Publisher: European Roma Rights Center

WRITTEN COMMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE, CONCERNING ROMANIA (For Consideration by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the 53rd Session 26-30 May 2014)

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

According to current unofficial estimates Roma in Romania make up approximately 9% of the population (approximately 1,700,000). However, a verified and accurate count remains elusive. According to the final results of the 2011 Census of the Population and Households published on 4 July 2013 by the National Statistics Institute, Romania had a total population of 20.12 million. Among the 18.88 million respondents who self-reported their ethnicity, 621,600 were Roma (3.3%, an increase from 2.46% in the 2002 census). The ERRC’s research on Roma in Romania shows that Roma continue facing discrimination in all areas of social life, including housing, education, employment and health. In December 2011, the Romanian Government adopted the Strategy for the Inclusion of the Romanian Citizens belonging to Roma minority for the period 2012 – 2020 in the context of the European Commission’s Communication on adopting an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 (hereinafter the Strategy). The Strategy focuses on four areas, namely access to housing, access to health, education and employment. However, it has been highly criticised by NGOs, which were not consulted prior to its adoption. Moreover, the Strategy lacks clear indicators on measuring its impact, reducing the possibility of effective implementation and of improving Roma inclusion policies through lessons learnt.

WRITTEN COMMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE, CONCERNING ROMANIA (For Consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its Pre-session Working Group for the 75th Session 3-7 October 2016)

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2016

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) respectfully submits a list of issues concerning Romania for consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at its pre-sessional Working Group for the 75th Session, which will be held from 3rd to 7th October 2016. The ERRC has undertaken regular monitoring of the human rights situation of Roma in Romania and this list of issues reflects the current priorities in our work in Romania. According to current unofficial estimates, Roma in Romania make up approximately 9% of the population (approximately 1,850,000). However, a verified and accurate count remains elusive. According to the final results of the 2011 Census of the Population and Households published on 4 July 2013 by the National Statistics Institute, Romania had a total population of 20.12 million. Among the 18.88 million respondents who self-reported their ethnicity, 621,600 were Roma (3.3%, an increase from 2.46% in the 2002 census). Deeply entrenched anti-Roma attitudes can be vividly seen in the annual surveys carried out by the National Council for Combating Discrimination: in 20053 61% of respondents thought that Roma were a source of shame for Romania, while 52% of respondents went further to say that Roma should not be allowed to travel outside the country. These attitudes have not improved much: in 20134 48% of respondents said that they did not want a Romani work colleague, 41% would not want a Romani neighbour, and 38% would not want any Roma in their municipality. Public authorities are not insulated from these wide-spread and pernicious attitudes; in the absence of robust safeguards these attitudes may translate into violations of the Convention.

WRITTEN COMMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE, MENTAL DISABILITY ADVOCACY CENTER AND PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL HOUSING, CONCERNING THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2015

This joint written submission outlines key issues of concern with regard to the Czech Republic’s implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (hereinafter the “CERD Convention”). These key issues of concern are the following: a. general legal framework on discrimination; b. housing and adequate living conditions; c. inclusive education; d. ill-treatment and harassment; and e. involuntary sterilisations. 2. The purpose of this joint submission is to inform the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (hereinafter the “Committee”) of legislation, policies and practices implemented bythe Czech Republic which violate the CERD Convention. We are also recommending the Committee to remind the State Party that, when acting upon the Committee’s recommendations, it has to take into consideration the entire body of UN human rights jurisprudence (rather than looking at separate treaty-based bodies) and respect all the obligations it has assumed by ratifying numerous UN human rights treaties. To this end we are providing, where relevant, information on the jurisprudence and practices of other UN human rights bodies. 3. This joint submission has been prepared by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), the Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC)2 and the Platform for Social Housing.

WRITTEN COMMENTS of the European Roma Rights Centre, Mental Disability Advocacy Centre, League of Human Rights and the Platform for Social Housing, Concerning the Czech Republic

For Consideration by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightsat the 52nd Session (28th April to 23rd May 2014).

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

WRITTEN COMMENTS of the European Roma Rights Centre, PRAXIS and Other Partner Organisations, Concerning Serbia (For Consideration by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the 52nd Session 28th April to 23rd May 2014).

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

WRITTEN SUBMISSION BY THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE CONCERNING BULGARIA (To the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for consideration at its 92nd Session 24 April - 12 May 2017)

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2017

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led international public interest law organisation which monitors the human rights of Roma in Europe and provides legal defence in cases of human rights violations. The ERRC is deeply concerned at the lack of progress made by Bulgarian authorities since CERD issued its concluding observations on Bulgaria in 2009 with specific reference to the committee’s recommendations concerning the situation of Roma and other minorities. Bulgarian authorities continue to target Romani communities for forced evictions, and the de facto segregation of Roma continues in all areas of life, in particular in the spheres of residential segregation and segregation in healthcare facilities. Limited progress has been made with regards to enforcing legislation persecuting racially motivated hate crimes. Hate speech continues to affect Romani minorities in particular, leading to a number of instances of violence. In a number of cases, Bulgarian authorities have failed to protect Romani citizens from violent racist mobs attacking Romani communities and individuals. This submission also finds that CERD’s calls for improving the situation of Roma in all areas of life, in particular of access to healthcare and housing, have yet to be adequately addressed.

WRITTEN SUBMISSION BY THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE CONCERNING ITALY (To the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for consideration at its 91st Session 21 November - 9 December 2016)

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2016

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led international public interest law organisation which monitors the human rights of Roma in Europe and provides legal defence in cases of human rights violations. The ERRC is deeply concerned at the lack of progress made by Italian authorities since CERD issued its concluding observations on Italy in 2012 with specific reference to the committee’s detailed recommendations concerning the situation of Roma and Sinti. The committee rebuked Italy for its targeted evictions, and its de facto segregation of Roma communities in poorly equipped camps. Italy was requested to provide effective remedies to Roma and Sinti for the negative impact of the emergency decrees, and to consult with these communities in the development of programs directed at them. No progress has been made with regards to this request, and the submission provides evidence that the situation has actually worsened. This submission also finds that CERD’s calls for stronger efforts to combat and punish both racist violence and pervasive hate speech directed at Roma, Sinti and non-citizens have yet to be adequately addressed.

WRITTEN SUBMISSION BY THE EUROPEAN ROMA RIGHTS CENTRE CONCERNING SLOVAKIA (To the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, for consideration to the 94th Session 20 November - 8 December 2017)

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2017

The European Roma Rights Centre (hereinafter also referred to as the “ERRC”) and the Forum for Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as the “FORUM”) hereby jointly submit this report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (hereinafter also referred to as “Committee”) for the consideration to the 94th Session (20 November - 8 December 2017). The report focuses on the issues faced by Romani communities in Slovakia, namely: - police ill-treatment and harassment, - access to adequate housing, including access to drinking water, - discrimination in education. In its 2013 Concluding observations (CERD/C/ SVK/CO/9-10), the Committee addressed all the above-mentioned issues. Though several years have passed since, the submitting NGOs believe that the Slovak government has taken no significant steps to address the issues, therefore, the situation remains largely unchanged and the problems persist.

Україна. Звіт Європейського центрУ З прав ромів профіль країни 2011-2012

Author(s): Specified No Author / Language(s): Ukrainian / Publication Year: 2012