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WHAT IS THE COE-FRA-EQUINET-ENNHRI "OPRE PLATFORM"

 

The COE-FRA-EQUINET-ENNHRI Operational Platform for Roma[1] Equality ("the OPRE Platform") was launched in Strasbourg on 30 January 2015 as a follow-up to the joint conference between the Council of Europe (COE), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) which took place in Vienna on 9 October 2013. On that occasion, through the adoption of a joint declaration, these four partners reiterated their commitment to work together to strengthen rights protection in Europe and decided to establish closer co-operation between national bodies and international bodies working on human rights' protection by setting up four joint thematic platforms for collaboration on pressing topics:

a) asylum & migration, b) Roma equality, c) hate crime, d) social & economic rights.

The hate crime and asylum and migration thematic platforms are co-ordinated by the FRA, whilst the Roma equality and social and economic rights platform are articulated by the Council of Europe.

 

1. The term "Roma" is being used at the Council of Europe to encompass the wide diversity of the groups covered by the work of the Council of Europe: on the one hand, Roma (and sub-groups), Sinti/Manush, Kale/Romanichals, Boyash/Rudari, the Eastern groups (Dom and Lom), all of whom accept a shared ethnic origin, and, on the other hand, associated groups such as Travellers, Yenish, and Balkan Egyptians (Egyptians and Ashkali), as well as the populations designated under the administrative term "gens du voyage" and persons who identify themselves as Gypsies.

2. "Opre" means "standing" in the Romani language.

6th OPRE Meeting was held in Bratislava 14-15 May 2019 hosted by the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights with a special on  focus  on the rights of Roma and Traveller children to mark the 30th year of the International Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

5th OPRE Meeting  in Belfast 15-16 May 2018 ( hosted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission) in a joint collaboration with the CoE-FRA-ENNHRI-Equinet Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights

4th OPRE meeting, Council of Europe Office in Paris, 15-16 May 2017 under the auspices of the French Défenseur des Droits (Ombudsman)

3rd OPRE meeting, Athens, Greece, 7-8 June 2016 (hosted by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights -GNCHR)

2nd OPRE meeting in Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 3-4 December 2015

OPRE launching meeting, Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 30 January 2015

  
  
  
05/03/2020

A new collective complaint to the ESC on Roma children in institutional care  was registered with the secretariat and the European Committee on Social Rights on  2/3/2020.

The ERRC alleges that the Czech Republic failed in its duty to ensure the implementation of effective policies, notably data collection and assessment that would mitigate the disproportionately high number of Romani children and infants being institutionalised, in violation of the abovementioned provisions, in breach of Articles 16 (the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection for the family) and 17 (right of mothers and children to social and economic protection) of the 1961 Charter alone or in the light of the non-discrimination principle contained in the preamble of the 1961 Charter.

Read more at: https://rm.coe.int/cc190casedoc1-en-complaint/16809cc997
  
10/05/2019

​Recent case judgments and pending cases of the European Court for Human Rights concerning Roma and Travellers.

Read more at: https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Roma_ENG.pdf
  
10/05/2019

2018 findings of the ECSR through the collective complaints procedure. As this is the report on the violations and follow up activities of the ESC, noted violations regarding Roma  concentrate on: Housing and evictions and Access to health in combination with discrimination.

Read more at: https://rm.coe.int/findings-2018-on-collective-complaints/168091f0c7.
  
04/03/2018

​Recommendation (2017)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on improving access to justice for Roma and Travellers in Europe is now available in Montenegrin and Serbian on the OPRE online library

Read more at:
  
28/02/2018

​Updated fact sheet on Roma related cases in the European Court of Human Rights

The most notable recent case: Škorjanec v. Croatia

The Court held that there had been a violation of Article 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment) under its procedural aspect in conjunction with Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Convention, finding that the Croatian authorities had failed in their obligations under the Convention when rejecting the applicant’s criminal complaint without conducting further investigation prior to their decision. The Court noted in particular that, under Convention case law, a person may be a victim of a violent hate crime not only when they have been attacked because they themselves have a certain characteristic – but also when they are attacked because they have an actual or presumed association with another person, who has (or is perceived to have) that characteristic. States have an obligation to recognise both types as hate crimes, and investigate them accordingly. However, in this case the Croatian authorities had repeatedly failed to take the necessary care in identifying the violence against the applicant as a suspected hate crime.

Read more at: https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Roma_ENG.pdf
  
27/02/2018

​The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its revised General Policy Recommendation No 2: Equality Bodies to combat racism and intolerance at national level, adopted on 7 December 2017.

Flyer version: 

https://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/activities/GPR/EN/ENG-Rec%2002rev%20-%20KeyTopics.pdf

Read more at: https://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/activities/GeneralThemes_en.asp
  
27/02/2018

Spain should create a strong equality body and improve education of Roma and migrants, says Council of Europe anti-racism body

In a report published today, the Council of Europe anti-racism commission (ECRI)  calls on the Spanish authorities to create a strong independent equality body, to adopt new comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and to improve the education of Roma and migrant children. The report also acknowledges significant progress in a number of areas.

ECRI welcomes the achievement of targets for the re-housing of Roma and good practices to prevent school-absenteeism and early school drop-out among Roma children. However, it also points out that the rehousing programmes have contributed to residential and school segregation and that only 45% of Roma children complete compulsory education.

