The Executive Director of ERIO presents a human rights movie at the CIVICUS 7th World Assembly
The CIVICUS 7th World Assembly of influential policy makers and global institutions of society focused on creating a just world environment took place May 23-27, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. Ivan Ivanov, the Executive Director of the European Roma Information Office was among the participants who represented five of the most important, but traditionally unconnected sectors of civil society that included civil society organizations, businesses, the media, IGOs and governments, and grant-making institutions. Organizers of the assembly understood the importance of cooperation between representatives of these five sectors in contributing to a just world. Thus, the objectives of this conference were to engage these influential actors into collaborative action, strengthen citizen participation and activism from diverse individuals and groups, and to create an environment in which open discourse was welcomed and activists were able to educate each other. There were an array of workshops and Mr. Ivan Ivanov contributed to one in which he discussed anti-discrimination legislation and the Roma people. He said: "The failure of existing anti-discrimination legal norms across Europe to provide a remedy in more than a handful of cases of discrimination against Roma calls for rapid and significant action by Member States. The persistence of widespread discrimination and limited political will to tackle these problems vividly demonstrates that legal measures need to address not only individual complaints, but also proactively promote broader institutional change. The anti-discrimination legislation should cover all areas of life. Listing segregation as a form of discrimination is also an important element in fighting for Roma equality. While it is clear that segregation is a form of unfavorable treatment, it is also clear that in practice, it is often overlooked or excluded from the scope of such legislation. Therefore, segregation needs to be explicitly listed as a form of discrimination. Imposing a duty on public authorities to promote equality and prevent discrimination in carrying out their functions is essential. This will include ensuring that laws, regulations and policies effectively protect Roma from discrimination. States should also impose on all authorities an obligation to carry out regular impact assessments to ensure that their laws and administrative provisions do not violate the principle of equal treatment." The workshops were followed by the BBC's "World Debate" on "The Accountability of Aid" that featured a high-level panel of experts and audience participation. At the end of the second day of the conference, Mr. Ivan Ivanov presented the human rights documentary, "Faces of Change". The documentary highlights the story of five human rights activists representing the most discriminated-against groups on five continents. In the movie, Mr. Ivanov represents the Roma; the most disadvantaged and discriminated-against group in Europe. The movie has been nominated and awarded by more than 15 international movie festivals
ERIO/ENAR fact sheet on Political Participation of Roma now available
"�?�In an ideal world the political establishment would accurately reflect the composition of the society it represents, and the issues facing all communities would be adequately reflected in the mainstream political debate. Thus in a European Union with an estimated Roma population of 10 million, one would expect 2% of political representatives to be from the Roma community. Likewise 16 of the 785 members of the European Parliament should come from the Roma community. However this picture is very far from reality." The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) and the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) jointly published a fact sheet on Political Participation of Roma. You can downolad it at: http://www.erionet.org/factsheets.html
ERIO at the Bi-annual meeting of the Social Platform with the European Commission
On May 29, the bi-annual meeting of the Social Platform with the European Commission took place. At these bi-annual meetings, representatives of the European Commission and members of the Social Platform exchange information on EC policies on issues that are seen as relevant by the Social Platform members, such as the fight against poverty, social inclusion and anti-discrimination. In the framework of these meetings, representatives from networks of social NGOs also have the opportunity to raise issues and express their concerns on the EC policies in the aforementioned fields. In this particular meeting, the EC gave updates on social inclusion (Open Method of Coordination on Social Inclusion and Social Protection, Structural Funds) and employment (Green Paper on Labour Law and EC Communication on Flexicurity) issues of the Lisbon Strategy. EC officials also made presentations on the Transparency Initiative, minimum standards for consultation, and the social dimension of the internal market on the Communication on Services of General Interest. An update on anti-discrimination policies and the Fundamental Rights Agency was also provided. Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner of the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, made a presentation outlining the EC policy developments in social inclusion and anti-discrimination. He stated that the EC is committed to advancing forward in order to tackle discrimination outside of the workplace and that all grounds of discrimination should be equally acknowledged. In his response to the Commissioner, Fintan Farrell, President of the Social Platform, raised the point that minority, especially Roma, issues are not sufficiently highlighted in the overall strategy of the EC. In the framework of the debate on Social Inclusion and Social Protection and the Structural Funds, ERIO's representative raised the issue that despite the large investment of the EC in attempting to promote the social inclusion of Roma, no substantial positive changes have been observed. A long term overall strategy and the involvement of Roma organisations are missing in the use of Structural Funds that are supposed to be used to benefit Roma communities.
Back to the Homeland
According to official data of December 2006, 1509 Roma refugees from Kosovo live in the Bundesland (Federal State) of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. They have the so-called "Duldung" (tolerated) status. That means that they can not be expelled to their country of origin because there are no conditions for a safe return to Kosovo. They are "tolerated" to stay in Germany as long as conditions for their return are not guaranteed. They are not allowed to work, do not have the right of free movement and are condemned to live off of the alms of the German State. However, most governmental and administrative authorities would like to see refugees back in their home countries as soon as possible or somewhere else�?� Administrators of the county government of Mayen-Koblenz of Rhineland-Palatinate thought they found a way to get rid of 500 Roma refugees living in the county. They planned to "motivate" them through "financial incentives" for a voluntary return. The return was not to Kosovo because it is not possible at the moment in Germany, but to Slovakia. They drafted a pilot project and contacted the Slovakian Embassy in Germany for talks. The administrators responsible for this perplexing idea seemed to have thought that Roma originally came from Slovakia. Fortunately, the pilot project was canceled and the Slovak Embassy lost interest since they were informed that the Roma refugees were not Slovak citizens. To read the full article in German: http://www.zeit.de/2007/22/LS-Roma?page=1
Publication: Capturing the Perspectives of Young People from European Minority Groups Capturing the Perspectives of Young People from European Minority Groups Fridrich Christian (Ed.)
