Chronicle
18 June 2007
December 2006: Published the Country Report on the situation of Roma in Ukraine, "Proceedings Discontinued: The Inertia of Roma Rights Change in Ukraine". The report reflects the outcomes of comprehensive research spanning 3 years conducted by the ERRC in Ukraine. The report is available in English and Ukrainian.
February 2007: Published "The Glass Box: Exclusion of Roma From Employment", a report presenting the results of groundbreaking factual research in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, as well as legal and policy research from various contexts. This study was supported by the European Commission and ERRC core donors.
February 2007: Published "The Impact of Legislation and Policies on School Segregation of Romani Children", a study presenting anti-discrimination law and government measures in the field of school segregation in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. This study was supported by the European Commission and ERRC core donors.
March 2007: Published the comprehensive report "Social Inclusion Through Social Services: The Case of Roma and Travellers", jointly with partner Númena Centro de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas. The study presents an impact assessment of government policy in the field of social services on Roma and Travellers in Czech Republic, France, and Portugal, and is available in English, Czech, French, and Portuguese. This study was supported by the European Commission and ERRC core donors.
Conferences, Meetings, Seminars, and Campaigning
12 January 2007: Participated in the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) Annual Human Rights and Equality Conference: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
20-21 January: Organised a training workshop on human rights for Romani organisations: Izmir, Turkey.
26 January: Gave a presentation at the seminar "Institutional care of children from the point of international law" organised by Life Together: Ostrava, Czech Republic.
26 January: Organised a roundtable discussion on coercive sterilisation focusing on the implementation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recommendations in the A.S. v. Hungary case: Budapest, Hungary.
1 February: Presented materials on the A.S v. Hungary case at a roundtable meeting organised by the ASTRA Network on Reproductive Rights: Budapest, Hungary.
6 February: Hosted a meeting of an expert working group on child protection issues in Hungary: Budapest, Hungary.
8 February: Participated at a consultation for NGOs by the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Budapest, Hungary.
21 February 2007: Organised a strategy meeting for Romani women's NGOs, Serbian NGOs, academics, local government officials and international organisations to discuss the May 2007 CEDAW review of Serbia: Belgrade, Serbia.
22-23 February: Participated in a seminar on positive action organised by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI): Strasbourg, France.
24-27 February: Held meetings with partners concerning Roma rights matters in Russia: Moscow, Russia.
26 February: Hosted a meeting of an expert working group on child protection issues in Hungary: Budapest, Hungary.
26 February: Presented research results in the areas of employment and education for Roma in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia at the European Commission in cooperation with the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the European Roma Information Office: Brussels, Belgium.
5-6 March: Gave a presentation and participated as a panellist at the 5th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, organised by the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Geneva, Switzerland.
9-10 March: Presented information at a public presentation of the project "Roma Rights in Turkey" implemented by the European Roma Rights Centre, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly and EDROM: Istanbul, Turkey.
15 March: Participated in the Coalition Europe working group meeting, "From Hate Crimes to Human Rights" in the House of Commons, London, UK.
16 March: Participated in the OSCE ODIHR expert meeting, "Hate Crime Prevention and Response Resource Guide and Training Design: Civil Society Expert Meeting" at the French Institute: London, UK.
19 March: Hosted, jointly with partner Númena Centro de Investigação em Ciências Sociais e Humanas, a dissemination conference for the report "Social Inclusion Through Social Services: The Case of Roma and Travellers", with the support of the European Commission: Lisbon, Portugal.
21 March: Delivered a speech on Romani children's access to education at the conference "Equal Opportunities for All in Education and Employment", jointly organised by the Ministry for Rights and Equal Opportunities and the European Training Foundation: Rome, Italy.
21-23 March: Gave a lecture on prejudice and stereotypes as the basis of human rights violations against Romani women at the conference "For Equal Opportunities", organised by University of Granada in cooperation with the Gitano-Andaluz Socio-Cultural Centre of the Provincial Delegation for Equality: Granada, Spain.
24 March: Presented materials and information at a Roma Rights awareness raising seminar for civil society organisations, organised by partners ERRC and HCa: Ankara, Turkey.
28-29 March: Presented a statement on issues affecting the health of Romani women focusing on the sexual and reproductive rights of Romani women at the conference "Sharing best practices and tools in addressing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Roma", organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Bratislava, Slovakia.
29 March: Held an open day at the ERRC office for meetings of the ERRC's new Executive Director and civil society organisations, Budapest, Hungary.
2-3 April: Delivered a presentation at and participated in the international conference, "Education Reform to Support Roma Inclusion", organised by the Roma Education Fund, Budapest, Hungary.
6 April: Convened a meeting of an expert working group on child protection issues: Budapest, Hungary.
12 April: Presented information to a visiting group of students from the CET Academic Programmes of the Central European and Jewish Studies Program (Prague): Budapest, Hungary.
14 April: Made a presentation on "Litigating Housing Rights, ERRC's Experience in Europe" at the conference "Advocating Housing Rights: NGOs in Turkey and in Europe" organised by the Bilgi University NGO Training and Research Center: Istanbul, Turkey.
19 April: Made a presentation and gave a lecture at the Freedom House New Generation Programme to a group of visiting activists and lawyers from North Africa (MENA), at the Freedom House office: Budapest, Hungary.
19 April: Participated in a discussion of the working document "Integration of Minorities – Roma", prepared by the European Economic and Social Committee: Brussels, Belgium.
22-25 April: Travelled to Kosovo to attend a signing ceremony hosted by the British Office for the project "Minority Rights Anti- Discrimination Advocacy in Kosovo", to be undertaken by the ERRC and the Roma and Ashkaelia Documentation Centre, and documented housing rights concerns in Mitrovica: Pristina and Mitrovica, Kosovo.
23-24 April: Participated in the conference "Equal Opportunities for All: What Role for Positive Action?", organised by the European Commission: Rome, Italy.
24 April: Delivered a presentation at the launch of Capacity Global report "Environmental Justice & Discrimination in Europe": London, UK.
25 April: Participated in a seminar for members of the Social Platform on the quality of social and health services: Brussels, Belgium.
2-4 May: Gave an oral presentation of an ERRC parallel report on Hungary at the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights review of Hungary, in collaboration with the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE): Geneva, Switzerland.
4 May: Attended a meeting of the Group of Women Harmed by Sterilisation: Ostrava, Czech Republic.
10 May: Made a presentation to a visiting group of students from the Dutch United Nations Students Association (DUNSA): Budapest, Hungary.
