Implementation Meeting on Human Dimension Issues, Warsaw, 26 October - 6 November 1998

1 September 1999

Participation of Roma in policies that affect them

Mr Moderator,

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) would like to praise the organizers of the roundtable on Roma and Sinti, which provides a useful opportunity to discuss in depth some of the issues that must be considered in order to improve the situation of Roma and Sinti all over Europe. We welcome in particular the possibility that this meeting offers to governments and representatives of the Roma and Sinti to share their experiences and ideas, in a spirit of constructive dialogue. It is important that these conversations should be the beginning of a process followed up by substantial practical activities within states.

MRG welcomes the increasing acknowledgement of the disadvantages and racial discrimination faced by the Roma in many participating states. We also welcome the increasing number of measures taken by participating states to address these, and urge governments to continue devising special measures in favour of the Roma, within a broad strategic plan. We urge them, however, to do so by listening to the demands of the Roma and Sinti to participate fully in the design and implementation of policies and programmes that affect them. This would be in the spirit of Article 15 of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which stipulates that:

‘The parties shall create the conditions necessary for the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in cultural, social and economic life and public affairs, in particular those affecting them.’

‘Outcome-approach’ or ‘input-approach’?

Mr Moderator,

MRG would like to encourage participating states to offer information not only on the measures they have taken to ensure that Roma are attaining equality with the rest of the population in their enjoyment of human rights, but also to provide information on the effectiveness of these measures. In other words, not only are we interested to hear about the measures initiated by governments, we are even more eager to hear about the results of their evaluation. For example, the UK is able to provide figures on the number of Roma and Traveller children who attend school, but does not provide figures on their level of achievement. Yet this is recognized to be a critical data, if we want to measure the life chances of these children.

In addition, participating states must address, by way of intercultural education and legislation to combat racism, the negative attitudes towards Roma that are widespread among many of the mainstream population.

Institutionalizing Roma and Sinti affairs in the OSCE

Mr Moderator,

Last year a substantial debate took place about the need to maintain a strong Roma and Sinti Contact Point at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. This was to ensure that the long-term work already undertaken was not diminished. A number of NGOs including ourselves, as well as a number of governmental delegations, including Finland on behalf of the European Union, also emphasized this point. At the end of the session we were all given an assurance by ODIHR that the same level of involvement on Roma issues would be maintained despite other pressures in the office. We believe that that statement was given in good faith and that efforts were made to honour it. However, we were surprised that there was not a single reference to the Contact Point in the Semi-Annual Report published by ODIHR in July 1998. We are aware that this does not necessarily mean that nothing happened on Roma, and it is clear that some work is continuing. ODIHR published a background paper, Public policies concerning Roma and Sinti in the OSCE region, which was submitted by Romani CRISS and the Project on Ethnic Relations, for this meeting. MRG welcomes this initiative. However, MRG would value a reassurance that the absence of overt activities represents only temporary difficulties and that the positive undertaking for 1998 will be repeated in 1999.

We support the recommendation made in the background paper mentioned above, and by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, for the nomination of a full time Senior Adviser on Roma issues within the ODIHR, and urge both ODIHR and participating states to take the necessary steps towards such a nomination.

Thank you, Mr Moderator.