ERRC Conference Highlights Worrying Situation of Romani Children in the Hungarian Child Protection System
(Last modified: 2007-12-17 11:57:32)
Hungarian Romani Children Over-Represented in State Care
Budapest, 17 December 2007: At a conference hosted in Budapest today, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) presented a report based on research conducted in 2007 which indicates a disproportionate number of children in state care in Hungary are of Romani background. The report, "Dis-Interest of the Child: Romani Children in the Hungarian Child Protection System", explores concerns related to the over-representation of Romani children in state care as well as the role of ethnic identity in state care and adoption processes. It also covers the disproportionate categorisation of Romani children in state care as mentally disabled.
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ERRC and NEKI Call for Action Against Racist Group in Hungary
(Last modified: 2007-12-13 15:29:12)
On 13 December 2007, the ERRC and NEKI submitted joint requests to the Hungarian Prosecutor General and Chief of Police of Hungary regarding racist, anti Romani activities of the Magyar Garda, a paramilitary group established in August 2007 with the stated purpose of protecting Hungarian culture and the Hungarian nation. In their request to the Chief of Police of Hungary, the ERRC and NEKI requested that the activities of Magyar Garda be monitored and that explicitly anti Romani demonstrations and other activities be stopped. In their letter of the Hungarian Prosecutor General, the ERRC and NEKI asked that the Magyar Gardas registration documents be reviewed according to the actual and racist activities of the Group and that the Prosecutor General seek the revocation of the Groups permit.
The joint requests were sent in the aftermath of the recent anti Romani activities by the Magyar Garda in Tatarszentgyorgy and statements made by the Groups representatives calling for the segregation of Roma, which aim to enhance ethnically motivated hatred.
The joint submissions are available at View it (Acrobat pdf format) and View it (Acrobat pdf format) in Hungarian.
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ERRC Welcomes CESCR Concluding Observations on Ukraine
(Last modified: 2007-12-04 11:14:17)
Concluding Observations of the CESCR on Ukraine welcomes the progress but underlines the need for further action.
The Concluding Observations, issued on 23 November 2007, followed the fifth periodic report of the Ukrainian government on its implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Concluding Observations underlined the cooperation of the Ukrainian government and acknowledged the legislative measures adopted to promote equal opportunities and eliminate discrimination against women, and disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and groups. The Committee also welcomed the recent ratification of the Revised European Social Charter by Ukraine.
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Italian Politician and Media Brought Under Scrutiny for Anti-Romani Speech
(Last modified: 2007-11-12 14:45:45)
ERRC calls for the Prosecution of High Level Hate Speech in Italy
In the wake of recent anti-Romani hysteria in Italy, on 12 November 2007 the ERRC sent a request to the Prosecutor of Rome, Italy's National Office Against Discrimination, General Prosecutor and Journalists Order, requesting that each office opens an investigation into hate speech by Mr Gianfranco Fini, a high ranking political figure in Italy. In its letter, the ERRC urged the head of each office to investigate both the statements made by Mr Fini, as well as the responsibility of the national Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera for publishing racist statements without any sort of editorial remark.
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Human Rights Organisations Welcome Call on Governments to End Housing Crisis of Roma in Europe
(Last modified: 2007-10-29 14:59:08)
Serial Abuses in Need of Rigorous Response
Serial Abuses in Need of Rigorous Response
Budapest, Geneva, October 29, 2007: The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), the Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), the Italian human rights organisation Osservazione, and the Slovak NGO Milan Simecka Foundation (MSF) welcome today the joint statement by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing urging governments to take positive steps to protect the housing rights of Roma in Europe. The Council of Europe/United Nations joint statement deplores the rise of forced evictions of Roma throughout Europe, exposing hundreds of thousands of people to social exclusion and marginalization. The statement also decries the impunity of public officials and others for violations of domestic and international human rights law.
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ERRC Action to Challenge Exclusion of Roma from Health Care in Bulgaria
(Last modified: 2007-10-22 12:00:08)
Collective Complaint against Bulgaria under the Revised European Social Charter Claims Violation of the State's Obligation to Protect Health
Strasbourg/Budapest 22 October, 2007
The European Roma Rights Centre today brought a collective complaint under the Revised European Social Charter (RESC) against Bulgaria for persistent and systematic violations of the right to protection of health and to social and medical assistance with respect to Bulgarian Roma as guaranteed under Articles 11 and 13 of the Charter and related international standards.
