The Joint Integrated Local Development Program, in partnership with the National Roma Center, is staging a photo exhibition themed “Underprivileged Groups in the Decentralization Context: the Roma”. The photos were taken by Igor Schimbator. The exhibition will be opened at the Palace of Culture in Hancesti town on July 22 and will continue until August 20, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communiqué from the organizers, the exhibit reveals the problems and needs of the Romany people in a number of rural areas of Moldova, on which the decentralization reform should focus. The communiqué says the Roma in Moldova represent one of the most deprived groups. They are often discriminated and encounter difficulties in such areas as social inclusion, employment, education and medical assistance. The jobless rate among the Roma is by 50% higher than among the rest of the population. The Romany women are exposed to greater social exclusion and poverty risks than the Romany men and most of the women of other ethnic groups. Every fifth Romany cannot write and read. Three in ten Romanies have only primary education. At local level, the Romany people have limited access to the main services. The Roma are represented insignificantly in the public administration and do not have a say in decision making at local level. “The exhibition presents only some aspects of the life of the Romany people and makes us react promptly by policies and appropriate measures, including in the decentralization context,” said the organizers. The Joint Integrated Local Development Program promotes local development through human rights and gender equality, which implies transparency, responsibility, nondiscrimination and equal participation by men and women in local development processes at political, economic and social levels. The Joint Integrated Local Development Program supports the Government of Moldova in its decentralization efforts and in the process of strengthening local autonomy and improving welfare, mainly of the deprived groups. It is implemented with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), with financial support from the Swedish Government.  According to different studies, there are between 12,000 and 20,000 Romany people in Moldova.