International Roma Day: UN expert urges full inclusion of Roma in decision-making in Europe

On International Roma Day, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority
issues, Rita Izsák, calls on all European States and institutions to fully
include Roma people in the decision-making process in Europe at all levels.

“Europe cannot stand for exclusion. With national elections taking place or
due in several European countries and with the European Parliament elections
taking place in 2014, it is timely on this International Roma day to call on
governments and international organisations to step-up their efforts and
attention to ensuring the full integration of their Roma populations, including
in decision making bodies at all levels.

Political parties in democratic societies have a responsibility to reinforce
the basic foundations of that democracy and the rule of law and promote the
importance of minority rights protection in line with international standards,
including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to
National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and European human
rights standards.

With a rising tide of anti-Roma sentiment and hostility against Roma
throughout Europe, it is a primary duty of politicians from across the political
spectrum to ensure the inclusion of Roma as well as promoting understanding and
tolerant societies. Political actors must use their significant influence to
clearly condemn anti-minority propaganda and hate speech and protect Roma and
other excluded groups from being negatively stereotyped and treated as
scapegoats.

In many countries there is a rapidly rising number of Roma intellectuals and
leaders both in governments and civil society, including young people and women
– Roma role models who are passionate and talented advocates not only for the
rights of Roma, but about ensuring fair and just societies for all. It is high
time for Roma to be considered as full partners in society, with much of value
to contribute, and not only as beneficiaries or as a problem to be solved.

I have been saddened by recent reports about the limited number of Roma
speakers in high-level meetings discussing Roma inclusion. This is unacceptable
and demonstrates that, even after decades of advocacy for Roma inclusion, in
some respects very little has changed in reality. Roma must be given real
opportunities to discuss and influence not only their own futures and Roma
integration policies and practice, but also the futures of the wider societies
to which they belong.

There should be stronger outreach to encourage Roma to get more involved in
politics and engage in active citizenship, through which their feeling of
belonging will be strengthened and their responsibility as full stakeholders in
society will increase. Electoral systems should be reformed and positive
measures taken so that Roma have a real possibility for meaningful
representation. The specific challenges facing Roma women must be tackled,
especially limitations arising from patriarchal systems that discourage Roma
women from taking leadership roles.

Newly formed governments and parliaments must recall that they are
accountable not only to some or the majority in society, but also to minorities.
They should establish or strengthen mechanisms and structures for the protection
of Roma with the inclusion of Roma. The European Union-led framework for Roma
integration strategies, have to be strengthened and closely monitored at the
national level. The 2014-2020 EU budgetary framework must ensure that long-term
programs for Roma inclusion can be planned and implemented in practice from
national to local levels.

Europe must stand against exclusion.”