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ERRC wins 2007 Max van der Stoel prize
(Last modified: 2007-10-17 09:08:08
The following press release is issued by the Office of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to announce the presentation of the 2007 Max van der Stoel Award to the ERRC.
THE HAGUE, 16 October 2007 – The European Roma Rights Centre was presented the 2007 Max van der Stoel Award by Knut Vollebaek, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in a ceremony today.
"The European Roma Rights Centre is commended for its long-term commitment to combating discrimination against Roma and its laudable efforts to attract attention to this pressing problem facing Europe as a whole," said Vollebaek, who led the international jury that selected the winner.
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CoE Committee of Ministers demands positive action on the housing of Bulgarian Roma
(Last modified: 2007-10-15 16:22:03)
Ambitious programme promised by the Bulgarian government
Budapest, 8 October 2007 - The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a resolution following the European Committee on Social Rights' ruling in the case of European Roma Rights Center v Bulgaria. The resolution confirms the Committee's finding that Bulgaria was in violation of the European Social Charter for its systematic denial of the Roma's right to adequate housing.
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UN CEDAW's Concluding Comments on Women's Rights in Hungary Expresses Concern About Situation of Roma
(Last modified: 2007-08-31 15:59:08)
31 August 2007, Budapest
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), today welcomed the concluding comments of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in their review of Hungary's compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The ERRC had previously submitted a report to the Committee bringing attention to the critical situation for Romani women in Hungary as well the lack of implementation of the Committee's recommendations in the 2004 coerced sterilisation case, Ms. A.S. v. Hungary.
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Strasbourg Court Sanctions Bulgaria for Failure to Bring Perpetrators of Racist Killing to Justice
(Last modified: 2007-08-03 15:10:08)
States should use existing legal arsenal in fight against racism and deal effectively with racially motivated offences, says Court
On July 27, 2007 the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case of Angelova and Iliev v. Bulgaria concerning the racial killing of a Romani man by a group of teenagers on April 18, 1996 in Shumen, Bulgaria and the official investigation which followed. The Court held that Bulgaria was responsible for breaches of the procedural aspect of the right to life (Article 2), in conjunction with the prohibition of discrimination (Article 14). The applicants (the mother and wife of the victim respectively) were represented by lawyers acting for the European Roma Rights Centre in cooperation with the Human Rights Project in Sofia.
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Strasbourg Court Sanctions Romania for Failure to Remedy Police Ill-Treatment of Romani Man
(Last modified: 2007-07-27 14:40:23)
Judgment strengthens discrimination law
The European Court of Human Rights today delivered its judgment in the case of Cobzaru v. Romania concerning the beating of a Romani man by police officers while in custody in Mangalia, Romania, and the ensuing official investigation. The Court held that Romania is responsible for breaches of the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment (Article 3), the right to an effective remedy (Article 13) and the prohibition of discrimination (Article 14). The applicant was represented by Monica Macovei, a Bucharest-based lawyer, the Romanian Helsinki Committee, and the European Roma Rights Centre.
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Discrimination against Roma punished by the Court
(Last modified: 2007-07-25 11:50:08)
On April 19th 2007, the Fourth Municipal Court in Belgrade found Aleksandar Nikolic a security guard at the "Acapulco" club in Belgrade, guilty of denying access to three Roma citizens Zorica Stojkovic, Petar Antic and Ljutvija Antic solely on the grounds of their ethnicity. The Courts sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for two years. The second accused, Aleksandar Sabo, was acquitted of all charges.
