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Italy: “Immigration policy must be based on human rights principles and not only on perceived security concerns”, says Commissioner Hammarberg presenting a special report

Strasbourg, 29.07.2008 – “Concern about security cannot be the only basis for immigration policy. Measures now being taken in Italy lack human rights and humanitarian principles and may spur further xenopohobia,”. With these words, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, published a report based on his special visit to Rome 19 and 20 June. The visit took place following a series of anti-Roma and anti-Sinti protests, which were occasionally very violent, and the rapid adoption or preparation of legislation, which notably aimed to introduce further controls of the freedom of movement of Roma and Sinti, the criminalisation of irregular immigration and additional restrictions on immigration.

Interview by Sergio Nava - Radio 24 (Italy-Italian) - realesed by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, about the law by decree on security matters in Italy.

(News bulletin of 13h, 16/05/08)

Anti-Romani Speech in Europe’s Public Space - The Mechanism of Hate Speech
Henry Scicluna 1

Introduction

Hate speech can take various forms, ranging from offensive remarks to incitement to violence. In the case of Roma, hate speech covers the whole range of abuse and follows a pattern distinct from ordinary abusive speech against any given group. Whether it is a minor insult or an outright incitement to killing, the purpose of the perpetrator is the same: To exclude and eliminate Roma from society. What is noticeable in most countries is a constant and systematic escalation in the gravity of hate speech rather than sporadic incidents.

Council of Europe and Lilian Thuram unite against racism

On 13 May at its Paris meeting, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published its ‘Unite Against Racism’ declaration, in the presence of French international footballer Lilian Thuram. The declaration, supported by a video message from Secretary General Terry Davis, was issued ahead of the Euro 2008 football tournament. The commission wants the event to demonstrate a commitment to combatting racism and racial discrimination in football and set out guidelines for tackling the problem in national football leagues.

Declaration by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe (ECRI) on the occasion of Euro 2008

“Unite against racism”

Paris, 13 May

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe:

 Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe: ''Roma is not only a ''European'' issue, but also a national, regional, and local one''

''Dosta!, a word which means ''Enough'' in the Romani variant of the targeted region, means enough of prejudices towards Roma neighbours,'' explained Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General, during the ceremony award of the ''Dosta!-Congress Prize for municipalities''. ''It is not for international organisations to take the place of governments and regional and local authorities in member states. But it is our role, and the role of international organisations, to coordinate and co-operate in order to provide a common and synergic approach to improve the situation of Roma throughout Europe,'' she added.

Go to the Speech

Esma Redzepova, the so-called « Queen of the Gypsies » is one of the amazing artists who co-operate with the Dosta! campaign for promoting a better understanding of Roma culture and the recognition of Roma as European citizens. Nominated for Nobel Prize for Peace in 2003, Esma was also the first Yugoslavian artist to act in Paris’ Olympia. Proud of her origins, Esma started singing when she was 13. Her marriage with a « gadjo », Mr. Stevo Teodosievski, was a scandal before becoming the symbol of the dialogue between the Roma community and the majority society. We met her in Freiburg, during the recording of the Dosta! campaign CD: "Music Beyond Prejudice: Romani variations on the European Anthem".

Interview with Mrs Esma Redzepova

Interview with Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: Q&A: ''Where Europe Has Failed These Europeans'' 17/10/2007 - IPS / Italy and USA Thomas Hammerberg was elected Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe in October 2005. He plays a crucial role in promoting implementation of the recommendations of the human rights system of the Council. The Council of Europe has 47 member states in the Europe region, and is the oldest organisation working for European integration. It is separate from the European Union (EU), and therefore from the European Council of the EU. Thomas Hammerberg was elected by the parliamentary assembly of the council, which comprises members from national parliaments. Apostolis Fotiadis from IPS discussed with him the key problems that Roma, one of the most discriminated against groups in the EU face today.  

Commissioner for Human Rights' viewpoint

"Roma job seekers are discriminated against”

[02/04/07] Roma do not get jobs, they are put in a “glass box”. This is a conclusion of a survey published by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) in Budapest. In Central and South Eastern European countries employment discrimination is still endemic and blatant. For Romani job-seekers the vacancies are not open - they knock their heads against invisible walls preventing them from getting any job at all.

The ERRC study was carried out in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia and there are similar problems in several other European countries. The unemployment rate is high all over the continent. When Roma have jobs this tends to be limited to tasks providing services to the Roma community itself.

D.H. and Others v. Czech Republic (application no. 57325/00)

The applicants are 18 Czech nationals of Roma origin who were born between 1985 and 1991 and live in the Ostrava region (Czech Republic).

Between 1996 and 1999 they were placed in special schools (zvláštní školy) for children with learning difficulties unable to follow the ordinary school curriculum. By law, the decision to place a child in a special school is taken by the head teacher on the basis of the results of tests to measure the child’s intellectual capacity carried out in an educational psychology and child guidance centre, and requires the consent of the child’s legal representative.

Fourteen of the applicants sought a review by the Ostrava Education Department (školský úřad) on the grounds that the tests performed had been unreliable and that their parents had not been sufficiently informed of the consequences of giving consent. The Education Department found that the placements had been made in accordance with the statutory rules.

CommDH/Speech(2006)24

Original version

Statement by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights at Press Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia

16 November 2006

“I came to Slovenia in order to better understand what happened in Ambrus in the end of October and what can be done to avoid repetition of such unfortunate developments.

Irrespective of the background and history to the tensions, it is unacceptable that a group of people have to leave their homes because the majority population in the neighbourhood so require and that safety of the minority group is at risk.

I have also learnt that racist, anti-Gypsy language was used in threats against the Strojan family.

Among the victims of these developments were totally innocent children.

I have had talks with the Ministers of Education, Interior and Environment and know that they are trying to find a solution to the tensions which protects the rights and safety of the family. I respect their serious efforts.

Certain important principals should now be remembered: