Neglect of Europe's Roma not an option, OSCE's Roma adviser tells US Helsinki Commission

WASHINGTON, 9 June 2009 - The recent wave of violence against Roma and Sinti makes clear that governments cannot afford to neglect the integration of Europe's largest minority population, Andrzej Mirga, the head of the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, told the United States Helsinki Commission today.

"Neglect is no longer an option," Mirga said in a briefing. "Governments have to demonstrate real political will and take vigorous action to close the gap between the majority populations and Roma and Sinti communities."

Mirga, whose office is part of the OSCE's Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said that if governments continued to remain idle, tensions would increase, with the risk of further violence targeted at Roma and Sinti.

He also argued that the global economic and financial crisis only partly explains the recent upsurge in anti-Roma sentiment, as not all countries affected by the crisis have seen an increase in incidents targeting Roma and Sinti.

"A key factor is the deteriorating social and economic situation of Roma and Sinti," Mirga said.

Although the OSCE's 56 participating States have committed themselves to improve the situation for Roma and Sinti in an Action Plan adopted in 2003, major gaps continue to exist in areas such as housing, education, employment and access to public services and justice in many countries.

Mirga added that the minority's continued exclusion and marginalization feeds anti-Roma prejudice and stereotypes that are easily exploited by radical groups and political parties, some of which significantly increased their share in the vote at last weekend's European Parliament elections.

Racist views and hate speech have entered into the public discourse in many countries, Mirga said, noting that some groups use hate speech and violence as means to gain a place in mainstream politics. He called on politicians and other public leaders to speak out forcefully against the ideologies and activities of extremist groups.

Mirga also urged governments to intensify their efforts to integrate Roma and Sinti communities, including through the allocation of sufficient funding for integration programmes.