Press releases

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.

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:

Strasbourg, 07.05.2008 – Improving the living conditions of Roma citizens by safeguarding their basic human rights, promoting access to services and supporting their participation in social and political life and further empowerment are the priorities of a joint Council of Europe/European Commission awareness-raising project to be launched in Moldova and Ukraine on 14 May.

The project,  entitled “Empowering the Roma communities and fighting against anti-Gypsyism”, will provide training on the monitoring and evaluation of Roma national policies for  government officials, but also training for teachers and anti-trafficking mediators from Moldova and Ukraine.

The project will also include the launch of Dosta!, an awareness-raising campaign promoting Roma rights which has already been successfully carried out in five countries in South Eastern Europe  with the support of the authorities and Roma communities.

Strasbourg, 8 April 2008

I congratulate our fellow Europeans on the occasion of the International Roma Day. We should use this opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the Roma people to the cultural diversity and richness of Europe.

For some time, the Council of Europe has been campaigning against prejudice towards the Roma community in the South East Europe, and we want to extend the “Dosta!” campaign to all Council of Europe member states.

“Dosta” means “Enough” in Romani, but today is also an opportunity to say “More!”, meaning more rights, more equality, more integration and more respect for our fellow Europeans who belong to Roma community.

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On 8 April, we celebrate the International Roma Day in order to commemorate the first worldwide Roma meeting. On this day we have opportunity to realise that difficult Roma situation resounds not only in the Slovak Republic but in almost all Europe.

For this reason, it is important to move the Roma issue to the foreground of the European political agenda. The pan-European extent of this issue requires joining the efforts of particular states, cooperation between international intergovernmental as well as non-governmental organisation, including the direct participation of Roma themselves.

The solution of Roma´s problem is being considered by the Slovak Republic as one of the priorities of its policy. The European conference ‘Education and training of Roma children and Youth: the way forward,’ which will take place in Bratislava on April 8 –9, within the framework of the Slovak Chairmanship of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, is one of the contributions to this issue. The conference will provide opportunities for key issues of Roma´s education to be openly discussed within the context of positive and lively debate.

On the occasion of the ''Dosta!-Congress Prize for Municipalities'' Henry Scicluna, of Europe co-ordinator for Roma issues, presented a diploma to the three cities winners of the ''Dosta!-Congress Prize for Municipalities'' represented by Dragoljub Davidovic, Mayor of Banja Luka, Vlado Alilovic, Mayor of Vitez, and Snezana Mushitski, from the Municipality of Novi Sad. On this occasion, Congress President Halvdan Skard also handed them the Congress Medal, in recognition of their initiatives for Roma communities.

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Press release

Strasbourg, 19.11.2007 – A CD of Roma variations on the theme of the European anthem will be launched on Tuesday 20 November at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

The CD features five leading groups from the galaxy of Roma music – including Shqiperiagroup from Albania, Kal and R. Point from Serbia, the Alsatian guitarist and interpreter of manouche jazz Yorgui Loeffler, and Esma Redzepova, one of the most famous Roma singers.

Esma Redzepova will perform at the CD launch at 12pm (in the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Chamber) during an award ceremony to honour the best local initiatives for the integration of Roma people, entitled the “Dosta! Prize for Municipalities”. The award is given by the Council of Europe Congress, which is holding a session from 19-21 November 2007 in Strasbourg.

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.  

Author: European Roma Rights Center

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday delivered a landmark of Human Rights yesterday delivered a landmark judgment in the case of Secic v. Croatia, concerning the lack of a proper investigation carried out by the Croatian authorities into a racially-motivated attack on a Romani man.

The Court held that the Croatian authorities failed to conduct a sufficiently thorough and expeditious investigation as well as examine the possible racial motives behind the assault.

The judgment, the first in which the Court has elaborated on the obligations of states in cases of racially-motivated attacks perpetrated by private individuals, is a call for the swift prosecution of hate crime at a time when such attacks occur with heightened frequency throughout Europe.

The UNICEF Belgrade Office, the Secretariat for Implementation of the National Strategy for Roma and  the Council of Europe will launch in Belgrade UNICEF’s report "Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion: Roma Children in South East Europe" and promote the Council of Europe/European Commission’s “Dosta!” campaign during a special event which will be held on 16 May, 2007 at the Media Centre, Sava Centre, Milentija Popovica Street no. 9, Belgrade. 

Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion: Roma Children in South East Europe report calls for immediate action on social exclusion of children in middle income countries. It focuses especially on Roma children and covers eight middle income states/entities in South East Europe which share similar characteristics: Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.