ERIO Presents Best Practices of Social Inclusion of Roma in Barcelona
Between 21- 23 February 2007, ERIO's representatives made an important contribution to a workshop in Barcelona, Spain. The workshop was organized under the project 'Policies on Roma's Social Inclusion in Europe: Towards Succeeding in Social Intervention' (ROMAin), of which ERIO is a partner. This project, coordinated by the Department of Welfare and Family of the Government of Catalonia, Spain, aims to contribute to the social inclusion of Roma through reviewing good practices concerning policies on Roma inclusion and set up a list of recommendations about how such practices should be applied in specific regions. ERIO's representatives introduced positive practices for social inclusion already implemented in several EU Member States. They also highlighted that EU investments in policies for Roma's social inclusion should be strategically focused. In order to have a long-term impact, coordination during the process and evaluation on completion is needed. The involvement of Roma in all levels of the process was also highlighted an important factor for successful implementation of these policies. ERIO proposed recommendations that call for devised national strategies and developed, comprehensive legislative frameworks, which are necessary to ensure the level of coordinated and multilayered activity across all sectors and which address all issues faced by Roma in their every day life.
ERIO at the Civil Society Platform for the Intercultural Dialogue
On March 5, 2007, ERIO participated in the second meeting of the Civil Society Platform for Intercultural Dialogue, which is a European network of NGOs dealing with social inclusion and cultural issues. The Platform aims at bringing together civil society actors in order to ensure that their voice will be heard in the design and implementation of the activities of the ' 2008 - European Year for the Intercultural Dialogue' at European and national level. The meeting served to discuss the scope and goals of the ' 2008 - Year' and best practices related to promoting intercultural dialogue.
During the event, Xavier Troussard, Head of Unit for Culture of the DG Education and Culture of the European Commission, expressed that the EC welcomes recommendations and other inputs from NGOs for a better design and implementation of the activities of the ' 2008 - European Year for Intercultural Dialogue'. Nevertheless, he stressed the fact that the EC would not necessarily incorporate all the inputs coming from the NGOs. Mr. Troussard announced the implementation of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in the framework of the ' 2008 - Year' activities. The OMC will serve to exchange best practices from the field culture between the different member states.
Four workshops were carried out in the framework of the meeting. Guillermo Ruiz, ERIO's Policy Officer, made a presentation to the workshop on Intercultural Management and Governance of NGOs. He pointed out that even among the large part of NGOs there is a lack of awareness of discrimination faced by Roma. Furthermore, he stated that NGOs should work closer with Roma organisations and individuals; Roma organisations should have an equal participation in project funds; and Roma, as staff of NGOs, should be promoted.
ERIO's contribution to the website of the "2008 Year of Intercultural Dialogue"
On March 2nd, 2007, ERIO was invited to participate in a meeting organised by the DG Education and Culture and Media Consulta, a communications company, to discuss the draft concept of the website for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. The meeting followed a previous consultation, during which the communication strategy had been criticised, in many respects, by civil society organisations, including ERIO. The purpose of the March meeting was to present a draft website which incorporated the changes proposed by the NGOs concerned. During the meeting, the structure of the website was discussed, particularly focussing on the thematic categories which organise the website's information search function, and on the partner section. ERIO and other civil society representatives proposed changes which aimed at mainstreaming the concept of intercultural dialogue in the very structure of the website and at better serving the coordination needs of the NGOs. ERIO proposed that consultation with NGOs should be conducted on a regular basis and also recommended that in order to improve funding opportunities, more transparency on the funding procedures and larger outreach is needed. The active participation of NGOs in this process will strengthen their role in policy development.
UNICEF report on Roma children in South-Eastern Europe
About one million Roma children "remain invisible" in South-East Europe, without documents or adequate healthcare, a Unicef report says. The report by the UN body for the protection of children found that in the region Romas (Gypsies) face exclusion and discrimination. It also found that some 50,000 Roma children live as refugees in Germany. Unicef urges the European Union to help improve the condition of Roma children, many of whom live in dire poverty.
The study found that in Romania and Bulgaria - new EU member states - up to one-third of Roma children were not in school, a proportion which reaches 80% in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Unicef warned that when these children become adults, they will not be able to vote, make use of social services or register their own children.
