Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
  

On 22 June I was pleased to be a keynote speaker at a symposium organized by Romani Arts to mark Gypsy, Roma, Traveller month 2012\. This was one of a number of events which were held across Wales and which have an important role in raising the profile of this often misunderstood community. At the symposium I launched the easy\-read version of the Welsh Government’s Framework for Actions for Gypsies and Travellers – ‘Travelling to a Better Future’.


‘Travelling to a Better Future’ was launched in September 2011 and there has been good progress made on its delivery. This was the first national Gypsy and Traveller strategic document in the UK. It sets out how the Welsh Government is addressing the inequalities faced by the community. It is a cross government Framework and other Ministers for housing, education and health all have key roles in its delivery.


The Framework for Action sets out key areas of concern including accommodation, health and education. Education can be a challenging experience for many Gypsy and Traveller children and young people and low numbers remain in secondary education. There are a number of reasons for this and it is something we are striving to address.


We are determined that Gypsy and Traveller children who want to stay at school to progress further, or move on to training, have every opportunity to do so.  The Minister for Education and Skills has protected the Budget for this learner group and has increased the levels of support for them over the next two years.  The annual Grant for the Education of Gypsy and Traveller Children has risen to £1 million in this financial year and is set to rise by 10% next year.


A range of other Welsh Government initiatives are aimed at meeting the objectives in ‘Travelling to a Better Future’.  To combat any misconceptions about unauthorised absences from school, we have introduced attendance codes to denote when a child is travelling or registered with more than one educational facility.  We have also advised local authorities that schools are obliged to enrol children in their catchment areas, no matter how brief their stay, to ensure that no child is denied access to an education.


We have commissioned a new resource for use in secondary schools across Wales which will celebrate Gypsy and Traveller heritage and culture and challenge negative misconceptions and stereotypes.  It is very much hoped that this will reduce the marginalisation and bullying of Gypsy and Traveller children and young people by increasing awareness in the rest of the school population of their culture and lifestyle.


But if we are to tackle the inequalities facing the Gypsy and Traveller community, we need to do this from an early age.  The Flying Start programme has a key role to play in providing support to families within Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Experience has shown that developing trusting relationships is extremely important if parents are to engage with Flying Start services.


Health professionals have built up trusting relationships with Gypsy and Roma families living both on site and in housing.  This has led to a number of improvements including more children are taking up their nursery entitlement in local primary schools.


The provision of suitable accommodation is another key concern. Demand for permanent sites outweighs supply and we are currently seeing a situation where there are illegal encampments because there are not enough permanent sites.  I have worked closely with Huw Lewis, the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage on this issue. The Housing White Paper he launched recently which will lead to a new Housing Law contains a proposal to introduce a duty on local authorities to provide sites where a need has been established.


We are continuing to work with local authorities where there are illegal encampments because of a lack of permanent sites. From 2011 we have made 100% funding of the Welsh Government capital grant available for new sites and the refurbishment of existing sites. This has resulted in an increase in applications from local authorities.


A secure place to live is the starting point for people to build their lives. We need to ensure that services are designed to protect those most vulnerable from losing their homes, including people with travelling lifestyles. The White Paper on housing will lead to a more inclusive framework of legislation to protect those most at risk of homelessness.


We intend to introduce legislation which will require local authorities to help people at risk of losing their homes to find solutions to their housing needs.  It is vital that the cultural needs of people from ethnic minorities are considered when they are at risk of homelessness and need assistance, and that is why we need to improve access to good quality sites.


Roma families tend to use the private rented sector and we have introduced legislation to license larger, higher risk houses of multiple occupancy.  We have given further commitments in the housing White Paper to take action to improve the private rented sector.


I know that more needs to be done to improve the security of tenure for Gypsies and Travellers living on local authority sites. In the Autumn we will be consulting on legislation to ensure that Gypsy and Traveller sites are legally classed as ‘protected sites’.


‘Travelling to a Better Future’ highlights the need to improve relationships between the settled community and the travelling community. The Community Cohesion Fund was in place for the three years until this March and resulted in projects which  included  an engagement project with Traveller families in Gwynedd, a report on the  needs of the Roma community in Cardiff was funded through the Community Cohesion Fund and Roma advocacy and support posts in Cardiff.


