New report on the human rights situation of the Roma in Europe

Strasbourg, 04.05.2005 - The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Alvaro Gil-Robles, will today publish his report on the human rights situation of the Roma, Sinti and Travellers in Europe. The Roma are present in virtually all member states of the Council of Europe and comprise approximately ten million people. In most of the countries the Commissioner has visited, the Roma populations face considerable obstacles to the full enjoyment of their fundamental rights.

In his report, Alvaro Gil-Robles stresses that the "long history of continued discrimination and persecution experienced by the Roma must finally come to an end." While documenting the principal human rights violations the Roma are subjected to, the report also presents a series of recommendations for overcoming discrimination in housing, education, employment and health care as well as the treatment of Roma by public authorities.

The report calls for active partnerships of all authorities, institutions and people concerned, including the Roma themselves, for putting into place the measures needed for ensuring the full respect of human rights of Roma, Sinti and Travellers. Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights related to non-discrimination and the Equality Directive of the European Union provide a sound legal foundation for these efforts.

The Human Rights Commissioner also welcomes the establishment of the European Roma and Travellers’ Forum which will help understand the diversity of Roma communities in Europe and amplify their voices in European and national decision-making.

The report is available on the website of the Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.coe.int/T/E/Commissioner_H.R/Communication_Unit/CommDH%282005%294_E.doc

Contacts:

John DALHUISEN, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 23 13, mobile +33 (0) 6 61 14 70 37
Lauri SIVONEN, Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights,
Tel. +33 (0)3 90 21 47 97

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