International Roma Day – 8 April 2015
UN expert urges political action to fight ‘anti-Gypsyism’ as
a root cause of Roma marginalisation
GENEVA (8 April 2014) – The United Nations Special
Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák, today has called for strong and
tangible political commitment to fight anti-Roma bias and combat the deeply
embedded social and structural discrimination that continues to infringe upon
the human rights of Roma.
On International Roma Day, the human rights expert urges the
world to move away from the paradigm of the ‘Roma issue’ and rather focus on
putting their human rights, including minority rights, at the centre of all
State inclusion policies and measures.
The Special Rapporteur will be presenting a ‘Comprehensive
study of the human rights situation of Roma worldwide, with a particular focus
on the phenomenon of anti-Gypsyism’ to the UN Human Rights Council in June
2015. Her global report will reflect her key concerns on Roma inclusion, both
inside and outside of Europe, and provide important recommendations to
Governments and relevant stakeholders.
“Discrimination and racism against Roma come in many
different forms, ranging from silent indifference to hate speech and violence
against individuals or entire communities. Furthermore, growing populism and
extremism in many countries with significant Roma populations have deepened
societal divisions, causing more stigmatization of Roma communities. Unfortunately
this has led to a desensitization of the public, and to the resurgence of
unacceptable myths about Roma criminality, unworthiness and inferiority.
It is due time for our societies to stop tolerating any
public discourse that perpetuates stereotypical, racist, hateful or
discriminatory views about Roma, and take effective action against such
discourses. We must reject anti-Gypsyism in all its forms.
Political and public leaders play a vital role in combatting
bias and discrimination against Roma through reinforcing the basic foundations
of good governance and democracy and promoting the importance of minority
rights protection in line with international standards, including the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious
and Linguistic Minorities. I also
highlight the role of the media, which must take responsibility to guarantee
the objective portrayal or Roma, refrain from sensationalist media coverage,
and give space to Roma self-representation.
There is an urgent need for strengthened political will,
especially at the national and local level, and an openness to learn from past
mistakes in policies and planning in order to strengthen dedicated
institutional attention to Roma issues and Roma leadership, in order to break
the vicious cycle of stigma, discrimination and marginalization.
I therefore call on Governments to place Roma rights at the
heart of all strategies and policies related to human and minority rights,
social inclusion and development, with explicit targets for Roma communities. I
urge all actors to think outside the ‘poverty’ paradigm, and incorporate all
aspects of minority rights into strategies that address Roma disadvantage,
including the protection and promotion of Roma identity, language and culture,
the guarantee of dignity and equality, and effective political and economic
participation.
I also remain deeply alarmed about the lack of Roma
representation in local, national and international decision-making bodies,
especially in institutions explicitly established to protect and promote their
rights. Given the unprecedented level of Roma intellectuals, professionals and
activists, the slogan ‘nothing about us without us’ must be put into practice
in the field of Roma rights.”
ENDS
Ms. Rita Izsák (Hungary) was appointed as Independent Expert
on minority issues by the Human Rights Council in June 2011 and subsequently
her mandate was renewed as Special Rapporteur on minority issues in March 2014.
She is tasked by the UN Human Rights Council, to promote the implementation of
the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic,
Religious and Linguistic Minorities, among other things. As Special Rapporteur
she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her
individual capacity. Learn more:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Minorities/IExpert/Pages/IEminorityissuesIndex.aspx
Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging
to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/Minorities.aspx
For further information and media inquiries, please contact
Jacqui Zalcberg (+41 22 917 9271 / jzalcberg@ohchr.org) or write to
minorityissues@ohchr.org
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