In Spain prejudice exists in particular against Muslims, Roma and LGTB persons. ECRI points out that many cases of hate speech and hate crime are not reported to the authorities. While hate speech is not common in the Spanish mainstream political discourse, it has sharply risen on the Internet and social media. Media regulators do not enough to prevent and eliminate it. The report welcomes the progress achieved in the recording of hate crime, the improvement of anti-hate crime legislation, the establishment of a network of hate crime prosecutors and the dissolution of two racist organisations.

The report makes 17 recommendations to the Spanish authorities. Within two years ECRI will evaluate compliance with two of them that it considers to be priority recommendations:

  • The Spanish authorities should set up an independent equality body;
  • They should ensure that the share of Roma children completing obligatory schooling quickly increases.

 

Read more at: https://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Spain/ESP-CBC-V-2018-002-ENG.pdf
  
21/02/2018

The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has urged the Romanian authorities to step up their efforts to combat discrimination, against the Roma in particular, and to improve the protection of national minorities in a number of areas. Prejudice against the Roma remains a matter of considerable concern. Despite the resolute stance of the National Council for Combating Discrimination, the court rulings and statements from the authorities, racist incidents continue to be reported. Roma continue to suffer discrimination in access to housing, employment, health care and education. In spite of the authorities' efforts to eradicate it, Roma segregation in schools is still reported. According to different surveys, 22% of Roma children do not attend school and Roma constitute 70% of school dropouts. Evictions of Roma have continued without adequate alternative housing being proposed.

Read more at: http://bit.ly/2EIgSbP
  
24/11/2017

​In its first evaluation report on Albania, the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) commends legislative and other measures taken by the national authorities, but calls for additional steps to address all forms of violence against women. Furthermore, the report finds that Albania has until now placed more emphasis on domestic violence compared to violence against women. More efforts are needed to effectively tackle all forms of violence against women, including forced marriage, sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Read more at: https://rm.coe.int/grevio-first-baseline-report-on-albania/16807688a7
  
25/10/2017

The European Parliament recently adopted a report on the “Fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism” (2017/2038(INI)) highlighting the persistent antigypsyism at all levels of Europe.

Read more at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2017-0413
  
17/10/2017

​Recommendation (2017)10 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on improving access to justice for Roma and Travellers in Europe

Read more at: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectID=090000168075f2aa
  
13/10/2017

​Roma in Albania are officially recognized as a national minority according to law No.96/2017 on the "Protection of National Minorities in the Republic of Albania", which was adopted on 13 October 2017 by the Albanian parliament. Following several advocacy initiatives, debates, public hearings and senior expert advice provided by the EU/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility Project "Strengthening the Protection of National Minorities in Albania" to the Parliamentary Committee of Legal Issues, Public Administration and Human Rights, Roma are currently entitled to the rights deriving from this recognition as one of the nine national minorities in the country (Article 3; paragraph 2).

This new formal recognition marks a very important achievement for Roma in Albania, granting them rights guaranteed by this law, which raises the level of their protection in comparison to their previous legal status as ethno-linguistic minority. Several positive rights emanate from this recent legal development directly affecting the lives of Roma in Albania. Roma shall be entitled to equal and effective participation in public, cultural, social and economic life and to the preservation of their cultural identity; they have the right to education in the minority language and to freedom of expression, thought and information (Articles 11, 12, 13 and 14). Discrimination on cultural, ethnic, or linguistic grounds is prohibited. Roma are now in a better position to continue their efforts for the promotion and protection of Romani culture as an integral part of the Albanian society.

Roma will henceforth be represented in the Committee for National Minorities, the national body reporting to the Prime Minister, with a specific mandate on the promotion of policies targeting national minorities and management responsibilities of the fund for national minorities supported by the state budget. It is expected that the Committee for National Minorities will be fully functional upon entry into force of the law and endorsement of infra-statutory legislation. 

The official document in Albanian can be retrieved here.

Read more at:
  
19/05/2017

​Combating Institutional Anti-Gypsyism . Responses and promising practices in the EU

The notion of 'anti-Gypsyism' aims to refocus public policies addressing Roma discrimination in order to place responsibility for combating structural, historically-embedded and systemic forms of racism, discrimination and exclusion towards Roma squarely on state institutions and actors. This report examines the ways in which policies and funding combat 'anti-Gypsyism' in the European Union and selected Member States and assesses the added value of the 'anti-Gypsyism' concept, with particular reference to its institutional forms.

Read more at: https://www.ceps.eu/publications/combating-institutional-anti-gypsyism-responses-and-promising-practices-eu-and-selected
  
01/05/2017

Valley Police (TVP) commissioned an independent review of the Force's policies and procedures which directly impact on the GRT communities within the Thames Valley. This is a report written by Margaret Greenfields from Bucks New University, a police policy officer and PC Jim Davies of the Gypsy / Roma / Traveller Police Association (GRTPA) Thames.

