US Congressional hearing discussed violence targeting Roma
16 June 2009
The violence targeting Roma in various European countries was discussed in a hearing entitled "Hard Times and Hardening Attitudes: The Economic Downturn and the Rise of Violence against Roma", held on 9 June 2009 by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the US Helsinki Commission) in Washington, DC. During the hearing of this bi-partisan Commission of the US Congress, four experts working on Romani human rights issues discussed the effects of the ongoing global economic crisis on Roma communities, focusing on inter-ethnic tensions and the escalation of violence in Europe. Participants also talked about the challenges that lay ahead in eradicating the threats that Romani people face.
The experts present at the hearing were Katalin Barsony, sociologist, filmmaker and project manager at the Budapest-based Roma NGO Romedia Foundation; Stanislav Daniel, Research Consultant for the European Roma Rights Centre; Isabela Mihalache, Senior Program Manager, Roma Initiatives, Open Society Institute (OSI) and Andrzej Mirga, Advisor on Romani Issues, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
This special section of the ERRC's website contains the presentations of four panelists as well as the written submissions by Human Rights First and the statement for the record by the Ambassador of Hungary to the United States. The statement of the Helsinki Commission is also available here in addition to links to relevant articles published by media.
For more information concerning the Helsinki Commission hearing, please contact:
Rob Kushen, ERRC Managing Director,
rob.kushen@errc.org +36.1.413.2200
Stanislav Daniel, ERRC Research Consultant
stanko.daniel@errc.org +36.1.413.2200)
Sinan Gokcen, ERRC Information Officer,
sinan.gokcen@errc.org +36.1.413.2200
Testimonies:
- Hon. Alcee L. Hasting (United States), Co-Chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Katalin Barsony (Hungary), Romedia Foundation View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Stanislav Daniel (Slovakia), European Roma Rights Centre View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Isabela Mihalache (Romania), Open Society Institute (OSI) View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Andrzej Mirga (Poland), OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Unofficial Transcript View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
Statements for the record:
- Human Rights First View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
- Ambassador of Hungary to the United States View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
Press Statement:
- Helsinki Commission View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
Relevant media articles:
