On Tuesday December 9th the ERRC held a side event in the European Parliament for MEPs, on Roma in Europe, and on how MEPs can use their platform to help advance the cause of Roma Rights. We encouraged MEPs to use their position to press for infringement proceedings against member states which violate the Racial Equality Directive, and also to ensure that EU institutions do everything in their power to stop violations of the rights of Roma. The event was hosted by MEP Lynn Boylan and organised in conjunction with the Sinn Féin office in Brussels, and the Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left. The ERRC presented our work on combating violations of the rights of EU Roma citizens. We focussed in particular on housing and education in the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Italy and Romania. The event was attended by MEPs, assistants, and representatives of the Commission. The ERRC would like to thank MEP Lynn Boylan, the Sinn Féin office in Brussels, and the GUE/NGL Group for their support in organising this event. Here are some comments from MEP Lynn Boylan after the event: http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/32608.

@ERRCtweets Thank you for the really informative well researched presentations you delivered & now it is over to us MEPs to deliver.

Lynn Boylan MEP co-hosts conference on Roma Rights with @GUENGL http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/32608#.VItHZWH5YSI.twitter … @gitanos_org @ERRCtweets @MarinaAlbiol @romeanews

  • ERRC met MEPs this week to outline what MEPs can do to help Roma Rights.Thank you Irish Sinn Fein MEP @LNBDublin for hosting us. @GUENGL
  • ERRC met MEPs this week to outline what MEPs can do to help Roma Rights.Thank you Irish Sinn Fein MEP Boylan for hosting us @sinnfeinireland
  • ERRC met MEPs this week to outline what MEPs can do to help Roma Rights. Thank you Irish Sinn Fein MEP Boylan for hosting us @LNBDublin

 

Domari refugees in Turkey: ‘Peace, bread and toilets’

In this update on the current situation of Domari refugees, ERRC Programmes Director Stephan Muller reports back from ERRC’s most recent field trip to Turkey, and ponders what prospects the future might hold for them should the Syrian war come to an end. Staff met many refugees who face constant police raids, but have received no humanitarian assistance in three years. The health and hygiene situation in most of these camps is catastrophic. One Abdal refugee who has lived for more than two years in makeshift camps cried his three wishes to the sky: “Bread, peace and toilets”.

Read more on the ERRC Blog:

ERRC Prog.Dir.Stephan Muller reports back from recent field trip to Turkey:Domari refugees: Peace,bread and toilets: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanRomaRightsCentre …

Suriyeli mülteciler arasÄnda gizli kalan Domlar savaşÄn ve dÄşlanmanÄn acÄsÄnÄ yaşÄyorlar. http://www.sifirayrimcilik.org/2014/11/suriyeli-multeciler-arasinda-gizli-kalan-domlar-savasin-ve-dislanmanin-acisini-yasiyorlar/ … @ERRCtweets @medyaroman

ERRC @ERRCtweets 

Designerin Erika Varga setzt das verdiente Geld zum Teil in Sozialprojekten ein, Kreativkursen für verarmte Kinder, Nähkursen für Roma-Frauen, die sie für zeitgemäßes Design zu begeistern versucht. Ihr Motto: Kleider als Botschaft ohne viele Worte. http://www.deutschlandradiokultur.de/designerin-erika-varga-romani-kleider-als-botschaft.979.de.html?dram:article_id=305899