European Court of Human Rights Will Review Cases of Romani Victims of Mob Violence

07 February 2004

On June 3, 2003, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg agreed to review the complaints of Romani victims of 1993 mob violence in Hădăreni, north-central Romania (further information on this case is available at: Justice May Finally Come to Families of Romanian Pogrom). Nearly 10 years after three Romani men were killed and the houses of 14 Romani families were destroyed, the court found that the claims of 24 of the victims raised serious legal issues under the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The ERRC is providing legal representation to the victims. The ECHR will review the applicants' claims under the Convention's Article 3 (freedom from torture or inhuman or degrading treatment) and Article 8 (respect for private and family life) arising from the inhuman conditions in which they were forced to live following the destruction of their homes, as well as Article 6 (right to a fair trial) based on the delayed civil proceedings against the civilian defendants and the inability to pursue civil claims against the police because of the refusal by Romanian authorities to prosecute them. Additionally, the ECHR will consider the applicants' complaint that they were subjected to discrimination by judicial bodies and officials in connection with the above claims because of their Romani ethnicity.

(ERRC)