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Joint Action by Human Rights Groups on Roma Rights in the Czech Republic
(Last modified: 2007-07-13 16:35:08)
Organisations Urge UN Human Rights Committee to Act on Human Rights Abuses of Czech Roma
13 July 2007
Today the UN Human Rights Committee (UN HRC) hears from civil society organisations on the human rights situation of Roma in the Czech Republic. The UN HRC is reviewing the Czech Republic's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
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ERRC/CSRC Call for the Amendment of the Macedonian Draft Law on the Public Prosecution Office
(Last modified: 2007-07-06 16:40:08)
On 6 July 2007 the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the Skopje-based Civil Society Research Center (CSRC) sent a letter to the highest Macedonian authorities calling for amendments to the Draft Law on the Public Prosecution, which will soon be debated by the Parliament. These amendments are necessary in order to eliminate the existing shortcomings with respect to the prompt and effective protection by the Public Prosecutor of citizens who are victims of a criminal offence. The letter, which was sent to the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Minister of Interior, President of the Parliament, Presidents of the Political Parties represented in the Parliament, Coordinators of the Political Parties in the Parliament, Public Prosecutor and Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia called for the inclusion of provisions in the draft law that prescribe time limits for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO) to investigate and to inform the victims of the outcome of the investigation.
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The EU Commission Warns 14 Member States Over Anti-discrimination Legislation
(Last modified: 2007-07-05 16:18:08)
The ERRC welcomes and strongly supports the European Union Commission's formal request from 14 Member States to implement entirely the EU legislation regarding ethnic and race based discrimination. This is an important step towards acknowledging the fact that discrimination on ethnic and racial grounds persists as a fundamental human rights problem in the EU member states. This request paves the way for relentless efforts to combat discrimination.
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UN Women's Discrimination Committee Reviews Hungary
(Last modified: 2007-07-03 16:31:44)
Budapest, 3 July 2007: The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) has submitted a parallel report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which at its 39th session later this month will review Hungary?s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The ERRC?s report highlights areas of concern with regard to the situation of Romani women in Hungary.
The report is based on extensive primary research by a team of ERRC Romani and non-Romani women who visited Romani communities in Budapest, Miskolc (northeastern Hungary) and Pecs (southwestern Hungary) in March and April 2007, interviewing 124 Romani women. Combined with a review of the current data available on the situation of Romani women, the research revealed widespread discrimination and disadvantages for Hungarian Roma, and Romani women in particular. As victims of multiple discrimination, Romani women experience barriers in accessing equal education, health care and adequate housing, as well as facing high unemployment levels, and experiencing barriers in accessing justice through administrative or institutional channels.
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ERRC Welcomes Hungary's New Minority Ombudsman
(Last modified: 2007-06-15 16:20:02)
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) welcomes the appointment of Mr. Erno Kallai as the new Parliamentary Commissioner for National and Ethnic Minority Rights (Minority Ombudsman). Mr. Kallai assumes the position as of 11 June 2007, formerly held by Mr. Jeno Kaltenbach. The ERRC is confident that Mr. Kallai will build upon the excellent work carried out by Mr. Kaltenbach who served as the Ombudsman from 1995 until his mandate ended in June 2007.
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UN Women's Rights Committee Calls on Serbia to Address Discrimination against Romani Women
(Last modified: 2007-06-14 11:55:05)
UN CEDAW's Concluding Comments on Women's Rights in Serbia Prioritizes Situation of Roma
13 June 2007, Budapest, Belgrade: The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), in partnership with the Serbian non-governmental organisations Bibija, Eureka, and Women's Space, today welcomed the concluding comments of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in their review of Serbia's compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. CEDAW's comments address Serbia's initial report on its progress in eliminating sex and gender discrimination since becoming party to the Convention in 2006. The ERRC, Bibija, Eureka and Women's Space had previously submitted a report to the Committee bringing attention to the critical situation for Romani women in Serbia.
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European Court of Human Rights Condemns Croatian Government for Failure to Investigate Racially-Motivated Attack
(Last modified: 2007-06-05 17:17:00)
Judgment Expands Strasbourg Court Jurisprudence in the Field of Discrimination
The European Court 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.
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UN Committee Urges Hungary to Combat Discrimination and Social Exclusion of Roma
(Last modified: 2007-06-05 17:14:00)
Various Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concerns Detailed
Budapest, Geneva, May 31, 2007. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) today welcomed the Concluding Observations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on Hungary's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The comments follow the Committee's review of Hungary at its 38th session in May.