The report  produced 13 recommendations, many of which would apply to most forces, including:-

 

  • A requirement for better recording of the contact received from GRT communities, including in respect of hate crime.
  • The inclusion of a new GRT equality objective added to the force delivery plan.
  • The need for standardising official intelligence record keeping relating to GRT.
  • The need to improve communication both to, and about, GRT communities throughout the Thames Valley.
  • Following on from the above; to actively encourage recruitment from the GRT community to Independent Advisory Groups to help improve the understanding of GRT concerns within Thames Valley Police.
  • To develop a targeted recruitment and retention programme for GRT employees.
  • The need to develop a detailed training programme, mandatory for all front line officers.
Read more at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10026.1/3872/Bridging_the_Gap_Criminal_Justice_Report.pdf;sequence=1
  
24/04/2017

​Updated European Court of Human Rights' factsheets on Roma and Traveller related case law uploaded on OPRE website documents (in English and French)

Read more at:
  
03/02/2016

"It is crucial that the French authorities provide all those who have been forced to leave the ‘Petite ceinture’ camp – including children and elderly people – with adequate, alternative accommodation, particularly as they have decided to take this action during winter", said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland.  

"Last year an estimated 11,000 Roma people were evicted from their homes in France.

There is no evidence to suggest that a policy of mass forced eviction will bring a lasting solution to the exclusion and prejudice many Roma face.

On the contrary, forced evictions can prove counter-productive as they often disrupt the schooling of Roma children and hamper the efforts of those who provide basic healthcare to Roma communities, for example through vaccination campaigns."

Notes for editors: relevant European Court of Human Rights judgment: Winterstein and Others v. France (French language court judgment)

This case in the Council of Europe European Court of Human Rights concerned eviction proceedings brought against a number of traveller families who had been living in the same place for many years. The domestic courts issued orders for the families’ eviction, on pain of penalty for non-compliance. Although the orders were not enforced, many of the families moved out. Only four families were provided with alternative accommodation in social housing; the so-called family sites where the remaining families were to be accommodated were not created. The 14 applicants complained in particular that the order requiring them to vacate the land they had occupied for many years amounted to a violation of their right to respect for their private and family lives and their homes.

The Court held that there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life and home) of the Convention. It noted in particular that the courts, despite acknowledging the lack of urgency and of any manifestly unlawful nuisance, had not taken into account the lengthy period for which the applicants had been settled, the municipal authorities’ toleration of the situation, the right to housing, the provisions of Articles 3 and 8 of the Convention and the Court’s case-law. The Court pointed out in that connection that numerous international and Council of Europe instruments stressed the need, in cases of forced eviction of Roma or travellers, to provide the persons concerned with alternative accommodation. The national authorities had to take into account the fact that such applicants belonged to a vulnerable minority; this implied paying special consideration to their needs and their different way of life when it came to devising solutions to the unlawful occupation of land or deciding on possible alternative accommodation.

Read more at: http://www.dosta.org/en/content/police-clear-hundreds-roma-paris-slum
  
16/11/2015

​In the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13th 2015, the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) has issued a Declaration to express solidarity with those affected directly and the French society at large, as well to condemn the brutal acts of terrorist violence.

Declaration of AOM regarding the Paris terrorist attacks of November 13th 2015

The Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) expresses its deep grief and conveys condolences for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and those injured by the terrorist acts in Paris on the 13

th of November 2015. AOM strongly condemns these acts of terrorism, as grave and tragically painful acts perpetrated not only towards the French society but indeed all democratic countries.

On this occasion AOM affirms its solidarity with the French people and the French authorities, hereby expressing the maximum readiness to provide support in overcoming these daunting difficult days, as well as in addressing terrorism as a shared global threat.

AOM expresses the resolute persuasion that the brutal massacres shall not undermine the upholding of the highest values cherished and cultivated by the French society, as a model of democracy, freedom, respect for human rights, tolerance and coexistence.

Read more at:
  
06/10/2015

​On 6 October, the Albanian Ombudsman launched an administrative inquiry into the expected relocation of a number of Roma families residing in shacks on the banks of Tirana's artificial lake. The Ombudsman asked the Municipality of Tirana to explain the legal basis of their decision and the measures they intend to take to shelter the Roma families that are to be relocated.

Read more at:
  
06/08/2013

Court in Budapest punishes racist murders with three life sentences, fourth perpetrator gets 13 years.

Read more at: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/hungary-court-in-budapest-punishes-racist-murders-with-three-life-sentences-fourth-perpetrator-gets-13-years
  
13/11/2007

D.H. and Others v. the Czech Republic

Placement of applicants, school children of Roma origin, in "special schools" intended for pupils with learning disabilities had not been justified. Violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Convention in conjunction with Article 2 (right to education) of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention.

Read more at:
  
09/12/2004

A relevant case in the UK where Roma were turned away by Canadian airlines. The case is called R (European Roma Rights) v Prague Immigration Officer [2004] UKHL 55 and the immigration officers in Prague were found to be inherently and systematically discriminatory against Roma, contrary to the Race Relations Act 1976 (replaced by the Equality Act 2010; (Directive 2000/43 is the relevant European law here). The court determined that these actions werecontrary to domestic and customary international law and international treaties to which the UK was a party”, in particular the 1951 Refugee Convention.

This case could offer legal precedence to other recent similar cases where Roma are being turned away by airline and customs staff at various airports in the EU.

Read more at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldjudgmt/jd041209/roma-1.htm
  
  
  
28/05/2019

News about continuing forced evictions in Italy. Many Roma families were left without alternative decent housing as on 10 May, 450 Roma were forcibly evicted in the Municipality of Giuliano. (Reporting about the evictions from an Italian NGO can be found here)

Some of the families evicted from Giuliano made an application to the ECtHR on 16 May 2019 (P.H. and Others v. Italy, application no. 25838/19). The applicants made a request to the Court under Rule 39 of its Rules of Court for an interim measure to require the State to provide them and their families with adequate accommodation and to suspend any further eviction. As it was not clear from the Government’s response to the Court’s questions whether the applicants had been rehoused, the Court decided on 20.05.2019 to apply an interim measure indicating to the Italian Government that it should provide temporary accommodation for the minors involved and their parents, without separating them.