The report can be downloaded at: http://www.unicef.hu/download/Roma_Children.pdf
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6422283.stm
New ECMI Resources available
"Implementation of Human Rights in Serbia and Montenegro." The Materials in English and Serbian are provided by joint ECMI-Danish Institute of Human Rights project. Download: http://www.ecmi.de/doc/Implementing_Human_Rights/
ECMI Ethnopolitical Map of Europe - Croatia Download page: http://www.ecmi.de/emap/hr.html
ECMI Issue Brief #15 Wheatley, Jonathan. The Economic Dimension of Minority Participation in Europe. Download: http://www.ecmi.de/download/brief_15.pdf
Update on Sulukule in Turkey
The "Urban Renewal" decision given by the Fatih Municipality on the historical Sulukule district continues to increase the uneasiness of 3500 Roma people who reside in the area. Most recently, in the region on which The Council of Ministers have enacted the "Press Compulsory Purchase" decision, a two-storey wooden building which was situated on the Sulukule Main Street and belonged to the Güldür Family was demolished on the 21 st of February, 2007, around 9 o'clock in the morning despite the fact that the house was NOT sold to the Fatih Municipality by its residents. In addition, all of this was strikingly done at a time when all members of the family were away on a trip to Ankara and without any precautions taken, regarding the cutting out of electricity and water of the house before demolition. It has been reported by the eye-witnesses that no furniture or other belongings of the family were taken out prior to demolition and a great risk was created afterwards, as the children who entered the house in order to collect firewood were exposed to the danger of electric shock that might have taken place as a result of open electricity cables and running water coming out of exploded water pipes in the building When the residents of Sulukule contacted Mustafa �?iftçi from the Fatih Municipality, who is responsible for the demolition of houses under the Urban Renewal project in the area, �?iftçi has stated that the recent demolition has not taken place within his knowledge and that the Fatih Municipality is deeply sorry and apologizes for what has happened in the area Meanwhile 5 families from Sulukule along with the "Sulukule Roma Culture Development and Solidarity Association" have brought the Press Compulsory Purchase decision of the Council of Ministers into the court, as they filed suit on the 12 th of February towards the stay of its proceedings. In the motion, it has been stated that the Urban Renewal and Press Compulsory Purchase decisions are; Against the Law, the Constitution, the European Declaration of Urban Rights and the European Urban Charter, the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) and the Report of the Joint ICOMOS /Unesco World Heritage Committee that is released after the 30 th session of the World Heritage Committee in Vilnius, Lithuania under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage; thus against the laws and obviously against the Public Interest, thereby necessitating the cancellation of these decisions by the court, as well as the prior and immediate stay of their legal proceedings, before any further harm -with hardly any chances of true compensation afterwards- is given.
Council of Europe publishes report on minority languages in Slovakia
The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers made public the first report on the situation of minority languages in Slovakia on 21.02.07. On the basis of this report, the Council of Europe calls on Slovakia to improve its legislative framework in favour of minority language protection. In particular, it asks the Slovak authorities to review the remaining restrictions on minority language use in all spheres of public life, including the limitation of administrative use to those municipalities where at least 20% of the population is minority language speakers. This report has been drawn up by a committee of independent experts which monitors the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Further to the report, the Committee of Ministers has adopted a series of recommendations addressed to Slovakia. These include: * Improvement of the provision of minority language education * A stronger presence of minority languages in the media * Promotion of awareness and tolerance concerning minority languages in Slovak society at large in Slovakia, 9 minority languages are protected under the Charter: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Polish, Romany, Ruthenian and Ukrainian.
The full text of the report and the Committee of Ministers recommendations can be downloaded from the Charter's website: http://www.coe.int/minlang%20(
Lord calls for more land for Gypsies
A senior Liberal Democrat peer has called on councils to perform their duty in identifying land for Gypsy and Traveller sites. Lord Avebury said that hysterical opposition from settled communities has led many councils to drop their site proposals. But the Department for Communities and Local Government circular 1/2006 obliges local authorities to grant temporary permission in areas where new sites are expected to become available. He said: More sites will reduce the inconvenience caused byTravellers unauthorized developments and encampments.
Politicians playing political football with the Travelling community are to blame, according to Lord Avebury. He pointed to Communities secretary Ruth Kelly's decision to reject a planning appeal from a large traveller site at Dale Farm in Basildon: This is a major setback, he said. The Gypsy pitches in the district are full. Basildon will be free to spend huge amounts of public money on evicting these 48 families, but the problems will simply be transferred to the neighboring authorities. For more information follow the link: http://www.building.co.uk/
IDPs from Kosovo still awaiting durable solutions
As the Balkans anxiously await delayed UN recommendations on the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo, displaced persons from Kosovo remain torn between uncertain return prospects and denial of local integration. Seven years have passed since NATO forced Serbian security forces to withdraw from Kosovo, Kosovo Albanian refugees returned home and around 250,000 people mostly but not exclusively Serbs were displaced into Serbia proper. UN proposals for the future status of the province are now expected after Serbia's parliamentary elections on 21 January 2007. More on http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR27/43.pdf
EUMC becomes FRA (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights)
