ERRC Letters of Concern February 2005 - European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) Urges Authorities in Greece, Italy, Spain, Russia and Sweden to Cease Violations of Roma Rights
28 February 2005
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) Urges Authorities in Greece, Italy, Spain, Russia and Sweden to Cease Violations of Roma Rights
A number of recent violent and abusive actions committed against Roma by public authorities and others in Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain and Sweden have prompted the ERRC to call on authorities in these countries to respect their international human rights obligations and to stop serious human rights violations against Roma. During February, the ERRC sent letters of concern in connection with the following:
Greece: The ERRC wrote to Prime Minister Mr Costas Karamanlis urging him to halt actual and pending evictions of Roma from the municipality of Aghia Paraskevi, Greater Athens. The ERRC was informed that the house of at least one individual from this community had been demolished and two other Romani families were served with orders for eviction. The community had been promised relocation to the neighbouring municipality of Spata as early as 2002, but due to resistance of the Spata authorities and the failure to provide adequate housing there, the Romani families continued to live in Aghia Paraskevi in extremely substandard conditions. (The full text of the letter is available at: http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2149).
Italy: The ERRC wrote to Minister of Interior Mr Giuseppe Pisano, urging him to ensure that all action threatening the expulsion of Roma and/or other persons regarded as Gypsies to Kosovo or other parts of Serbia and Montenegro be ceased immediately. The letter was prompted by information that a number of Roma from Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro living in the Favorita camp in Palermo had been notified by the police that the Italian government had ordered their expulsion and unless they voluntarily left the country, they would be forcibly expelled. (The full text of the letter is available at: http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2151).
Spain: The ERRC wrote to Mayor of Valencia Ms Rita Barbera to express concern about the forced eviction in January 2005 of ten Romani families who were rendered homeless as a result of the action, and the threat of forced eviction facing another 40 Romani families in the same town. (The full text of the letter is available at: http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2150).
Russia: The ERRC wrote to the Russian General Prosecutor and the Prosecutor of the Novosibirsk Region in relation to violent arson attacks on Romani houses in Iskitim, Novosibirsk Region, resulting in the expulsion of around 400 Roma from the town. According to the information received by the ERRC, law enforcement officials failed to undertake any action to prevent the arson, although they had reportedly been aware of the attacks on the Roma. Moreover, public officials are alleged to have prevented fire engines and ambulances from reaching the site where the Romani houses were burning. (The full text of the letter is available at: http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2155).
Sweden: The ERRC wrote to Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Ms Barbro Holmberg urging her to cease immediately all action threatening expulsion of Roma and/or other persons regarded as Gypsies to Kosovo. The letter was sent after Swedish authorities began proceedings to expel forcibly from Sweden a Romani family from Kosovo. As of the date of the ERRC letter, the expulsion had been temporarily halted following a suicide attempt by a member of the Romani family concerned. (The full text of the letter is available at: http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2155).