 

Measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court are decided in connection with proceedings before the Court, without prejudging any subsequent decisions on the admissibility or merits of the case. The Court grants such requests only on an exceptional basis, when the applicants would otherwise face a real risk of irreversible harm. (https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Interim_measures_ENG.pdf)

 

Equality bodies are encouraged to inform their clients about the possibility of requesting Rule 39 interim measures in forced eviction cases (this can only be done where an application has been made to the ECtHR) and to monitor the development of the execution of the interim measure ordered by the court.

Please refer also to the joint statement on evictions of Roma and Travellers in Europe

Read more at:
  
28/05/2019

News about continuing forced evictions in Italy. Many Roma families were left without alternative decent housing as on 10 May, 450 Roma were forcibly evicted in the Municipality of Giuliano. (Reporting about the evictions from an Italian NGO can be found here)

 

Some of the families evicted from Giuliano made an application to the ECtHR on 16 May 2019 (P.H. and Others v. Italy, application no. 25838/19). The applicants made a request to the Court under Rule 39 of its Rules of Court for an interim measure to require the State to provide them and their families with adequate accommodation and to suspend any further eviction. As it was not clear from the Government’s response to the Court’s questions whether the applicants had been rehoused, the Court decided on 20.05.2019 to apply an interim measure indicating to the Italian Government that it should provide temporary accommodation for the minors involved and their parents, without separating them.

 

Measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court are decided in connection with proceedings before the Court, without prejudging any subsequent decisions on the admissibility or merits of the case. The Court grants such requests only on an exceptional basis, when the applicants would otherwise face a real risk of irreversible harm. (https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Interim_measures_ENG.pdf)

 

Equality bodies are encouraged to inform their clients about the possibility of requesting Rule 39 interim measures in forced eviction cases (this can only be done where an application has been made to the ECtHR) and to monitor the development of the execution of the interim measure ordered by the court.

Please refer also to the joint statement on evictions of Roma and Travellers in Europe

Read more at:
  
28/02/2018

​Updated Hate Speech related case law of the European Court of Human Rights (February 2018) available on the OPRE  online library.

Read more at:
  
26/05/2017

EU ministers approve plan to suppress hate on the Internet

Reuters reports that ministers of the EU Member States approved a plan on 23 May 2017 in Brussels which is meant to force the Facebook, Google and Twitter companies to more effectively eliminate hateful videos posted to their Internet platforms, the first legislative arrangements about such questions at EU level. Firms operating social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will have to take steps to eliminate videos that defend terrorism and engage in hate speech.

Read more at: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/eu-ministers-approve-plan-to-suppress-hate-on-the-internet
  
29/06/2016

OPRE joint statement on evictions of Roma and Travellers in Europe

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) join the Council of Europe, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Network of European National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet) in a statement to condemn the recent evictions of Roma and Travellers in Europe.

Throughout Europe, Roma and Travellers – particularly those living in informal settlements, slums or halting sites – face a disproportionately high threat of eviction. Signatories call on national, regional and, in particular, local authorities to find sustainable solutions to the housing problems that many Roma and Travellers face, in order to avoid evictions.

OPRE[1] partners strongly condemn forced evictions without due process and provisions of adequate alternative housing. Such evictions violate international human rights obligations. The authorities must ensure that everyone subject to eviction is adequately informed of their rights, and carry out necessary evictions without discrimination or harassment.

The statement highlights the long-term negative implications of eviction that can result in physical and psychological problems, including emotional trauma and lasting social isolation, which particularly affects elderly people, women, children, and people with disabilities. 

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in letters addressed in February 2016 to the authorities of seven member States, also stressed that “this situation increases the vulnerability of Roma families, prevents their social inclusion and impedes any prospect of regular schooling for their children”.

[1] The establishment of the OPRE platform is the result of the joint conference of the Council of Europe, the European Network of Equality Bodies (Equinet), the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), which took place in October 2013 in Vienna. The conference set the scene for closer cooperation among national bodies and between national and international bodies. It was agreed to establish such platforms for collaboration on pressing topics such as asylum and migration, Roma integration, combating hate crime, and advancing social and economic rights and socio-economic equality.

 

Related documents

Read more at: Joint OPRE Statement on evictions of Roma and Travellers in Europe
  
15/06/2016

People's Advocate: Tirana River rehabilitation to leave 70 Roma families homeless

The People's Advocate expressed their concern yesterday for the 70 Roma families whose houses are affected by Tirana River rehabilitation project. The People's Advocate said that these families have been asked to abandon their homes within the next five days and given no other sheltering alternatives. The People's Advocate said that the dislocation of the Roma families is being carried out without a normal legal process and their rights are being violated. In a reaction, Tirana Municipality said that they are rehabilitating the river to prevent floods in the future, and that the Roma families affected by the project would be sheltered in the transit centre of emergencies in Tufina. (Shqip, p. 10, Albanian Daily News, p. 9)

Read more at:
  
19/02/2016

Balkans Told to Stop Forcible Evicting Roma

19/02/2016 - Balkan Insight - infoBalkans.com / International

The Council of Europe has told Albania, Serbia and Bulgaria not to forcibly evict Roma families from camps without offering adequate alternative shelter first. The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muiznieks has three Balkan governments for evicting Roma families from camps while not offering them any alternative accommodation.