In partnership with the Wales Migration Partnership, the Welsh Government will be holding a seminar in September to scope the key issues for the Roma community in Wales. This will be a useful first step to take an all Wales approach and to build on the good work that has already taken place in certain areas.


Finally I would like to highlight some of the good work being carried out for the travelling community by some of the projects funded by the Inclusion Grant.  We are currently funding Platform 51 which is working with Gypsy and Traveller women in Llanelli, tackling a wide range of issues including domestic abuse.


I have recently agreed to fund the Save the Children ‘Travelling Ahead’ project for an additional year. This project provides a website for use by both the travelling community and professionals working in this area and has developed local, regional and national forums to enable Gypsy and Traveller young people to have their voices heard on the issues that concern them.


The Welsh Government is committed to greater equality and inclusion for all people in Wales including the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.  Welsh Ministers are also committed to children’s rights and from May 2012, Welsh Ministers have a duty to pay due regard to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child when developing any new policy or legislation, as set out in the Rights of Children and Young Person’s (Wales) Measure 2011\.  


The Strategic Equality Plan outlines how we will achieve this through eight equality objectives.  Some of these have particular interest for the travelling community – for example strengthening advice, information and advocacy service; reducing the incidence of all forms of violence against women, domestic abuse, honour based violence, hate crime, bullying and elder abuse; putting the needs of services users at the heart of public services; addressing the causes of ethnic pay and employment differences and reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. Next year we will publish a Framework for Action on Hate Crime and we will be engaging with the Gypsy and Traveller community to ensure that we listen to their views on hate crime.


I welcome the cross\-party group on Gypsies and Travellers and look forward to working together to improve conditions for Gypsies and Travellers across Wales.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
  