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International Roma Day: A Day to Raise Awareness of the Human Rights Problems Experienced by Roma
(Last modified: 2007-04-06 17:33:20)
On the occasion of International Roma Day, April 8, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) recalls that, to date, Roma remain the most deprived ethnic group of Europe. Across Europe, the fundamental rights of Roma are still being violated on a regular basis. Repetitious cases of racist violence and hate speech targeting Roma are reported frequently. Roma are also subject to discrimination in accessing employment, education, health care, and public and social services.
The ERRC is particularly alarmed about the violations of housing rights of Roma, which have intensified in the recent years in several European countries including, but not limited to the Czech Republic, Greece, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, and Turkey. The ERRC notes that violations of the housing rights of Roma do not solely take the form of lack of access to adequate housing because of poverty or exclusionist attitudes, but are frequently manifest in cases of forced evictions and systemic destruction of Romani settlements. |
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ERRC Deeply Concerned about Czech Prime Minister's Statements on Equal Opportunity
(Last modified: 2007-04-06 17:19:23)
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is deeply concerned about the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek’s adverse statements on equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups including women, the elderly and ethnic minorities. The ERRC once more emphasises the fundamental role of equal rights mechanisms and practices to establish a just, fair and democratic society.
Ironically, Mr. Topolanek’s erroneous statements on equal opportunity came during his speech to launch the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. According to Prague Daily Monitor’s bulletin published on 2 April 2007, Mr. Topolanek said in his speech that, "No well meant effort to make equal that cannot be equal, no positive discrimination will guarantee the equality of opportunities. Positive discrimination sounds about the same as a pleasant beating." Although Mr. Topolanek’s comments targeted mainly women, other groups such as the elderly, students, as well as ethnic minorities were part of his vision. He also attacked multiculturalism by saying that the money the state spends in multiculturalism, "must go to the assimilation of individuals, not in support of the chimera of multiculturalism". |
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Continued Hate Speech Against Roma in the Russian Media
(Last modified: 2007-03-27 14:51:04)
ERRC Action to Combat Anti-Romani Hate Speech in Russia
On 19 March 2007, the ERRC sent a letter of concern to Mr Konstantin Ernst, General Director of the Russian television channel First Channel, expressing concern about the linkage of Roma with crime in a programme entitled "Man and the law" and its contribution towards heightened levels of anti-Romani sentiment in Russia. In its letter, which was copied to the Director of the Federal Administration of Rosohrancultura, the ERRC urged Mr Ernst to refrain from broadcasting programmes that incite further hatred and intolerance of Roma. The full text of the letter is available:
In English: Download it (zip file)!
In Russian: Download it (zip file)!
The letter is a component of ongoing work by the ERRC in the Russian Federation to combat hate speech against Roma. Since 2006, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported ERRC work in the Russian Federation.
Persons wishing to express similar concerns are urged to contact:
Mr Konstantin Ernst
General Director, First Channel
Akademika Koroleva, 12, Moscow, 127427, Russia
Fax: +7 495 6151139
Mr Alexander Romanenkov
Deputy Director on supervision and control of the media
Federal Administration of Rosohrancultura
Malaya Nikitskaya str 12, Moscow, 123995, Russia
Fax: + 7 495 2905207 |
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ERRC Urges Russian Newspaper to Refrain from Using Inflammatory Anti-Romani Language
(Last modified: 2007-02-15 11:37:29)
Anti-Romani hate speech contributes to the growth of intolerance toward Roma
On 15 February 2007, the ERRC sent a letter of concern to Mr Boris Sorkin, Managing Director of the Russian Information Agency "REGNUM", expressing concern at the regular linkage of Roma with crime in the agency's reports and noting that such media reports contribute to a climate of intolerance of Roma. The letter referred to numerous articles published in the newspaper collected by the ERRC during 2006 and 2007, which explicitly link Roma with drug dealing and criminality. In its letter, which was copied to the Director of the Central Regional Administration of Rosohrancultura, the ERRC urged the information agency to take a firm stand against hate speech and to refrain from publishing inflammatory anti-Romani language. The full text of the letter is available:
In English: Download it (zip file)!
In Russian: Download it (zip file)!
