The Roma, internationally known as ROMA, in some countries to a lesser extent and in others more, live in chronic social exclusion, meaning they are deprived of the ability to claim their human rights. These rights practically summarize to equal and easy access to healthcare, education, justice, and the labor market.

A prerequisite for successfully addressing a problem is the realistic documentation of it and the acceptance of its existence. The realistic documentation of the problems faced by the Roma in Greece was conducted through field research in 45 Roma settlements across 22 municipalities over a period of three years. The information was provided by the Roma themselves, local authorities, and the staff of the successful institution of the Socio-Medical Centers for Roma. Extensive photographs were utilized because reality is often hard to describe.

The primary focus of the research was on Health (common diseases, alcohol use, child vaccinations), living conditions (sewage in settlements, waste management, sufficient and clean water, housing conditions), primary education, and the social system (marriages at a young age, divorces, domestic violence, loans, insurance, employment).

The aim of the research is to provide reliable information, identify models of good and bad practices, seek out the causes, and articulate feasible proposals for the long-term alleviation of social exclusion. The purpose of the research is certainly not to critique the previous handling of the examined problems by the Greek state; such criticism is not only easy from the perspective of those outside the problems but is also essentially barren and therefore ineffective.

Our ambition is also for the research to serve as a useful tool for some, even local improvements and for enhancing the understanding on the part of Greek society of the diverse and numerous problems faced by the Roma throughout Greece.