He has criticized seven of the 47 members of the organization for forcible evictions of Roma and Egyptian communities over the last few years, urging them to respect their commitments to human rights.

Muiznieks sent letters to three Balkan countries, Albania, Bulgaria and Serbia, along with France, Hungary, Italy and Sweden.

The letter sent to Albania's Minister for Urban Development, Eglantina Gjermeni, complains about the eviction of about 48 Roma families from a site near the lake in Tirana city park on October 2015.

BIRN learned at that time that the Tirana authorities knew most of the Roma families had nowhere else to go but still transported them to other municipalities, claiming that they had residence registration in other towns, which should take care of them.

Some of the evicted families lingered homelessly around their former camp for weeks. BIRN witnessed another occasion when police stopped them from erecting new shacks.

"I have received and been concerned at reports of forced evictions of Roma and Egyptians in Albania, especially after the enactment in 2014 of the Law on Legalisation, Urbanisation and Integration of Illegal Constructions," the letter published in the CoE Website reads.

"I urge you to take all necessary measures to put an end to the evictions of Roma and Egyptians without provision of adequate alternative accommodation," it adds.

The letter to Gjermeni went apparently unanswered.

The letter sent to Serbia went to Zorana Mihajlovic, the Deputy Prime Minister. While praising Serbia's new legislation on housing, which contains provisions about forced evictions, Muižnieks urged Serbia to ensure that "no further evictions of Roma are carried out without provisions of adequate alternative accommodation".

The Belgrade government answered by saying that it had set in place new procedures for such evictions, including adequate relocation, legal protection and free legal aid.

The letter sent to Bulgaria went to the Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov.  

In it, the commissioner said he had "received numerous reports of evictions of Roma families in different localities in Bulgaria, including Garmen and Varna, which are of serious concerns to me.

"In particular, I am informed that over 400 persons have been left homeless as result of forced evictions and the demolition of houses which took place in Varna in August 2015," the letter reads.

"I should like to request you to provide me with information on measures the Bulgarian authorities intend to take to prevent future forced evictions and to provide those evicted with adequate alternatives and effective remedies," the letter to Bulgaria adds. The Bulgarian authorities do not appear to have answered the letter.

Muiznieks says such evictions "are often carried out without prior consultation with the families concerned and at very short notice, while adequate alternative accommodation is often not provided.

"This situation increases the vulnerability of Roma families, prevents their social inclusion and impedes any prospect of regular schooling for their children. Member states have to abide by their human rights obligations, by stopping such measures and investing more in finding durable housing solutions for Roma families."

 

Read more at:
  
16/02/2016
France: le Conseil de l'Europe s'inquiète des évacuations de Roms sans relogement
16/02/2016 - AFP - Le Monde - Libération - Le Figaro / France

Le commissaire aux droits de l'Homme du Conseil de l'Europe s'inquiète des évacuations forcées de Roms, non assorties de solutions de relogement, et du "climat d'antitsiganisme" qui règnerait en France, dans un courrier adressé au ministre de l'Intérieur Bernard Cazeneuve. Dans cette lettre dont l'AFP a eu copie, Nils Muiznieks déplore que sur les 111 évacuations forcées de Roms effectuées en 2015 en France, seules 29 aient donné lieu à des propositions de relogement.

Il constate que ces évacuations forcées "interrompent les parcours scolaires des enfants Roms, compromettent le suivi médical et fragilisent le maintien dans l'emploi".

Le commissaire fait également part de son inquiétude devant "le climat d'antitsiganisme qui existe de longue date en France et dans lequel ces opérations sont menées".

M. Muiznieks a adressé des courriers similaires à six autres gouvernements européens, ceux de l'Albanie, de la Bulgarie, de la Hongrie, de l'Italie, de la Serbie et de la Suède.

Dans sa réponse, Bernard Cazeneuve souligne que ces expulsions "visent à faire respecter le droit de propriété, mais aussi à protéger les occupants de risques liés à leur santé, à leur sécurité, ou à d'autres périls que peut engendrer l'économie de la misère".

Tout en reconnaissant que dans des "situations d'urgence", les solutions proposées peuvent "relever davantage du court terme", il rappelle que la circulaire qui définit le cadre de ces expulsions prévoit qu'"un diagnostic précède chaque évacuation".

Le ministre de l'Intérieur précise également que lors de l'évacuation début février d'un important campement de Roms installé dans le nord de Paris, "170 hébergements ont été proposés et seuls 80 ont été acceptés".

Deux jours après l'évacuation de ce bidonville parisien qui avait compté jusqu'à 400 occupants, une centaine de Roms qui s'était installée sur un terrain militaire à Epinay-sur-Seine (Seine-Saint-Denis) avait à nouveau été expulsée.

Selon un rapport de la Ligue des droits de l'Homme et de l'European Roma Rights Center, plus de 11.000 Roms ont été évacués de leurs campements en France en 2015.