"Independence is the key to future success of the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)," said Anastasia Crickley, the interim Management Board's Chairperson, at the launch of FRA today in Vienna, "and the EUMC provides a good foundation to achieve that. The year 2007 will be a period of transition. It is important to give the Agency the time, resources and support to develop into the EU centre of competence on fundamental rights". "The journey towards greater awareness and protection of fundamental rights began in the Council of Europe and FRA fully intends to develop the EUMC close working relationship with our colleagues there in what we view as a common enterprise", said interim Director Beate Winkler. Beate Winkler continued: "Equally important to the Agency 's effectiveness will be the EUMC's working relations with other bodies the European Parliament, European Commission, EU Member States and international and national organisations. FRA will build and expand on these and place greater emphasis on its links with civil society on fundamental rights matters." "The Agency's central task of data collection is recognition that reliable and accurate information is crucial in creating policies to promote and protect fundamental rights for all in the EU. Over the coming year the new priorities of the Agency will be decided and the broader mandate will complement the EUMC's existing work on racism. Monitoring racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism remains core business for FRA. Placing the combat against racism into fundamental rights says loud and clear: Equality is a right, not a privilege." "As a recent Eurobarometer survey shows, the vast majority of people in the EU (73%) want the Union to play a greater role in the protection of fundamental rights. Once fully operational the Agency will help the EU meet this expectation. The strong support demonstrated by European politicians at today's launch gives us a good start," concluded Anastasia Crickley. More information about the Fundamental Rights Agency, its mandate and first priorities is available on the FRA website: http://fra.europa.eu/
PCSO needed to work with travellers
AN £18,500 police community support officer is to be appointed by Cambs Police to liaise with the county's estimated 6,000 gypsies and travellers. The new post, which is being trialled for six months, is described in recruitment advertising as an "innovative thematic role". The newly appointed recruit will revert to the county's regular team of 195 community support officers if the job is later abandoned. "The constabulary recognises that within every community there are victims as well as offenders," says a job description for the new post. "Every victim regardless of their ethnic origin or the community they are from deserves the same professional response from the police." Police say that the new appointment will help foster better community relations and with the intelligence gained could ensure more crimes are detected and solved. "Detecting crime and securing sanction detections is most likely when the community work with the Police to bring offenders to justice," said a police spokesman. "In light of this we want to appoint a gypsy and traveller engagement officer, to develop and co-ordinate community networks between the gypsy and traveller community and the constabulary, to contribute towards raising awareness of policing needs and to eliminate discrimination, promoting good relations." The post holder will need experience of "engaging with the gypsy and traveller community and an understanding of the culture and policing needs of the communities." It's also necessary to have the "ability to develop positive working relationships and have previous customer service experience." Details of the job are available through the police website. http://www.erionet.org/www.cambs-times.co.uk
New study on the displaced populations in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
BELGRADE, 5 March 2007 -- The OSCE Mission to Serbia presented a study today that aims to help the displaced populations in Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina access their rights. "This study contributes to promoting, protecting and fulfilling all rights," said Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, the Head of the OSCE Mission. "We hope that the findings will assist governments, the international community and non-governmental organizations to join forces and ensure that the rights of the region's displaced population are respected." The study was drafted by a regional network of human rights NGOs as part of a project that supports the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. The project was paid for by the U.S. Government and carried out by the OSCE Mission to Serbia in co-operation with OSCE Missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. Participants at the presentation included lawyers from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia who provide legal aid to refugees, internally displaced people and returnees. Full text of the study (PDF): http://www.osce.org/publications/srb/2007/02/23473_805_en.pdf
New Publication: A Minority in Europe. Roma and International Documents
Balazs Majtenyi and Balazs Vizi: A Minority in Europe. Selected International Documents Regarding the Roma The Roma are often seen as a true 'European minority' not only because they live in sizeable communities in almost every European country and there is a need for the protection of their particular cultural heritage, but even more the need to combat the general social marginalization characterizing most of their communities, for many renders the intervention of international organisations indispensable. The present volume offers a wide selection of the most well-known international documents regarding the Roma minority, adopted by the different bodies of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Union. Most of these documents reflect the general concern of the international community on the situation of the Roma, nevertheless, despite the increased international attention, the documents and extracts published here may well reveal the hesitation and vagueness reflected in international initiatives in this field. http://www.mtaki.hu/bibliografiai_ujdonsagok/selected=
Vacancies: OSCE - Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Elections Voter List Adviser, Pristina, Kosovo (Deadline: 12 March) http://www.osce.org/employment/show_vacancy.php?id=2666
Senior Assembly Adviser, Human Rights, Pristina, Kosovo (Deadline: 12 March) http://www.osce.org/employment/show_vacancy.php?id=266
Legal System Monitor, Human Rights, Pristina, Kosovo (Deadline: 14 March) http://www.osce.org/employment/show_vacancy.php?id=2670
Vacancies: Roma Educational Fund
Roma Education Fund purpose is to contribute to closing the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma, through policies and programs to support quality education for Roma, including through desegregation of educational systems in countries which formally joined the Decade for Roma Inclusion.
The Roma Education Fund Governing Board is eager to ensure continuity of the actions engaged and a smooth transition and invites therefore applications for the post of Executive Director in succession to Mr. Alexander Marc. The role of the Executive Director is to support and advise the Board of REF in devising and implementing its policy, manage the REF programs, manage the staff and to raise funds.The Executive Director is responsible to the Governing Board, and is responsible for managing the executive staff. Applicants should send a letter of interest, a statement (up to 500 words) indicating the contribution they could make to the Roma Education Fund, a full CV, and the names of two referees who may be contacted before interviews are held to office@romaeducationfund.org The deadline for applications is 10 April 2007. More on: http://www.erionet.org/www.romaeducationfund.org
