This Roma Life

In a report broadcast by France 3 on 29 September, a Council of Europe spokeswoman tells journalist Sylvie Malal about her work in an Alsace Roma camp and the help offered to a family now facing expulsion from France after four years in the country.

Can Culture Project Help Fight Against Anti-Roma Discrimination?

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Culture and heritage enthusiasts will gather at the Council of Europe for the official launch of the 'Roma Routes' project.

On 7 October, they will join Roma representatives from the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Romania and Slovenia to discuss efforts to showcase Roma culture.

A CoE spokesman said: "Engagement through heritage is a non-confrontational and attractive method of communication, which allows Roma culture to be seen and understood, away from the tensions of policing, housing etc.

"Roma have the opportunity to communicate with knowledge and confidence through a range of cultural media including song, dance, artefacts, family history, food and customs."

Over the next 2 years, the project will feature a month of celebrations in Slovenia, lectures and music in Germany, a commemoration for the Roma who died in the holocaust and a summer camp for Roma and non Roma young people in Romania.

Roma artists will perform in Athens and there will also be opportunities for roma cultural experts to contribute to the curriculum in Romanian schools and to act as guides in Greek museums.

The spokesman added: "This is a platform from which the Roma Route of Culture and Heritage can be developed and links can be pursued with partners across Europe interested in furthering this process."

More information

Podcast: Romaphobia 2010

Launch Of Expert Group On Multicultural Europe

Joschka Fischer, former German Foreign Minister, will chair a Group of 'Eminent Persons' including, among others, Javier Solana and Emma Bonino with the mandate to find answers to the current threats from intolerance and discrimination in Europe.

Launching the initiative in Brussels today, Thorbjørn Jagland explained that the new challenges to security and stability in Europe appeared not to be between but inside the states. In the press-conference, Joschka Fischer said that living together in a multicultural, multireligious society will be key to preserving and developing the European model.

The group will conclude its work with recommendations to the Council of Europe at a Ministerial conference to be held in Istanbul in May 2011. The initiative is part of the Turkish Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers (November 2010 - May 2011).

The Group In Full

News Article: The End Of Multi-Culturalism?

Interview: Irmela Mensah-Schramm

Roma in Europe: Time for states to move from words to action and eliminate systemic discrimination

“Roma and Travellers continue to be subject to racism and pervasive discrimination across all social sectors in many European countries. It is high time to act to reverse this situation” said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, at the Seminar on Roma rights organised today by the ABF-Workers’ Educational Association in Stockholm.

“Europe cannot be proud. It is a continent where forced sterilisation of Roma women was a state-backed policy in certain countries at least until 1990 and where segregation of Roma children in schools still persists. Progress in tackling poverty among Roma and enhancing their socio-economic status is either non existent or slow. (more)

Podcast: Romaphobia

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