Read more at:
  
16/02/2016
El comisario de DDHH pide a Francia cesar la expulsión sin realojo de gitanos
16/02/2016 - EFE - La Vanguardia - El Confidencial - Notícias ao Minuto / Spain

El comisario de Derechos Humanos del Consejo de Europa, Nils Muiznieks, pidió hoy a Francia que cese los desalojos de campamentos de familias gitanas sin ofrecerles una solución de realojo.

"Muchos gitanos continúan siendo objeto de formas graves de discriminación y de violaciones de derechos humanos por parte de las autoridades nacionales o locales", dice el escrito dirigido al ministro francés de Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve.

En su carta, fechada el pasado 26 de enero, hace referencia a las "evacuaciones forzadas" y lamenta que, "a menudo, las autoridades proceden a las expulsiones en un plazo de tiempo muy breve sin consultar a las familias afectadas".

El comisario advierte de que la falta de una alternativa de vivienda adaptada aumenta la vulnerabilidad de las familias desalojadas e impide su integración social y la escolarización de los niños.

Según su carta, los Estados "deben cesar de tomar tales medidas y emplearse más en encontrar soluciones de realojo duraderas para las familias gitanas".

En su respuesta, Cazeneuve asegura que los desalojos son "acciones concretas" que se inscriben en el marco legal, por decisiones judiciales o administrativas, y califica de "inexacto" tildarlos de expulsiones forzadas y en masa.

Los desalojos, añade el ministro, tienen como objeto respetar el derecho a la propiedad y proteger a sus ocupantes de "riesgos ligados a su salud, a su seguridad o a otros peligros que pueda engendrar la economía de la miseria".

Cazeneuve cifra en 12 millones de euros el presupuesto que Francia ha invertido en los últimos tres años en acciones específicas de apoyo para la reducción de los campamentos de gitanos, en su mayoría procedentes de Rumanía y Bulgaria.

Y añade que, en algunos casos, se propusieron 170 realojos en un campamento desalojado y sólo se aceptaron 80.

Un informe del pasado enero de la Liga de Derechos Humanos y del Centro europeo para los derechos de los gitanos (ERRC en sus siglas inglesas) afirma que más de 11.000 gitanos fueron desalojados de sus campamentos en Francia durante 2015.

Aparte de ese país, el comisario de Derechos Humanos ha enviado escritos similares a las autoridades de Italia, Suecia, Hungría, Serbia, Bulgaria y Albania.

Read more at:
  
16/02/2016
França solicitada a acabar com desalojamentos famílias ciganas dos acampamentos
16/02/2016 - Agência Lusa / Portugal

O comissário de Direitos Humanos do Conselho da Europa, Nils Muiznieks, pediu na segunda-feira à França que acabe com os desalojamentos das famílias ciganas dos seus acampamentos sem lhes oferecer uma solução de realojamento.

"Muitos ciganos continuam a ser objeto de formas graves de discriminação e violações de direitos humanos por parte das autoridades nacionais ou locais", afirmou em carta dirigida ao ministro do Interior francês, Bernard Cazeneuve.

No seu texto, datado de 26 de janeiro, Muiznieks fez referência às "evacuações forçadas" e lamentou que, "com frequência, as autoridades realizam expulsões num prazo de tempo muito curto e sem consultar as famílias envolvidas".

O comissário advertiu que a falta de uma alternativa de habitação adaptada aumenta a vulnerabilidade das famílias desalojadas e impede a sua integração social e a escolarização das crianças.

Segundo o seu texto, os Estados "devem parar de tomar tais medidas e dedicar-se mais a encontrar soluções de realojamento duradoiras para as famílias ciganas".

Na sua resposta, Cazeneuve assegurou que os desalojamentos são "ações concretas", que se inscrevem no quadro legal, por decisões judiciais ou administrativas, e considerou "inexato" classificá-las como expulsões forçadas ou em massa.

Os desalojamentos, acrescentou o ministro, tem como objetivo fazer respeitar o direito à propriedade e proteger os seus ocupantes de "riscos ligados à sua saúde e segurança ou outros perigos que possa causar a economia da miséria".

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16/02/2016
Consiglio d'Europa critica Italia per gli sgomberi campi Rom
16/02/2016 - ANSA / Italy

L'Italia non rispetta l'impegno di assicurare a Rom, Sinti e Caminanti un alloggio adeguato e sgombera famiglie a cui spesso non da altra scelta che quella di divenire senzatetto o di andare a stare nei villaggi attrezzati.

La critica viene dal commissario per i diritti umani del Consiglio d'Europa, Nils Muiznieks, che preoccupato per queste comunità ha scritto al Primo ministro Matteo Renzi lo scorso 26 gennaio, chiedendogli informazioni sulle misure che verranno prese per rimediare alla situazione.

Lo stesso giorno Muiznieks ha inviato una lettera ad altri 6 paesi membri del Consiglio d'Europa, Albania, Bulgaria, Francia, Ungheria, Serbia e Svezia. "Sono seriamene preoccupato per i ripetuti sgomberi delle famiglie Rom, in particolare a Roma e Milano, condotti in molti casi senza una previa notifica formale o sufficiente preavviso e soprattutto senza consultare le persone coinvolte" scrive il commissario a Renzi.

Miuznieks dice di essere "particolarmente turbato dall'aumento del numero di sgomberi a Roma", 64 dal marzo 2015, e per quelli pianificati a Milano nei primi mesi del 2016.

