Throughout Europe – from Italy to Hungary – Romani children are overrepresented in institutional care. This is particularly acute in eastern Europe. As many as four in five children in the care institutions of some countries are of Roma origin. In Bulgaria, while the Roma comprise less than 10% of the population, they account for more than 60% of the children’s home population. In Slovakia, that number rises to 80%.
The situation in the UK isn’t much better. Social work experts estimate that between 2009 and 2015, there has been an increase of 733% in the number of Roma children in foster care. A recent analysis of the UK government’s own data from 2020 confirms that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are over-represented in child welfare services in England.