Ar 22 Mehefin, cefais y pleser o fod yn brif siaradwr mewn symposiwm a drefnwyd gan gwmni Romani Arts i nodi Mis Hanes Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr 2012\. Roedd hwn yn un o nifer o ddigwyddiadau a gynhaliwyd ledled Cymru ac a oedd yn gwneud cyfraniad mawr at godi proffil y gymuned hon sy’n aml yn cael ei chamddeall. Yn y symposiwm, fe wnes i lansio’r fersiwn hawdd ei darllen o Fframwaith Gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, sef ‘Teithio i Ddyfodol Gwell’.  
Cafodd ‘Teithio i Ddyfodol Gwell’ ei lansio ym Medi 2011, ac mae cynnydd da wedi ei wneud wrth ei gyflawni. Dyma’r ddogfen strategol genedlaethol gyntaf yn y DU ynglŷn â Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Mae’n nodi sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i’r afael â’r anghydraddoldebau sy’n wynebu’r gymuned. Mae’n Fframwaith trawslywodraethol, ac mae gan Weinidogion eraill ym meysydd tai, addysg ac iechyd ran bwysig i’w chwarae wrth ei gyflawni.  
Mae’r Fframwaith Gweithredu yn nodi meysydd pryder pwysig, sy’n cynnwys llety, iechyd ac addysg. Mae addysg yn gallu bod yn brofiad heriol i lawer o blant a phobl ifanc o gymunedau’r Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, a dim ond nifer fechan sy’n aros mewn addysg uwchradd. Mae nifer o resymau am hyn, ac rydym yn ceisio mynd i’r afael â’r mater.  
Rydym yn benderfynol o sicrhau bod plant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr sy’n dymuno aros yn yr ysgol er mwyn mynd yn eu blaenau, neu symud i hyfforddiant, yn cael pob cyfle i wneud hynny. Mae’r Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau wedi diogelu’r Gyllideb ar gyfer y grŵp hwn o ddysgwyr, a thros y ddwy flynedd nesaf mae wedi cynyddu’r lefel o gymorth sydd ar gael iddynt. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae’r Grant blynyddol ar gyfer Addysg Plant Sipsiwn a Phlant Teithwyr wedi codi i £1 filiwn, a bydd yn codi 10% y flwyddyn nesaf.  
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru amrywiaeth o fentrau eraill sydd â’r nod o gyflawni amcanion  ‘Teithio i Ddyfodol Gwell’. Er mwyn brwydro yn erbyn unrhyw gamsyniadau ynglŷn ag absenoldebau o’r ysgol heb ganiatâd, rydym wedi cyflwyno codau presenoldeb i ddynodi pryd fo plentyn yn teithio neu wedi ei gofrestru gyda mwy nag un sefydliad addysgol. Er mwyn sicrhau nad yw addysg yn cael ei wrthod i’r un plentyn, rydym hefyd wedi dweud wrth awdurdodau lleol fod yn rhaid i ysgolion gofrestru plant yn eu dalgylchoedd, ni waeth pa mor fyr yw eu harhosiad.  
Rydym wedi comisiynu adnodd newydd i’w ddefnyddio mewn ysgolion uwchradd ledled Cymru i ddathlu treftadaeth a diwylliant Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, ac i herio camsyniadau negyddol a stereoteipiau. Trwy godi ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith gweddill yr ysgol am ddiwylliant a ffordd o fyw plant a phobl ifanc o gymuned y Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, y gobaith yw y bydd hyn yn arwain at lai o fwlio ac eithrio.  
Ond er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r anghydraddoldebau sy’n wynebu cymuned y Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, rhaid cychwyn gyda’r rhai ifanc. Mae gan y rhaglen Dechrau’n Deg gyfraniad mawr i’w wneud wrth roi cymorth i deuluoedd yng nghymunedau Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. Mae profiad wedi dangos bod datblygu ymddiriedaeth yn hynod bwysig er mwyn cael rhieni i ddefnyddio gwasanaethau Dechrau’n Deg.  
Mae gweithwyr proffesiynol ym maes iechyd wedi meithrin ymddiriedaeth gyda theuluoedd Sipsiwn a Roma sy’n byw ar safleoedd ac mewn tai. Mae hyn wedi arwain at nifer o welliannau, gan gynnwys mwy o blant yn manteisio ar eu hawl i addysg feithrin mewn ysgolion cynradd lleol.  
Mae darparu llety addas yn bryder mawr arall. Mae’r galw am safleoedd parhaol yn fwy na’r cyflenwad, ac ar hyn o bryd mae gwersylloedd anghyfreithlon yn cael eu sefydlu oherwydd nad oes digon o safleoedd parhaol. Rwyf wedi cydweithio’n agos â Huw Lewis, y Gweinidog Tai, Adfywio a Threftadaeth, ynglŷn â’r mater yma. Mae’r Papur Gwyn Tai a lansiwyd ganddo yn ddiweddar, ac a fydd yn arwain at Ddeddf Tai newydd, yn cynnwys cynnig i gyflwyno dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu safleoedd pan fo angen wedi ei brofi.  
Rydym yn parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol lle mae gwersylloedd anghyfreithlon yn cael eu sefydlu oherwydd prinder safleoedd parhaol. Ers 2011, rydym wedi darparu 100% o arian grant cyfalaf Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer safleoedd newydd ac adnewyddu’r safleoedd presennol. Mae hyn wedi arwain at gynnydd yn nifer y ceisiadau gan awdurdodau lleol.  
