Statement on the situation of Roma in Europe International Steering Committee Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015
The 19th International Steering Committee of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005- 2015 reached a join conclusion in that recently there has been a dangerous deterioration in the situation of Roma in Europe.
Social exclusion and in some cases human rights violations make Roma the poorest and most vulnerable people in Europe. Discriminatory attitudes towards Roma, in combination with the consequences of security-focused policies and the reverberations of the economic crisis, put Roma in an increasingly disadvantaged position. Roma often fall victim to populist campaigns stirred by extremist organizations. Anti-gypsyism which permeates society in many European countries breeds more exclusion and despair.
Without an increase in our joint support for Roma inclusion and combating human rights violations, and without an intensive quest for new instruments to aid Roma inclusion, there is a risk that the problem will escalate to even more dangerous levels.
We must put an immediate stop to the stigmatizing rhetoric, and strengthen and make more efficient the cooperation among European countries in the interest of improving the situation of Roma in Europe.
To this end, the International Steering Committee of the Decade of Roma Inclusion calls upon all European countries to:
- Reinforce the core mission of the Decade of Roma Inclusion: to eliminate discrimination and close the uncacceptable gaps between Roma and the rest of society;
- Intensify cooperation and ensure synergies between European countries as well as European and international institutions within existing platforms while taking into account the EU´s Common Basic Principles for Roma inclusion;
- Uphold their obligation to the protection and realization of fundamental rights and refrain from measures and statements that discriminate against Roma community.
The International Steering Committee instructs the Czech presidency to extend invitation to all European countries to join the Decade of Roma Inclusion.
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VIDEO
Press Conference – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion (czech)
Interview with Jan Jarab, Regional Representative, Office of the UN High Commissionaire for Human Rights (czech)
Gabriela Hrabaňová – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 (czech)
Opening SpeechesCzech PM Petr Nečas – 19. International Steering Committee Meeting (czech)Vladimír Galuška – 19. International Steering Committee Meeting (english)Karel Holomek – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015 (czech)Peter Harrold – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion (english)
Launch of the World Bank Report “Roma Inclusion: An economic opportunity for Europe“Launch of the World Bank Report “Roma Inclusion: An economic opportunity for Europe“ (english)Belinda Pyke (European Commission) – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting (english)Martin Šimáček – 19. International Steering Committee Meeting (czech)Eben Friedman (REF) – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion (english)Bernard Rorke (OSI) – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion (english)
European Approach to Roma Integration – Call for non-discriminatory action “Decade – together for better integration”Jan Jařab (UN) – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting – Decade of Roma Inclusion (english)M. Francois Zimeray, Ambassador for Human Rights, France (ISCM) (english)Valentine Mocanu – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting (english)Iulian Stoian – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting (english)Michael Kocáb – 19. International Steering Committee Meeting (czech)Isabela Mihalache, M. François Zimeray, Jan Jařab – discussion – 19th International Steering Committee Meeting (english)
