European Court Rules Against Greek Police Who Beat & Tortured Roma in 2016
27 January 2025
Brussels, 27 January 2025: The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found in favour of three Romani men, who were brutally beaten and tortured during their arrest, transfer and detention by Greek police back in October 2016, and awarded them a total of €52,240 in damages.
Archived Press Releases
01 January 2025
The ERRC maintains a record of every public announcement we have made to the press. These provide information on human rights violations and ERRC legal actions, research and publications, submissions to international and national human rights bodies, other advocacy actions and human rights education outcomes. The press releases are listed by year and in reverse chronological order; click on the title to read the full version.
ERRC Reveals Police Institutional Racism Against Roma in Greece, North Macedonia, & Serbia
16 December 2024
Brussels, 16 December 2024: A new report published today by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) demonstrates the depth of institutional racism towards Roma in the police and criminal legal systems of three Balkan countries: Greece, Serbia, and North Macedonia. The report, Ruthless & Racist: Policing Roma in the Balkans, reveals widespread cultures of impunity amongst the countries’ police forces and finds failures to protect Roma, as well as to adequately investigate racially motivated hate crimes, to be common to law enforcement in all three countries. The report draws on nearly three decades of ERRC litigation and human rights monitoring to demand that state authorities abide by their declared commitments to the principles of justice and equal protection before the law.
New Roma Rights Defenders Report Shows Europe How to Fight Hate Speech Online
26 November 2024
Brussels, 26 November 2024: In a new ERRC report, young Roma rights defenders sound the alarm about the volume of online hate content targeting Roma and spell out what needs to be done to combat, and ultimately shut down, online antigypsyism. They warn of the consequences when racial hatred goes unchecked, and urgently called on political leaders to “demonstrate more responsibility and accountability to prevent, sanction and counter any form of hate speech against Roma in both traditional and new forms of media.”
Supreme Court Rules Against Family Separation for Romani Family in Bulgaria
20 November 2024
Sofia, Brussels 20 November 2024: In a ruling on 12 November 2024, the Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court has overturned a social services and lower court's decision that would have separated a Romani child from his family, marking a significant victory for family rights and child welfare in Bulgaria.
New Research Exposes Institutional Racism & Segregation in Bulgaria’s Child Care System
30 October 2024
Brussels, Sofia 30 October 2024: Human rights activists from the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and the Equal Opportunities Initiative have today called for major reform of the childcare system in Bulgaria to end discriminatory child removals and institutional segregation of Romani children.
Victory Against State Care Authorities and Reunification for a Romani Family in Bulgaria
30 September 2024
Brussels, Sofia, 30 September 2024: A district court in Bulgaria has ruled in favour of a Romani family whose four children had been removed by the state and placed in a state care institution. The legal victory was won with legal representation and support from the Equal Opportunities Initiative and the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). The judgment takes immediate effect and orders the reunification of the children with their parents. The case highlights ongoing human rights issues within the country's child welfare system and further exposes discriminatory practices against Romani families.