ERIO at the Launching of the ILO Global Report on Equality at Work: Tackling the Challenges Summary of the Report
The launch of the International Labour Office's Global Report regarding discrimination in the workplace took place on May, 10th at the European Press Centre in Brussels. The report highlighted the efforts of the ILO, along with many of its partners such as the European Commission and various other groups, in combating, accessing and preventing this considerable problem facing many of the countries of the world today. Moreover, the world is still trying to adapt to the modern-day realities that are migration and diversity. Some of the objectives of this report were to access the old and present trends in discrimination practices in the workplace throughout the world, while focusing on maneuvers to prevent emerging ones. Traditional forms of discrimination in the work place have been presented in terms of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and religion. Emerging forms reflect biases against young people on account of age and in terms of whether an individual is perceived as leading a "healthy" lifestyle or not. Overweight people, smokers and those with health afflictions are included within the latter category of emerging tenets for discrimination.
The question that one may ask is where does this leave Roma issues and what are its prospects for the future? Discrimination against Roma was highlighted within the report under forms of ethnic discrimination in the workplace. The report briefly describes the severe rates of unemployment among the group, while emphasizing how child labor is playing a role in tilting statistical data demonstrating high levels of employment towards the younger age group that reaches up to 24 years of age. Although the many forms of discrimination that Roma face within school systems throughout Europe, particularly in the central and eastern areas, have been attributed to low education and high unemployment rates, the report has presented data suggesting that even Roma with tertiary education levels still have double the unemployment rate of equally educated majority workers. The report also brought attention to evidence that showed within settlements in which there was more integration, more Roma had completed secondary school and had formal jobs suggesting that less "spatial segregation" leads to better "social outcomes".
The panel, comprised of representatives from ILO, the European Commission and various labor federations, repeatedly emphasized that although legislation is evolving to further protect the rights of Roma and other discriminated against groups around the world, it is not enough alone. There has to be stronger emphasis on non-discrimination and equality throughout the world, political willingness, and active involvement of social partners, employers and employees to truly combat discrimination at the workplace in its current and evolving form. It was further emphasized that not only does diversity benefit companies, but it is the best way to encourage integration of people from different backgrounds so that these interactions can reflect unto societal relationships as well.
Find the report at: http://www.ilo.org/
European Parliament calls for harmonious living of majority populations and minorities
The Motion for a European Parliament Resolution included in the European Parliament Draft Report on the 2006 Progress Report on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia stated the following:
"[The European Parliament] recommends that all concerned should learn from the way in which Belgium, Spain, Italy and Switzerland have succeeded in building up a government and education system that takes account of substantial regional linguistic differences; calls for further agreement on the way in which the two largest population groups and the different minorities (including Roma, Turks, Vlachs, Serbs and Bosniaks) can live with one another on an equal and harmonious basis, and hopes that government functions will increasingly be filled proportionately by members of all population groups"
Read more on http://www.futureofeurope.parlament.gv.at/registre/recherche/NoticeDetaillee.cfm?docid=230551&doclang=EN
COE Committee of Ministers adopts a resolution on the protection of minorities in the Russian Federation
Strasbourg 2.5.2007 - The Committee of Ministers has just adopted a Resolution on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the Russian Federation (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 2 May 2007 at the 994th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies). 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 Russian Federation, are also available on line.
