38    CONTACT POINT FOR ROMA AND SINTI ISSUES Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe’s Secretary General (l) listens as Romani Rose, Chairperson of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma speaks to the OSCE high-level event on Confronting antiGypsyism in Berlin, 6 September 2016. (OSCE/Nihad Nino Pusija) a high-level event on Confronting Anti-Gypsyism: The Role of Political Leaders in Countering Discrimination, Racism, Hate Crimes and Violence against Roma and Sinti Communities on 6 September in Berlin. The event, co-organized by ODIHR, the Council of Europe and the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, brought together more than 130 participants, including members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and of national parliaments, along with high-ranking governmental and civil society representatives, and other relevant stakeholders in the fight against “anti-gypsyism”. The event allowed for dialogue on ways to confront anti-Roma rhetoric and sentiment in mainstream society and electoral campaigns, and to promote diverse leadership first by engaging in dialogue Marija Mitrović from the Serbian Roma Youth Association during ODIHR's consultation meeting "Political Participation of Roma and Sinti: The Right to Vote and Electoral Processes”, 27 - 28 October 2016, Warsaw. (OSCE/Cristian Ioan) and networks between political parties and Roma and Sinti civil society. ROMA AND SINTI POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Key challenges and opportunities related to the political participation of Roma and Sinti, particularly women and youth, were discussed during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting session devoted to the matter on 28 September in Warsaw, and at a consultation meeting hosted by ODIHR on 26 and 27 October in Warsaw. At a consultation meeting on Political Participation of Roma and Sinti: The Right to Vote and Electoral Processes, 17 civil society activists, politicians, academics, election and national minority experts reviewed and shared their experiences of voter registration, voting turnout, opportunities for voters to make free and informed choices and other aspects of electoral campaigns. Sharing examples allowed participants to identify specific challenges and shape the Contact Point’s future work in this area to enhance the political participation of Roma and Sinti, including women and youth. HUMAN RIGHTS OF ROMA AND SINTI WOMEN Roma and Sinti women face multiple forms of discrimination, particularly in reproductive rights and maternal health. The Contact Point held an international conference on Forced and Coercive Sterilization of Roma women: Justice and Reparations for Victims in the Czech Republic on 1 June in Prague. Over 40 participants heard about the history of forced and coercive sterilization of Roma women in the former Czechoslovakia and steps undertaken to bring justice to victims. Experiences creating mechanisms to establish truth and access to justice