The letter is a result of ongoing ERRC work in the Russian Federation to combat hate speech against Roma. Since 2006, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has supported ERRC work in the Russian Federation.
Persons wishing to express similar concerns are urged to contact:
Mr Boris Sorkin
Managing Director, Information Agency "REGNUM"
Pravdi 21 stroenie 1, Moscow 125040, Russia
Fax: +7 495 2594639
Mr Alexander Haev
Director, Central Regional Administration of Rosohrancultura
Malaya Nikitskaya str. 12, Moscow 630091, Russia
Fax: + 7 495 2904573 |
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Head of Czech Police Apologises for Abuse of Powers by Police in Bohumin
(Last modified: 2006-10-20 08:09:10)
Apology Follows Confirmation of Court-Ordered Fine on Bohumin Municipality for Arbitrarily Cutting Off Hot Water to Roma Families
Eviction of Roma and Others from Hostel for the Poor Remains in Effect
19 October 2006, Bohumin, Prague, Budapest. Czech Police President Vladislav Husak has apologised on behalf of the Czech Police for its misuse of its powers in the town of Bohumin from 4-6 October 2005. Private security guards hired by the municipality to guard the "Hotelovy Dum", a hostel for poor people, were preventing entry to a number of concerned parties trying to visit the facility. Hostel residents were part of a targeted campaign by Bohumin municipality to expel several hundred persons, a large number of them Romani, from the housing. Czech Police officers summoned to the scene declined to intervene on behalf of the residents and their visitors, despite the fact that a court injunction permitting normal use of the facility by the residents, including the right to receive visitors, was in effect at the time. After more than five hours of delay, the visitors were ultimately permitted entry, but on 6 October 2005, police forcibly expelled local activist and visitor Kumar Vishwanathan from the Hotelovy Dum, claiming a "new agreement" between the town and the police had been reached, that the police would not prevent the private security from barring any guests, and that, if necessary, they would aid in the removal of visitors. |
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ERRC Statement at OSCE HDIM: Romani Women's Rights
(Last modified: 2006-10-16 10:40:40)
Statement on Romani Women's Rights
On the Occasion of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
October 3, 2006, Warsaw
In recent years, attention by some grassroots activists, civil society groups, national governments and international organisations to violations of the fundamental rights of Romani women has increased. As a result, some positive steps have been taken. For example, the European Parliament recently adopted a report on the situation of Roma women in Europe and there has been an increase in research and programmes specifically focussing on Romani women. However, despite these positive steps, the worrying situation of many Romani women has hardly changed, if it has changed at all. Romani women continue to face pressure by families and communities to comply with certain customs and traditions degrading to women. At the same time, they also suffer widespread discrimination in the realisation of a number of fundamental human rights. In some cases, Romani women have suffered extreme harms at the hands of public officials, including via practices such as coercive sterilisation. Despite pressure to do otherwise, some Romani women are increasingly raising their voices and speaking out to challenge abuse. These actions have however frequently been met with either contempt or further attacks and repression on the parts of their families and communities, public media, government officials and even some civil society groups. Summaries of some ERRC concerns in the field of Romani women's rights follow below. |
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Roma Rights in Russia
(Last modified: 2006-10-16 10:03:56)
The European Roma Rights Centre Remains Concerned about the Human Rights Situation of Roma in the Russian Federation
Statement on the occasion of Russian chairmanship of Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, October 3, 2006, Strasbourg
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma.
ERRC has been monitoring Roma rights in Russia since 2000, revealing an alarming pattern of human rights abuse of Roma and other people perceived as "Gypsies". In May 2005, the ERRC issued a comprehensive report on the human rights situation of members of these groups, entitled "In Search of Happy Gypsies: Persecution of Pariah Minorities in Russia". In this report, ERRC charged that violence by law enforcement officials, paramilitary and nationalist-extremist groups, and discriminatory treatment of Roma in the exercise of civil, social and economic rights are aggravated by the complete absence of governmental action to address these problems. ERRC stated that the magnitude of the abuse is only comparable to that of the perpetrators' impunity. The report contained a number of concrete recommendations addressed to the competent authorities of the Russian Federation. |
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Actions to Challenge Women's Rights Abuses in the Czech Republic
(Last modified: 2006-08-15 12:27:29)
US government, United Nations to Hear Testimony
Budapest, Brno, New York, Ostrava, Washington DC - August 15, 2006. Three important human rights events will take place this week on the issue of coercive sterilization of Romani women:
Today, expert testimony on problem of coercive sterilization of Romani women in the Czech Republic will be heard by the US Helsinki Commission, the US government's premiere human rights watchdog agency.
