Amnesty International says EU should do much more against discrimination of Roma people

The European Union is doing too little against the discrimination of Roma people in its Member States, where members of this minority are excluded from public life to a great extent. The Czech Press Agency reports that claim was made Friday by John Dalhuisen, Deputy Director for Europe of Amnesty International (AI) at the launch of their annual report in London.

Amnesty International is more and more disappointed by the response of the EU to this matter, Dalhuisen said. In his view, the majority of European Roma live as second-class citizens throughout the continent. He did admit that “the main responsibility will always rest with natoinal and regional authorities… but the issues of discrimination and the equality of its citizens are key components of EU competencies.”

Dalhuisen said the EU cannot just overlook the fact that so many of its Roma citizens do not enjoy equal rights. “The EU must address this not only through projects, but also financially. It must also concentrate much more thoroughly on the individual Member States and how they are solving this problem,” Dalhuisen declared.

The report, which evaluates how human rights were upheld around the globe last year, states that “one of the most telling examples of systemic discrimination (in Europe) is the situation of Roma people, a large proportion of whom remain excluded form public life and are often the targets of open, public animosity and xenophobic political statements.” AI reports that “Roma people remain one of only a few groups against whom openly racist approaches and statements are not just tolerated, but broadly shared.”

The report mentions examples of discrimination in education and housing not only in Central and Eastern Europe, but also in France or Italy. “Discrimination against Roma people is universal. It is tempting for Western countries to perceive it as a problem of Central or Eastern Europe. That is not the case… There are also enormous differences between the quality of life enjoyed by Roma people and that enjoyed by non-Roma in Portugal and Spain. Discrimination against them lingers on even in France,” Dalhuisen said.

AI’s Deputy Director for Europe said recent migration flows of Roma people have compounded these problems. “Romania’s problem today is France’s problem tomorrow,” he said.

However, Dalhuisen emphasized that the “problem” is primarily being experienced by Roma people, who are the victims of discrimination and violence. In his view it is deeply cynical when Roma people are labeled in public debates as a cause of problems for non-Roma, which he said amounted to accusing the victims of abuse of being perpetrators themselves. “This is reflected in the deeply anti-Roma sentiment throughout all of Europe,” he said.

Even though there has been much talk in recent years of the necessity of addressing the position of Roma people, too few concrete improvements are said to have been achieved. AI says this is because the entire matter is approached solely “as if it were a political problem, as if it were an economic problem.” Dalhuisen said AI believes anti-Roma sentiment, discrimination, human rights violations, and prejudices are key elements of this official paralysis.