Strasbourg Declaration On Roma

A new European Training Programme for Roma mediators will be established to provide communities with legal and administrative advice.

The programme will train 440 mediators in 2011 and more than 1,000 the following year.

Thorbjørn Jagland: Time For "Critical Change" Towards Roma

A ‘Berlin Wall-style’ divide in Europe separates Roma from non-Roma communities, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has warned.

“Europe is still divided by a wall,” he said. “A while ago, a part of this wall was actually physical – brick and mortar and concrete - but most of it is invisible, yet no less effective in maintaining a divide between Roma and the rest of our societies.”

Strasbourg Summit: An Opportunity To Empower Roma

A decision by French authorities to return Roma people to their countries of origin has generated a pan-European debate that should trigger the empowerment of Roma communities.

That is the view of Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, expressed at the opening of the Roma summit meeting of government representatives in Strasbourg on 20 October.

Rudko Kawczynski: Alienated Roma Youth Are Ready To Explode

A growing militancy among jobless Roma youth from impoverished 'townships' could explode into violence, Rudko Kawczynski, President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum has warned.

The Roma activist expressed his fears that widespread anti-gypysim and empty government promises are helping to radicalise Roma youth, as European ministers gather in Strasbourg on 20 October to discuss measures to integrate Roma communities.
The European Roma and Travellers Forum will take part in the summit meeting along with representatives from the Council of Europe's 47 member states.

Roma Summit: A Moment Of Truth For Europe

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Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Antonio Miloshoski, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, have invited governments, the EU and international organisations to attend a high-level meeting on 20 October and agree priorities to improve integration of Roma people in Europe.

Roma At The European Court Of Human Rights

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Legal challenges to the treatment of Roma are a recurring theme at the European Court of Human Rights.

The number of cases brought before the Court or by means of the Social Charter, is likely to be an important theme at the Council of Europe's Roma ministerial summit on 20 October.

The French minister Pierre Lellouch, EU Commissioner Viviane Reding and representatives of governments from 47 member states are expected to attend, with press conferences arranged for 12h30 and 16h30.

The summit deliberations will be open to both press and public from 15h to 16h30.



Roma & Travellers at the ECHR: Case History

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Gary Younge: Little Change In Europe's "Shameful" Treatment Of Roma

Author, Guardian newspaper journalist and future Council of Europe podcast guest Gary Younge can now add “seer” to his list of talents.

Younge, the Guardian’s United States analyst, described vividly the troubles faced by Roma people in an article published by his newspaper some seven years ago.

He wrote: “The journey from the Indian subcontinent to eastern Europe made by many Roma has been a long and hard one.

"In terms of moral imperative, a human tragedy and a continent's shame, the treatment of the Roma, Europe's largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority, stands out.”

As European ministers and EU Commissioner Viviane Reding prepare to gather in Strasbourg on 20 October for the Council of Europe ministerial Roma summit, many of the themes touched on by Younge are still active concerns.

Daniel Holtgen, the Council of Europe’s Director of Communication, acknowledged as much when the organisation announced it would call a ministerial meeting in Strasbourg.

“This is a unique opportunity for governments of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, the EU and other international institutions to come together and finally agree on what to do about this ghastly situation,” Holtgen said.

“The Council of Europe is the body with most experience on Roma. We will be talking about things that matter.”

Gary Younge's Roma Articles

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Rustem: Governments Must Respect Human Rights Standards On Roma

Governments must respect existing legal and human rights standards if they are serious about Roma integration, says Robert Rustem in an interview with the Council of Europe.

Looking ahead to the organisation's ministerial Roma summit on 20 October, the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) representative  said it was time "for words to move to action."

The ERTF will take part in the Strasbourg conference later this month. Rustem added: "We should not reinvent the wheel. I hope that there will be commitments from Council of Europe member states and not just on paper. It is the expectation of the entire Roma community."

Council of Europe sets terms for Roma Summit

MEP Michèle Striffler: The French Defence [fr]

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