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	UN experts find ‘profound and entrenched’ racial bias in Dominican Republic by Doudou Diene, Gay McDougall UN Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination   30 October 2007   Two independent United Nations human rights experts have called on the Dominican Republic to combat what they describe as a “profound and entrenched problem of racism and discrimination” against blacks in general – and Haitians in particular – in the Central American nation.   “While there is no official government policy of discrimination, there is nevertheless a profound and entrenched problem of racism and discrimination against such groups as Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian descent, and more generally against blacks within Dominican society,” the experts said in a press release issued today in Geneva.   During their week-long visit to the Dominican Republic, the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diene, and the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay McDougall, met with government officials, civil society, academics, students, political parties and members of the media.   The experts noted that while government representatives rejected even the possibility of racism in Dominican society, members of the community “all spoke emotionally of the reality of racism that they had experienced.”   “When people in government refer to ‘Haitians’ it is as if they are a monolithic group, all of whom crossed the border yesterday and illegally,” Ms. McDougall stated. “This is patently not the case.”   She and Mr. Diene said they spoke with many individuals who described the problems faced by blacks, both Dominicans and Dominicans of Haitian descent, and witnessed first hand the fact that blacks “typically live in worse conditions, are employed in manual and low paid work and suffer a high degree of prejudice.”   “Disturbing references are made to blacks as being ‘pig feed,’ ignorant or unhygienic, and many spoke of their daily experiences of racism, including by administrative officials in registration offices, on public transport and elsewhere,” they stated.   In addition, the issue of documentation emerged as a major concern for Haitian migrants and those Dominicans of Haitian descent, many of whom reported that, because of their colour or their Haitian looks or name, it is impossible to obtain documents and they are left vulnerable to deportation or expulsion to Haiti, even as Dominican citizens with no connection whatsoever with that country.   The experts, who will present their findings to the UN Human Rights Council, called for a wide and inclusive debate on issues of racism and discrimination within the country.   “A cultural and ethical strategy is needed to uproot the very deep structures of discrimination and address the invisibility and silence of minority groups and others facing discrimination,” Mr. Diene noted, highlighting the key role played by education and the media in that regard.   “The struggle against racism must be closely linked to building a multi-cultural society based on the principles of democracy, justice, equality and human rights for all,” he added.
	European Union needs common action to make Equality a reality for The Roma by Miloon Kothari Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing   April 2008   European Union needs common action to make Equality a reality for The Roma. (FRA)   We have put in place strong legislation to root out discrimination in the EU, but the promise of equal opportunity remains unfulfilled for many Roma and Travellers in our societies, said Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of FRA"s Management Board, in a statement on International Roma Day (8 April).   Roma and Travellers are subjected to racially motivated violence and hate speech. The Fundamental Rights Agency and many other organisations have documented the endemic discrimination against Roma in education, employment, health care, housing and access to services.   Romani women and children are particularly vulnerable. The action plans and strategies on how to solve these issues through comprehensive programmes have all been drawn up long ago. We must now implement them rigorously, measure their impact, identify good practice and learn from our mistakes.   Partnership with the Roma communities themselves must be one of the principles guiding the implementation of these programmes and policies, Anastasia Crickley continued. A particularly acute problem across many Member States of the European Union is the housing situation of Roma and Travellers. The lack of provision of accommodation sites by local authorities often results in people from these groups living in sub-standard accommodation, which lacks even basic sanitary facilities. In some countries, the housing conditions, in which some Roma communities live are aggravated by their subjection to evictions and forced relocations.   The situation of Roma and Travellers and the discrimination they face is a European concern requiring a common European response. The Agency therefore welcomes the moves towards greater coordination of Member State efforts at European Union level. At the European Council in December 2007, the Heads of States and Governments of the EU recognised the very specific situation faced by the Roma across the Union and invited Member States and the Union to use all means to improve their inclusion.   The Fundamental Rights Agency will support this common EU effort to help Roma and Travellers realise their right to equal opportunities in the EU.   Apr. 2008   International Roma Day, Still fighting for Our Rights.   The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) would like to join Roma communities throughout Europe in celebrating the 8th April, International Roma Day. On this day we unite with Roma communities around the world in celebrating the Roma culture and remembering the long fight of Roma for their recognition.   But the history of European Roma is not only one of their fight against racism and social exclusion. It is also a history of the development and consolidation of a non-territorial nation in Europe. Over the centuries, Roma language, tradition and culture have not only become a part but have enriched the European culture. Here, the resistance of Roma against the Nazi and other authoritarian regimes as contribution to the development and consolidation of peace and democracy in the European Union should be acknowledged.   An acknowledgment of Roma"s contribution to the construction of a more democratic Europe is the last Resolution of the European Parliament of 31 January 2008 calling upon the European Commission to shape a Community Action Plan on Roma Inclusion. This would be a big step towards Roma inclusion.   In 2008, declared by the European Commission as "European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue - 2008", the realisation of equal opportunities remains the goal for the largest parts of Roma. Given the extreme patterns of social exclusion and discrimination faced by Roma, they are not equal partners in such societal dialogue. This remains the main challenge for European institutions and especially for national governments. Nevertheless, ERIO believes that effective inclusion policies can be successful only with the full participation of Roma themselves whose fight for recognition and equality should be recognised on this International Roma Day.   Oct. 2007   Governments must do more to ensure housing rights for Roma, by Miloon Kothari.   An independent United Nations rights expert has urged European countries to ensure the right to adequate housing for Roma, as more and more of them have been forcibly evicted from their homes and are facing growing discrimination.   “Housing rights of Roma are abused in several parts of Europe,” stated Miloon Kothari, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, in a joint statement issued with the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg.   Mr. Kothari drew attention to an increasing number of reports of evictions of Roma communities and families “which have been carried out in violation of human rights standards.”   He also noted an “undeniable growth of anti-Romani sentiment or ‘anti-Ziganism’” in Europe, and a lack of action on the part of authorities to tackle this problem. “It is regrettable that the actions of many public authorities – particularly at the local level – have been to acquiesce in this intensification of anti-Romani hatred.   “As a result, the rate and number of forced evictions of Roma have grown dramatically, and segregation and ghettoization in the housing field appears to have intensified and become entrenched in recent years,” he stated.   The Special Rapporteur pointed out that the right to adequate housing is crucial for the enjoyment of other rights, including privacy, education, employment, health and electoral participation, and pointed out that the “substandard” education of Roma in many European countries is often the result of placement far from decent schools or repeated eviction.   Calling for concerted action at the local, national and European levels to end the housing crisis of the Roma, Mr. Kothari urged that domestic laws be strengthened to ensure security of tenure for all vulnerable groups, and that legal protection against forced eviction be brought into conformity with international law.   In taking these and other measures, he stressed the need for “full and meaningful” consultation with affected Roma communities. 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