Report of the Task Force on the Traveller Community and the progress report of the Task Force Monitoring Committee with a particular emphasis on equality proofing, the development of gender impact statements and the incorporation of a focus on diversity amongst Traveller women.

The implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action - with a focus on the development of the Irish Government's National Action Plan for Women and the inclusion of a Traveller women's dimension.

The 3rd World Conference on Racism and monitoring the implementation of Irish Government commitments to be made there.

Capacity building - with Traveller women and Traveller women's groups. To support this work, the NTWF have submitted a proposal to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform - Women's Equality Measure .  The proposal outlines the need for a training programme which focuses on building the capacity of Traveller women.  Traveller women throughout the country are striving to represent their concerns on local policy-making arenas, for example, Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committees, Local Traveller Health Units and Regional Planning Committees on Violence Against Women - the training programme will assist Traveller women in effectively fulfilling their representative role on these structures.

Developing our analysis - Mainstreaming a Traveller women's dimension into the work of statutory and community based organisations will require a particular focus over the coming years.  This will involve the NTWF continually re-assessing the position and needs of Traveller women in a changing society.  In particular, this will require a focus on the needs and experiences of different groups of Traveller women including older Traveller women, younger Traveller women, Traveller women with a disability and Traveller women who are parenting alone.

Information dissemination - through the production of newsletters, information leaflets, briefing papers to assist Traveller women representatives on policy fora and the organisation of a series of round-table discussions and seminars at local and national levels.

Networking - with other national anti-poverty networks, women's organisations, community development organisations, and anti-racist groups towards building partnership, co-operation and collaboration in our work at local, national and international levels.

Building solidarity - with a particular focus on women from other minority ethnic groups in Ireland.

Organisation of Annual Forum Days - to be held in various venues throughout the country.

The undertaking of research - on specific issues of interest and relevance to Traveller women.

Developing resource materials - and training packs for use by local Traveller women's groups.

The development of a training for trainers programme - in an effort to promote an anti-racist, anti-sexist, community work approach to work with Traveller women.

Management Training and Development - To ensure on-going meaningful Traveller Women's Participation at management level as well as the development of enhanced skills and management capabilities of all management committee members.

Organisational Development - The NTWF will review our organisational structures with a view to enhancing and building Traveller women's participation and ownership of the NTWF.  This may involve an examination of the possibility of establishing regional networks.

Consultation - The NTWF will undertake a range of consultative actions towards the development and implementation of our work plans.  In addition, the hosting of round table discussions and seminars will impact on policies developed by the NTWF as well as those promoted and pursued at statutory level.

Evaluation and Review - The NTWF is committed to reviewing our work on an on-going basis.  The next NTWF work plan will highlight the review mechanisms, which will be put in place.

Accessing Resources - Clearly, the on-going development of the work of the National Traveller Women's Forum will require a commitment to the provision of core funding which will enable such work to take place. The NTWF will therefore continue to seek additional funding from government departments as well as from other sources.

Conclusion

Whilst the past year represents an expansion of the work of the NTWF and allowed for the development of greater clarity with regard to the role of the organisation vis a vis other national Traveller organisations, it is clear that we are only now at a stage of mapping the future of the organisation and the direction in which we hope to go.

The NTWF is currently in the process of finalising our three year plan which will clearly set out our path for the coming period.

A number of challenges present themselves to us at this stage in our development. The active participation of Traveller women in the work of the organisation is a priority. As Traveller women continue to play an important role in seeking change for themselves and their community, the provision of opportunities for such involvement is of vital importance. However, the achievement of positive measurable outcomes for Traveller women, is the ultimate goal. This means bringing about fundamental changes in terms of Traveller women's health, education, standards of living and access to resources and decision making,

The NTWF is challenged to respond to the changing needs of Traveller women in an ever- changing society. We are challenged to be creative in our work, dynamic in our action and strategic in the policies we pursue. Ensuring the building of links and solidarity with women from other minority ethnic groups in Ireland will be a priority, as will working with the broader women's and community work movements to promote equality and social change in Irish society.