Roma Deputy To Recall "Gypsy" Term Of Romanian Dictionary
BUCHAREST - Roma Deputy Nicolae Paun, head of Commission for Human Rights, religious affairs and minorities aims to recall the term "Gypsy" from the Explicative Dictionary of Romanian language. "I want to submit a draft law recalling the term of Gypsy from Romanian explicative dictionary. Other minorities such as Jews have no slang descriptions in the dictionary," Paun said. "The representatives of a minority are offended if being described in the dictionary as dirty, filthy, thieves etc. Romanians also steal occasionally and some of them are dark-haired but this is not stipulated in the dictionary," Paun also said. He said the draft law needs the support of majority of deputies. DIVERS
Providing personal documentation for Roma in Macedonia
Since 2006 Roma Rights Forum "ARKA" implementing project with the general purpose of providing personal documentation for Roma in Macedonia. This project ensures obtaining free personal documentation, enrolling unregistered children at school as well as registration of persons which have not regulated own status in the country. In frame of the project are resolved over than 1000 cases of acquired personal documentation in the region of :Kumanovo, Kriva Palanka and Kratovo municipalities. ARKA through the further project activities continues with providing free legal and financial help for other 1000 cases in obtaining personal documentation for Roma. RRF"ARKA" facing with the same problem in Skopje, the largest municipality with Roma population in Macedonia, decide to open new legal office for providing services for Roma in obtaining their personal documentation. In frame of the activities in Skopje project will ensure legal and financial support for 1000 cases for unregistered Roma people as well as their children. The main activities of ARKA are focused on expanding of this project in the other municipalities around the whole country in order to resolve this issue in the further period. Roma Rights Forum ARKA
Bulgaria gives a tool of democratic ideals a try
The New York Times With food, wine and ripples of laughter, more than 200 guests gathered for dinner at a Communist-era hotel on the edge of this capital for what seemed like a wedding party. Heckles pierced speeches, and the alcohol flowed. But the gathering at the Park Hotel Moskva was one experiment in an innovation that a number of governments are testing, to reinvigorate the democratic process as they struggle with declining voting numbers and waning interest in public affairs. The experiment was also meant to inform leaders about which way an educated public would lean on difficult decisions. The process, devised by a Stanford professor, James Fishkin, harks back to classical Greek democratic ideals, bringing together a random representative group, deepening the individuals' knowledge of an issue and allowing them to debate it. Polls of the group before and after the process provide concrete measures of change for decision-makers to study. Full article on http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/07/news/bulgaria.php
Meeting: "Exchange of Good Practices in the Sphere of Employment"
Sofia, Bulgaria - May 10-11, 2007 A meeting of employment experts from government and civil society organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in its capacity as a National Coordinating Body of the Decade of Roma Inclusion under the Bulgarian Decade Presidency. The working languages of this event will be English and Romani. The meeting will be attended by Governmental representatives and officials from the European Commission.
For more information: http://www.romadecade.org/itentcms/www/roma/index.php?content=3&list=11#event11 or contact: evgenieva@mlsp.government.bg
Roma Internship Scheme at the European Parliament
The EPP-ED Group, with the patronage of Lívia Járóka and the support of the Robert Schumann foundation, is happy to announce that they will continue to offer two month traineeships to young Roma professionals at the European Parliament between January 2008 and July 2009.
The aim of the internship programme is to support the emergence of a group of European Roma youngsters who will gain a broad European perspective and practice , a high level of qualified knowledge of the political processes, of institutional structures and of available resources within the EU, along with introducing the interns into the functioning of European political processes, especially with respect to the structure and working patterns within the European Parliament. In order to achieve this, interns should actively participate in the work of the MEP's office, undertaking a whole spectrum of tasks and acquainting themselves with the bodies that play an important role within the political process.
Each stagiaire is reimbursed on arrival with the cost of a return air fare between his or her place of origin and Brussels. Accommodation in Brussels and Strasbourg is provided free of charge to the stagiaire. A stipend of �?�250 weekly is paid.
Conditions for application are the follows: citizenship: EU or associated state age: 22-35 currently pursuing/completed higher education (B.A. and/or M.A) fluency in English and good writing skills experience on Roma issues
The application should contain :
-Curriculum Vitae ( in English)
-letter of motivation, explaining expectations of the program and the way in which one intends to integrate this experience into their future activities ( in English)
-certificates attesting university degrees and language skills
-reference by an academic or employer who knows the candidate well
Application for admission is continuous; however you are advised to send your application 6 months prior to the preferred starting date of your internship. (Please mark in your application the ideal starting date of your internship-between January 2008 and July 2009.)
Applications can be addressed by mail, to the following address:
European Parliament Bat. Altiero Spinelli 12E253 Office of Lívia Járóka 60, rue Wiertz/Wiertzstraat B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel
Incomplete application files will not be processed.
Belgian neo-Nazi skinheads who attacked Roma boy sentenced to imprisonment
On 8 May 2007 the Belgian Court of Appeal has strengthened the sentence of 2 skinheads whom attacked a Belgian Roma boy some year and a half ago. The two neo-Nazi's have been sentenced to 5 years in prison which is more then they got earlier from a lower court. Wolf Staf Bruggen
