Racism at the Heart of Romani Human Rights Abuses, Witnesses Tell Helsinki Commission

Witnesses Say Racism at Heart of Romani Human Rights Abuses
U.S. Newswire
9 Apr 18:30

Racism at the Heart of Romani Human Rights Abuses, Witnesses Tell
Helsinki Commission
To: National and International Desks
Contact: Ben Anderson of the U.S. Helsinki Commission,
202-225-1901; Web site: http://www.csce.gov/

WASHINGTON, April 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Roma throughout Europe
still encounter human rights conditions which lack the basic
elements of human dignity, according to testimony delivered today
before a hearing of the Untied States Helsinki Commission.

The hearing focused on the age-old human rights struggle of
Roma, insidious barriers to education opportunities for Romani
children, activities of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and recent initiatives undertaken in
Bulgaria to curb such abuses.

"A few years ago, a Hungarian Romani activist said to our
Commission, 'We don't want the fish, we want the net'," said
Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.). "Those
words were echoed in the messages we heard here today. Education is
clearly the net."

"Our own experience with de-segregation has not been easy, but
it has always been necessary," Smith added. "If American
experiences have any relevance for others, perhaps it is because of
what can be learned from our failures, as well as our successes.
Communities around this country continually strive to ensure that
our schools are places that teach tolerance, not bigotry, and are
places that bring people together, not places that drive them
apart."

"The more I learn about the plight of Roma, the more I am struck
by certain parallels with the experience of American Indians here
in our own country," Commission Chairman Sen. Ben Nighthorse
Campbell (R-Colo.) said in prepared remarks. Chairman Campbell is
currently the only American Indian serving in the U.S. Senate.
"Increasingly, Roma have begun to raise their voices not in search
of special treatment, but for an opportunity to freely exercise
their human rights and fundamental freedoms without
discrimination."

"Unfortunately, as clearly documented by various organizations,
ethnic persecution and discrimination persist against the Roma in
most nations in Europe," said Commissioner Rep. Joseph R. Pitts
(R-Pa.). "Stereotypes of the Roma abound throughout Eastern and
Western Europe. Unfortunately, there is not overwhelming evidence
that the majority ethnic groups in Europe desire to help end these
stereotypes and the racism that does exist."

The hearing featured the testimony of Elena Borislavova
Poptodorova, ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States of
America; Nicolae Gheorghe, section head, Contact Point on Roma and
Sinti Issues, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights; Dimitrina Petrova, executive director, European Roma Rights
Center; and Rumyan Russinov, director, Roma Participation Project.

A transcript of the hearing, including witness testimony, will
be available Wednesday, April 10 on the Commission's Web site at
http://www.csce.gov.

The hearing highlighted the fact that a wide range of barriers
currently exist that limit Romani access to education in a number
of OSCE countries, from racist abuse inflicted on Roma by peers and
teachers, to channeling Roma into separate, unequal schools. Human
rights advocates stressed the need for political will and urged
government leaders to acknowledge that barriers exist and should
foster popular support for demolishing them.

The OSCE remains an important forum for addressing Romani human
rights issues, including the Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR). The ODIHR continues to support initiatives to
enhance voter education among Roma, work with interested
governments on ways to legalize Romani settlements, and bring Roma
and non-Roma policy makers together.

The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent federal
agency, by law monitors and encourages progress in implementing
provisions of the Helsinki Accords. The Commission, created in
1976, is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives and one
official each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

Not a complaint but had to do a Google search to appreciate this article.

For those in the same boat as I, substitute the word "gypsy" for the word "Romani". Romani are a subset of gypsies.

"For those in the same boat as I, substitute the word "gypsy" for the word "Romani". Romani are a subset of gypsies. "

Thanks I didn't have a clue. I thought they might be talking about Romanians, in which case this was definately news to me since I had never heard of anyone descriminating against them. Gypsies make much more since in this context.

For those in the same boat as I, substitute the word "gypsy" for the word "Romani". Romani are a subset of gypsies.

No. Foreigners call Roma Gypsies. Romani or Roma is what they call themselves.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.