News roundup: Snapshots from around Europe

29 October 2003

International Convention

• International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrants Enters into Force

Albania

• Albanian Romani Families Face Forcible Eviction

Belgium

• Slovak Romani Family Receives Asylum in Belgium

Bosnia and Heryegovina

• Romani Man Burnt in Fire in a Substandard Romani Settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Local Authorities Pledge Assistance to Roma in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Roma Recognised by the New Minority Rights Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

• Bulgarian Police and Forest Rangers Shoot and Kill Roma
• Police Abuse of Roma in Bulgaria, Including the Sexual Abuse of a Romani Boy
• Roma Beaten in Bulgaria
• Romani Leader Detained for Organising Electricity Protests in Bulgaria

Croatia

• Fatal Shooting and Skinhead Attack against Roma in Croatia
• Ethnic Croatian Parents Protest in Favour of Segregation

Czech Republic

• Romani Family Attacked by Czech Police
• Discrimination against Roma in Access to Employment in Czech Republic
• Racist Pamphlets Disseminated in Czech Republic
• Inadequate Justice in Czech Race Crime

Denmark

• Further Attempts by Denmark to Force Roma to "Voluntarily" Return to Kosovo

Georgia

• Mob Violence against Roma in Georgia

Germany

• Germany Expels Roma En Masse to Serbia and Montenegro

Greece

• Roma Experience Difficulties Accessing Adequate Housing in Greece
• Nea Zoe Romani Settlement Again Threatened with Eviction in Greece
• Greek Authorities Fail to Adequately Discipline and Prosecute Police Officers for Human Rights Violations against Roma

Hungary

• Romani Education Issues in Hungary
• Hungarian Television Station Sanctioned for Broadcasting a Defamatory Program
• Mixed Outcomes in Roma Rights Cases in Hungary

Ireland

• Five Roma Imprisoned for "Intent to Commit a Crime" in Ireland

Italy

• Romani Camp Dismantled in Italy

Macedonia

• Kosovo Romani Refugees Denied the Right to Leave Macedonia
• Anti-Romani Speech in the Macedonian Press

Moldova

• Moldovan Youth Speak Out Against Anti-Romani Sentiment

Netherlands

• Dutch Prosecutor Makes Racist Statement in Court

Romania

• Romanian Police Shoot Two Romani Men
• Roma Denied Access to Public Accommodation in Romania
• Eleven Romani Women Refused Birth Allowance in Romania

Russia

• Romani Man Beaten to Death in Russia, Police Involvement Suspected
• First Case Involving Roma Filed against Russia with the European Court of Human Rights

Serbia and Montenegro

• 985,000 Euro Compensation for Romani Victims of 1995 Pogrom in Serbia and Montenegro
• Police Abuse Roma in Serbia and Montenegro
• Racist Threats against Roma in Serbia and Montenegro
• Displaced Kosovo Roma and Egyptians Face Evictions in Serbia and Montenegro
• Roma Evicted from Long-time Residences in Serbia and Montenegro
• Roma Experience Difficulties in Accessing Personal Documents in Serbia and Montenegro
• Romani Pupils Face Verbal and Physical Assault at School in Serbia and Montenegro

Slovakia

• Roma Prohibited from Registering Residences in Slovakia
• Slovak Local Council Cancels Romani Housing Project
• Slovak Soldiers Fined for Racist Statements
• Segregated Education for Romani Children in Slovakia

Turkey

• Police Subject Romani Boy to Electric Shock in Turkey
• In Turkey, Roma Face Discrimination
• Romani Housing Issues in Turkey

United Kingdom

• UK Members of Parliament Question the Idea of Safe Country of Origin List
• Not Enough Sites For Gypsy/Travellers in the UK