Cael lle diogel i fyw yw’r man cychwyn i bobl allu creu eu bywydau. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod gwasanaethau’n cael eu cynllunio gyda’r nod o amddiffyn y rhai mwyaf tebygol o golli eu cartrefi, gan gynnwys pobl sy’n byw fel teithwyr. Bydd y Papur Gwyn Tai yn arwain at fframwaith deddfwriaeth mwy cynhwysol i amddiffyn y rhai sydd fwyaf mewn perygl o fod yn ddigartref.    
Rydym yn bwriadu cyflwyno deddfwriaeth a fydd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol helpu pobl sydd mewn perygl o golli eu cartrefi i geisio atebion i’w hanghenion o ran tai. Mae’n hollbwysig ystyried anghenion diwylliannol pobl o leiafrifoedd ethnig pan ydynt mewn perygl o fod yn ddigartref ac angen cymorth, a dyna pam fod angen inni gael mwy o safleoedd o safon.  
Mae teuluoedd Roma yn tueddu i ddefnyddio’r sector rhent preifat, ac rydym wedi cyflwyno deddfwriaeth i drwyddedu tai amlfeddiannaeth sy’n fwy o faint ac sydd â mwy o risg. Rydym wedi rhoi rhagor o ymrwymiadau yn y Papur Gwyn Tai er mwyn cymryd camau i wella’r sector rhent preifat.  
Gwn fod angen gwneud mwy i wneud deiliadaeth Sipsiwn a Theithwyr sy’n byw ar safleoedd awdurdodau lleol yn fwy sicr. Yn yr hydref, byddwn yn ymgynghori ar ddeddfwriaeth i sicrhau bod safleoedd Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yn cael eu categoreiddio fel ‘safleoedd gwarchodedig’ dan y gyfraith.  
Mae ‘Teithio i Ddyfodol Gwell’ yn tynnu sylw at yr angen i wella’r berthynas rhwng y gymuned sefydlog a chymuned y teithwyr. Roedd y Gronfa Cydlyniant Cymunedol yn ei lle am dair blynedd tan fis Mawrth eleni, ac arweiniodd honno at brosiectau megis prosiect ymgysylltu â theuluoedd Teithwyr yng Ngwynedd, cafodd adroddiad ar anghenion y gymuned Roma yng Nghaerdydd ei ariannu trwy’r Gronfa Cydlyniant Cymunedol, a chrëwyd swyddi eiriolaeth a chefnogaeth ar gyfer y gymuned Roma yng Nghaerdydd.  
Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnal seminar ym mis Medi mewn partneriaeth â Phartneriaeth Ymfudo Cymru i rychwantu’r prif faterion sy’n ymwneud â’r gymuned Roma yng Nghymru. Dyma gam cyntaf buddiol ar gyfer cael dull ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, ac adeiladu ar y gwaith da sydd eisoes wedi ei wneud mewn rhai ardaloedd.  
I gloi, hoffwn dynnu sylw at rywfaint o’r gwaith da a wneir ar gyfer cymuned y teithwyr gan rai o’r prosiectau sy’n cael eu hariannu gan y Grant. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym wrthi’n ariannu Platfform 51, sy’n gweithio gyda merched o gymuned y Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yn Llanelli i fynd i’r afael ag amrywiaeth o broblemau, gan gynnwys cam\-drin domestig.  
Yn ddiweddar, fe wnes i gytuno i roi arian am flwyddyn arall i ‘Teithio Ymlaen’, sef un o brosiectau Achub y Plant. Mae’r prosiect yn darparu gwefan i’w defnyddio gan gymuned y teithwyr a phobl sy’n gweithio’n broffesiynol yn y maes hwn, ac mae wedi datblygu fforymau lleol, rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol i alluogi pobl ifanc o gymunedau’r Sipsiwn a Theithwyr i leisio barn am y materion sy’n bwysig iddyn nhw.  
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau mwy o gydraddoldeb a chynhwysiant ar gyfer pawb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cymunedau Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. Mae Gweinidogion Cymru wedi ymrwymo hefyd i hawliau plant, ac o fis Mai 2012 ymlaen, bydd yn ddyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i dalu sylw dyledus i Gonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn wrth ddatblygu unrhyw bolisi neu ddeddfwriaeth newydd, fel y nodir ym Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru) 2011\.  
Mae’r Cynllun Cydraddoldeb Strategol yn amlinellu sut y byddwn yn cyflawni hyn trwy wyth amcan cydraddoldeb. Mae rhai ohonynt o ddiddordeb arbennig i gymuned y teithwyr – er enghraifft, cryfhau’r gwasanaeth cynghori, gwybodaeth ac eiriolaeth; gostwng nifer yr achosion o bob math o drais yn erbyn merched, cam\-drin domestig, trais yn seiliedig ar anrhydedd, troseddau casineb, bwlio a cham\-drin yr henoed; gwneud anghenion defnyddwyr gwasanaethau yn rhan ganolog o wasanaethau cyhoeddus; mynd i’r afael ag achosion o wahaniaethau ar sail ethnigrwydd mewn perthynas â chyflogau a chyflogaeth, a gostwng nifer y bobl ifanc sydd heb fod mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant. Y flwyddyn nesaf, byddwn yn cyhoeddi Fframwaith Gweithredu yn erbyn Troseddau Casineb, a byddwn yn trafod gyda chymuned y Sipsiwn a Theithwyr er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gwrando ar eu barn nhw am droseddau casineb.Rwy’n croesawu’r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, ac yn edrych ymlaen i gydweithio i wella’r amodau i Sipsiwn a Theithwyr ymhob rhan o Gymru.