307 – Understanding Challenges in Preventing Human Trafficking Among Roma Youth, with Christina Chalilopoulou

Dr. Sandie Morgan is joined by Christina Chalilopoulou as the two discuss the complex challenges in prevention of trafficking of Roma youth. Christina Chalilopoulou Christina Chalilopoulou is the co-founder and CEO of a ALYSOS Alert. She's a graduate of London Metropolitan University and has a degree in European Studies and Ethics. Christina Chalilopoulou has also studied Leadership for Gender Equality with the British Council and served in multiple roles for Greek government entities, overseeing projects for social responsibility, human rights, and policy in social inclusion, and sustainability. She's been Advisor to the President of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities, and a plethora of roles on behalf of education and social integration strategies for Roma people. Key Points In Greek Gypsy culture the crime of early forced marriage is common. It is also seen as a form of gender-based violence. Roma are vulnerable to a multitude of forms of trafficking because of the social exclusion they experience. Examples of this social exclusion are the lack of access to health systems and lack of access to equal employment systems, resulting in low educational achievements, high levels of unemployment, and poverty. ALYSOS Alert aims to empower and inform within the Roma community, but also to educate society as a whole about the vulnerabilities and affects on the Roma people. The inclusion of those who have lived experience as a person of the community, is necessary in the process of designing policy. Resources ALYSOS Alert  Central Union of Greek Municipalities 262: Human-Centered Design Transcript Sandra Morgan 0:00 You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode #307: Understanding Challenges in Preventing Human Trafficking Among Roma Youth. Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast here at Vanguard University's Global Center for Women and Justice in Orange County, California. My name is Sandie Morgan and this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Today, our guest is from Athens, Greece. Her name is Christina Chalilopoulou and she is co-founder and CEO of a ALYSOS Alert. She's a graduate of London Metropolitan University with a degree in European Studies and Ethics, and has also studied Leadership for Gender Equality with the British Council. Christina has served in multiple roles for Greek government entities, overseeing projects for social responsibility, human rights, and policy in social inclusion, and sustainability. She's been Advisor to the President of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities, and a plethora of roles on behalf of education, and social integration strategies for Roma people, which are so important to our topic today. There is so much more, so Christina, welcome to the podcast. Christina Chalilopoulou 2:05 Thank you for having me. It's such a great honor to be invited, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to communicate all the issues that my community is facing. Thank you so very much. Sandra Morgan 2:23 I loved meeting you in person when I was in Athens in June, and I plan to be back in Athens next June and see you again in person. So we'll get coffee. Christina Chalilopoulou 2:36 Yes, it will be lovely. Sandra Morgan 2:38 So tell us about the Roma people. I don't think people know very much and these are your people. Christina Chalilopoulou 2:46 Well, you see, Roma originate from Northern India, presumably from Northwest India. But in Greece, the Roma, or as I like to make the distinction, the gypsies, they have been present in Greece since the 14th century. We are not an entirely homogeneous group, given that we consist of different and often conflict tribes. We are estimated that we are around 300,000, Greek gypsies that live in Greece. Sandra Morgan 3:29 Let me stop you and ask you a question,

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