Sottolinea poi di aver ricevuto rapporti di famiglie che dopo lo sgombero si sono ritrovate senzatetto o hanno dovuto trasferirsi nei villaggi attrezzati, che essendo secondo il commissario, luoghi di "segregazione, non devono essere considerati come delle alternative adeguate".

Muiznieks ricorda che l'Italia non ha solo obblighi internazionali da rispettare, e per cui è stata trovata inadempiente nel 2005 e 2010 dal Comitato europeo per i diritti sociali, ma anche impegni che il governo ha assunto nel febbraio 2012 con la strategia nazionale per l'inclusione di Rom, Sinti e Caminanti. Il commissario è "preoccupato per la mancanza di risorse allocate alla strategia nazionale", e chiede a Renzi di "fornirgli informazioni" sulle misure che verranno adottate per offrire "alternative di alloggio in contesti genuinamente integrati alle famiglie coinvolte negli sgomberi".

A rispondere alla lettera di Miuznieks è stato il 10 gennaio il sottosegretario agli Affari Esteri, Benedetto Della Vedova. Sulla strategia nazionale, Della Vedova scrive che "limiti di bilancio dovuti alla crisi economica e al Patto di stabilità hanno impattato sulla disponibilità di risorse finanziarie adeguate" ma che "il governo italiano è fortemente impegnato a implementare tutti gli impegni e le azioni contenuti nella strategia".

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16/02/2016
'Önkényes kilakoltatás' – Orbánékra is rádörögtek Strasbourgból
16/02/2016 - HVG / Hungary

Hét ország, köztük öt EU-tagállam kormányait kereste meg levélben az Európa Tanács emberi jogi biztosa. Az Orbán-kormánynak is elküldött levélben arra sürgette az érintett országokat, tegyenek a romák diszkriminációja ellen. Arra hívta fel a figyelmet, hogy önkényesen zajlik a romák kilakoltatása.

A romákkal szembeni diszkrimináció ellen emelt szót az Európa Tanács emberi jogi biztosa.

Kedden közzétett nyilatkozatában Nils Muiznieks annak a nézetnek adott hangot, hogy a roma népcsoport több európai országban is diszkrimináció áldozata. A biztos irodája által nyilvánosságra hozott állásfoglalás példaként említette, hogy egyes európai országokban a hivatalos hatóságok országos vagy helyi szinten megsértik a romák alapvető emberi jogait.

A hírügynökségek által ismertetett nyilatkozat szerint a biztos ezzel kapcsolatban levelet intézett Albánia, Bulgária, Franciaország, Olaszország, Szerbia, Svédország és Magyarország kormányaihoz. A levélben a többi között arra hívta fel a figyelmet, hogy önkényesen zajlik a romák kilakoltatása, ami az érintettek ellehetetlenüléséhez vezet. Ez pedig megnehezíti szociális integrációjukat, továbbá megakadályozza a roma gyermekek iskolai oktatását.

A biztos arra szólította fel az említett országokat, hogy tegyenek eleget az emberi jogok biztosításával kapcsolatos kötelezettségeiknek.

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16/02/2016

European countries must stop forced evictions of Roma

Strasbourg 16/02/2016

"Many Roma continue to face serious forms of discrimination and human rights violations by authorities at both national and local levels. In particular, forced evictions without due process and provision of adequate alternative housing continue unabated across Europe, in violation of member states' international human rights obligations" said today Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, while releasing the letters he sent to the governments of Albania, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Italy, Serbia and Sweden.

"Evictions are often carried out without prior consultation with the families concerned and at very short notice, while adequate alternative accommodation is often not provided. This situation increases the vulnerability of Roma families, prevents their social inclusion and impedes any prospect of regular schooling for their children. Member states have to abide by their human rights obligations, by stopping such measures and investing more in finding durable housing solutions for Roma families."

Read more at: http://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/
  
15/02/2016
The Council of Europe published a Handbook for Lawyers Defending Roma and Travellers  Ensuring Access to Rights for Roma and Travellers – The Role of the European Court of Human Rights by Marc Willers QC today. The handbook intended to familiarise those providing legal assistance to NGOs, in particular to Roma and Traveller communities with the European Convention on of Human Rights and the workings of the European Court of Human Rights. If properly understood and employed, the Convention and the Court can turn into two dynamic tools for the assertion of minority rights and their protection against prejudice and the abuse of power. 
 
This publication unfolds in four sections – starting with a practical and a theoretical approach towards the Convention and the implementation mechanism entrusted to the Court. The last two sections contain an analysis of relevant case-law concerning Roma, with an explanation of the specific Convention Articles mentioned and their reference to the everyday situation of Roma in the Contracting States, and finally a moot trial exercise on the well-known pattern of similar assignments, including feedback and an evaluation of frequently asked questions.
 
This handbook should primarily be seen as an organic introduction to human rights law. If it serves to whet the appetite of those who work for and with disadvantaged minorities to delve deeper into the case-law, the doctrine of human rights and the fuller textbooks (excellent ones do exist), it will have served its purpose.
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29/01/2016

The Greek National Commmission for Human Rights (GNCHR)expresses its views on the Bill which inter alia establishes the National Council against Racism and Intolerance (now Law 4356/2015, OJHR 181/A/24.12.2015)

  • Παρατηρήσεις για το Σ/Ν « Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης και άλλες διατάξεις » – Observations on the Bill "Civil partnership and other provisions" (December 2015, in Greek)

See online library of the OPRE website under "Greece" to access the document.