During review of the Czech Republic's compliance with international human rights law, human rights experts and victims of extreme abuses, will testify before the United Nations women’s rights committee (CEDAW) on 17 August.
Also 17 August a public event will be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, to protest the continuing failure by Czech authorities to provide due legal remedy to victims of coercive sterilization.
These events aim to draw attention to the continuing failure by Czech policy- and lawmakers to ensure that women in the Czech Republic are protected from extreme harms such as violence at the hands of family members and coercive sterilization. |
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NGOs Urge Macedonian Authorities to Investigate Death of Trajan Bekirov
(Last modified: 2006-06-16 14:19:23)
Romani Youth Last Seen Alive While Being Chased by Police
16 June 2006, Budapest, Skopje. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the National Roma Centrum (NRC) sent a letter to Dr. Vlado Buckovski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia expressing grave concern about the recent death of a Romani youth named Trajan Bekirov, and urging that Macedonian authorities to carry out a prompt, thorough and effective investigation. Copies of the letter were also sent to Ms. Meri Mladenovska Gjorgjievska, Minister of Justice, Mr. Ljubomir Mihajlovski, Minister of Interior, and Mr. Aleksandar Prcevski, Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Macedonia. |
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European Court of Human Rights Declares Macedonia Roma Rights Case Admissible
(Last modified: 2006-05-11 14:18:11)
Strasbourg Court to Rule on Macedonian Roma Torture Case for the First Time in its History
Budapest, Skopje, 11 May 2006. In a decision communicated last week, the European Court of Human Rights has declared admissible the application of Mr. Pejrusan Jasar against Macedonia.
On 16 April 1998, Mr. Pejrusan Jasar, a Romani man from Stip, Macedonia, was in a local bar where gambling took place. One of the losing gamblers complained that the dice were fixed, drew a firearm, and fired several gunshots. Several police officers were called to the bar. Mr. Jasar maintains that police officers grabbed him by his hair and forcibly placed him in a police van. During his detention in police custody, he was kicked in the head, punched and beaten with a truncheon by a police officer. Medical protocols provided immediately after Mr. Jasar was released from police custody the following morning stated that he had sustained numerous injuries to his head, hand and back. |
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UN Human Rights Committee Reviews Kosovo
(Last modified: 2006-03-24 09:35:40)
ERRC Provides Detailed Comments on Human Rights Situation of Roma, Ashkalis, Egyptians and Other Persons Regarded as "Gypsies"
Budapest, New York, 24 March 2006. Today, the United Nations Human Rights Committee reviews in closed session a report by the Task Forces on UNMIK, the UN interim administration in Kosovo.
In the run-up to the review, the ERRC sent detailed comments on the human rights situation of Roma, Ashkalis, Egyptians ("RAE") and other persons regarded as "Gypsies" in Kosovo, based on ERRC monitoring and field research into the situation of Roma in Kosovo. These include media monitoring during the period 1997-present, intensive field missions in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005, as well as six months of durable field presence in 2000. The ERRC also testified before Committee members and answered questions prior to today's review. |
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Strasbourg Court Finds that Czech Government Violated Right to Fair Trial
(Last modified: 2006-03-06 11:28:45)
Anonymous witnesses violate fair trial and cross examination requirements under European Convention on Human Rights.
1 March 2006: Budapest, Hungary, Prague, Czech Republic:
The European Roma Rights Centre along with Czech attorney David Strupek filed an action to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Hasan Krasniki on 2 September 1999. Krasniki was found guilty of production and possession of narcotics in 1997 through the testimony of two anonymous witnesses who did not use their true names and who testified behind a curtain, one of whom did not testify at the final hearing, and one of whom claimed fear of v | |