"From the Margin to the Centre" is the result of a 7 country EU-project for the development of teacher training and materials for the education of minority students across Europe. This book gives background information on the situation of the minority group from Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain and then insight into the thoughts and perspectives of the minority children and youth themselves in their own words. The results are impressive: serious thinking, their challenges and hopes for the future. The book in its entirety is in English and German and each national section in the students' native languages: Roma, Greek, Finnish, Polish/Ukranian, Romanian and Spanish. The book provides materials which can be used in many ways by teachers, teacher trainers, guidance counselors, social workers, those interested in immigration and human rights and all interested in learning about those from other cultures. The book includes 7 languages and 2 cds of the youth themselves. http://www.ier-publications.fi/
CoE FCNM: Committee of Ministers Issues Recommendations on Minority Protection in Romania
Strasbourg 23.5.2007 - The Committee of Ministers has just adopted a resolution on the protection of national minorities in Romania. This resolution contains conclusions and recommendations, highlighting positive developments but also a number of areas where further measures are needed to advance the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The resolution is largely based on the corresponding Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention. The detailed Opinion of the Advisory Committee of independent experts, together with the comments by the government of the Romania, is also available on line. www.coe.int/minorities
CoE FCNM: Albania submits its second report
STRASBOURG, 18.5.2007 - Albania has just submitted its second state report in English, pursuant to Article 25, paragraph 1, of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It is now up to the Advisory Committee to consider it and adopt an opinion intended for the Committee of Ministers. http://www.coe.int/minorities
ECRI releases reports on Azerbaijan, Finland, Ireland and Monaco
ECRI recently released four new monitoring reports on racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance in Azerbaijan, Finland, Ireland and Monaco. The reports focus on "implementation". They examine if ECRI's main recommendations from previous reports have been followed and implemented, and if so, with what degree of success and effectiveness. ECRI recognises that positive developments have occurred in all four of these Council of Europe member countries. At the same time, however, the reports detail continuing grounds for concern for the Commission: Finland has ratified Protocol No.12 to the European Convention on Human Rights and strengthened its legal and institutional frameworks against racism and racial discrimination. But there is a need for a more consistent public commitment against racism and racial discrimination in all its forms in order to promote genuine ownership by society as a whole of the fight against these phenomena. The implementation of the existing institutional and legal frameworks against racism and racial discrimination still needs to be improved, including through evaluation measures. http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_approach/Finland/Finland_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage In Ireland, a National Action Plan Against Racism was launched in 2005, and a number of recommendations made by the Human Rights Audit on the police force regarding combating racism and racial discrimination are currently being implemented. But the criminal legislation has not been amended to include sufficiently strong provisions for combating racist acts which affect in particular visible minorities and Travellers. Further measures are necessary to raise members of minority groups' awareness of existing mechanisms for seeking redress against racism and racial discrimination. http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_approach/Ireland/Ireland_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage In Monaco, the authorities have enacted a law on freedom of public expression, which punishes incitement to racial hated. But the Principality still needs to adopt anti-discrimination provisions in civil and administrative law as well as criminal law provisions for punishing racist acts. The racist motivation of a crime is not regarded as an aggravating circumstance at the time of sentencing. Procedural safeguards are needed with regard to persons subject to a turning back or deportation order. http://www.coe.int/t/e/human_rights/ecri/1-ECRI/2-Country-by-country_approach/Monaco/Monaco_CBC_3.asp#TopOfPage Events June 7 - Venice, Italy.
"Paradise Lost", the First Roma Pavilion at the International Biennale on Culture in Venice.
Organized by the Open Society Institute (OSI) June 7-8 - Madrid, Spain. Seminar on
"Trans-national Cooperation on Roma community and Social Exclusion. New opportunities for the upcoming period (2007-2013) of Structural Funds".
Organised by the Spanish ESF Managing Authority, together with Fundación Secretariado Gitano (Acceder project managers). Purpose is to use the ESF transnational cooperation facility to create a network to exchange ideas on how the Roma Community can benefit from ESF and structural funds in general. June, 7-8 - Bucharest, Romania.
High-Level Conference on Combating Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding.
Organized by OSCE. June, 9-10 - Sinaia, Romania.
"Broadening Perspectives on Integrating Roma in Europe".
Organized by the PER Regional Center for Central, East and South-Eastern Europe and OSCE/ODIHR June,11 - Brussels. Meeting of the informal Roma contact group of representatives of intergovernmental and international organizations dealing with Roma issues. June, 12 - Brussels, European Parliament. Presentation of the Report on the Living Conditions of Roma in Slovakia and discussion about its Main Findings and Conclusions. By the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Slovakia, together with Mr. Vladimír Maòka, MEP, Slovak Republic. June, 12-13 - Sofia, Bulgaria. International Steering Committeee Meeting on the
Decade of Roma Inclusion.
Organised by OSI.