Read more at: http://www.nchr.gr
  
19/11/2015

Roma gypsies most negatively perceived European minority group, survey finds.

YouGov poll was conducted in June of this year The Roma and Gypsy communities are regarded the most negatively by northern Europeans, a study has found.

The YouGov poll also found 40 per cent of the French had a negative impression of Muslims - the same as the UK. Only the Danes and Finish populations polled at higher levels (45 per cent).

Overall, Jewish communities were the least negatively perceived, with LGBT groups polling just above.

Overall, the Finnish and Danes were found to have the most negative impressions of minority groups, in particular the Roma or Gypsy people. 

Germans were found to hold the least negative views about minority groups in Europe.

However, the survey's sampled only 7,230  people in total. 1667 British adults, 1016 German adults, 1004 French adults, 1009 Danish adults, 1010 Swedish adults, 970 Finnish adults and 554 Norwegian adults responded to the study.

Read more at: The Roma and Gypsy communities are regarded the most negatively by northern Europeans
  
07/08/2015

"SWEDEN SHOULD INDEED DO BETTER THAN THIS"

[reaction to posters in Stockhom metro by Michael Guet, SRSG Roma Support Team]

Paradoxically, this was on 2 August, International Commemoration Day of Roma victims of the Nazi regime during WWII, that anti-Roma posters of Sweden Democrat Party were introduced in the metro of Stockholm with the even more surprising back-up from the Stockholm Public Transport. Whilst primarily targeting tourists visiting Stockholm during the summer, these posters written in English, which read among others as "Sweden should do better than this" or "Sorry about the mess in Sweden, we have a serious problem with forced begging", clearly incite racial hatred against one particular ethnic group, the Roma who are pictured in a very negative and stereotyped way. Not only these posters are extremely controversial and provocative but they misinform the public. In its recent report "The life of Roma in Europe – a review of discrimination, aggressions, intimidations, evictions, deportations, hate speech but also positive governmental measures developed by CoE member States over the period June-July 2015", the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF), an independent NGO that has a partnership agreement with the Council of Europe, quotes the conclusions of a report from Fafo, a Scandinavian social research foundation, that there are no evidence that Roma present in Denmark, Norway and Sweden are being trafficked or forced to beg (the ERTF review can be download at www.ertf.org).

It is unfortunate that this type of blunt demonstration of anti-Gypsyism appears in Sweden which published a year ago a White Paper on abuses and rights violations of Roma in Sweden during the 1900s (http://www.government.se/contentassets/f3ad3ec663cf49a4abd75eed2a53f560/white-paper-on-abuses-and-rights-violations-of-roma-during-the-1900s-a14.003) and in a country which has been at the forefront of Council of Europe member States in fighting racism against Roma being the first to establish a Governmental Commission against anti-Gypsyism or for promoting this matter within the intergovernmental work of the Council of Europe on Roma issues (see e.g. the CAHROM thematic report on combatting anti-Gypsyism, hate speech and hate crime against Roma at http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/cahrom). We can be satisfied that a part of the Swedish society does not fall into the trap of anti-Roma propaganda having in mind the protest of a thousand of people in Norrmalmstorg square against these posters, the reaction of some political and religious leaders, and the approximate 80 formal complaints for incitement to racial hatred already filed with the Swedish Ministry of Justice, the Parliamentary Ombudsman or the Advertising Ombudsman. We should however expect from Sweden to do more and better so as not to leave public space to anti-Roma populist propaganda. Sweden could for example decide to join and actively implement the Council of Europe Dosta! campaign against prejudice and stereotypes against Roma which was already launched in 17 Council of Europe member States and Kosovo* (www.dosta/org). This campaign also aims at promoting a more balanced and positive image of Roma, referring e.g. to Roma success integration stories, and at promoting a better knowledge of Romani culture and history (Council of Europe Roma history factsheets are available in Swedish at http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/roma/histoCulture_en.asp ). Roma have shown over their longstanding historical presence in Europe that they can contribute to European societies when they are being given a chance to do so.

Read more at:
  
03/02/2015

​In reaction to Lega Nord MEP Gianluca Buonanno’s hate speech against Roma, UNAR has opened an inquiry asking the TV network director for an explanation on the facts, involving the association dealing with ethics and media (Rome Charter) and, finally, by sending a letter on the matter to the public prosecutor.

Read more at:

 

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collapse Country : Albania ‎(1)
collapse Country : Europe ‎(17)
collapse Country : France ‎(1)
collapse Country : Greece ‎(3)

 

  
  
Summary
  
  
  
  
collapse Country :  ‎(1)
collapse Country : Albania ‎(4)
collapse Country : Europe ‎(23)
collapse Country : Greece ‎(7)
collapse Country : Hungary ‎(3)
collapse Country : Italy ‎(1)
collapse Country : United Kingdom ‎(6)

 

 

  
  
Summary
  
  
  
  
collapse Themes :  ‎(14)
collapse Themes : Access to justice ‎(3)
collapse Themes : Anti-Gypsyism and distinct issues of discrimination ‎(1)
collapse Themes : Hate speech and hate crime ‎(4)
collapse Themes : Human Rights ‎(16)
collapse Themes : Protection of Roma children, youth and women ‎(1)
collapse Themes : Rigths to Education ‎(2)
collapse Themes : Rigths to housing and accomodation ‎(4)