The European Roma and Travellers Forum, in partnership with the Committee for Human Rights, Cults and National Minorities Issues of the Romanian Parliament and Partida Romilor Pro Europa (Roma Party for Europe), is organizing a High Level Conference on the Security Situation of Roma in Europe.

The two-day conference will bring together the main stakeholders, high level representatives and decision-makers of European and inter-governmental human rights institutions, as well as non-governmental and civil society organizations from Council of Europe Member States. The aim of the conference is to discuss the hostilities against Roma and the rising Anti-Tziganism within Europe.

Background information to the conference

The rising hostilities against Roma, racist attacks and a series of murders, have forced Roma to migrate from Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe toward the more wealthy countries of the European Union. Moreover, relations between Roma communities and the government are increasingly strained, and there is an alarming number of reliable reports suggesting that the police and the para-military groups use disproportionate force and resort to violence that could be qualified as degrading treatment.

Sixty years ago the Council of Europe was set up to rebuild Europe on the basis of the respect of human rights and the dignity of the individual. As the European Union progressed towards European reunification, it was hoped to do away with what characterised the history of this continent for centuries, including racial hatred, pogroms, and the burning down of settlements.

That hope must not be shattered. We must stop the rabid political minorities of today from becoming the governments of tomorrow. States have a responsibility to guarantee human rights protection for everyone. The failure of several governments to guarantee human rights protection for Roma has led to insecurity among Roma within European Union countries. As a result, Roma people, citizens of the European Union, are seeking asylum outside of their country.

The European Roma and Travellers Forum has decided to hold a high-level event on the security issue of the Roma in order to have an in-depth analysis and discussion on this crucial topic. This time, we intend to break away from the well-known, good old thematic areas and try to get to the core of rising anti-Tziganism, the fear-motivated migration, which is a real challenge for Europe. The open labour market of the Western countries was intended to be the solution to overcome poverty for people from the Eastern countries. It was not expected that excluded, marginalized people would seek shelter and safety from persecution in Western countries.

Thematic areas to be discussed

Having regard to the above, the European Roma and Travellers Forum invites proposals for papers which analyze the aspects related to this complex issue, focusing on one or more of the areas listed below:

Historical context: Jewish persecution, racism in South Africa and in the United States of America; Historical parallels with the situation of Roma, identification of possible advocacy tools or mechanisms for the Roma movement to fight anti-Tziganism;

Methodology for identifying economic migration and forced migration, possible legislative and non-legislative responses and the recently applicable standards;

Possible need for establishing minimum standards for the integration of migrants and for ensuring their access to citizenship and equality;

De facto and de iure statelessness of Roma;

Implementation deficits of the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) and how the limitations imposed by member states have affected the Roma;

Mechanisms introduced to fight against xenophobic and racially motivated crimes committed against Roma in Europe;

European Initiatives, National Roma Integration Policies - possible exchange of best practices in Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Romania, UK;

Applicants wishing to present their papers are invited to submit their abstract (150 words ) and CV in English to the Secretariat of the European Roma and Travellers Forum by 28 September 2009, at ertf@coe.int.

The Secretariat will inform applicants of the decision by 30 September 2009.

Final version of papers will then be submitted by 7 October 2009. The selected paper will be included in the first panel on 12 October 2009 after the keynote speeches.

The author of the selected paper will be invited to the conference and his/her costs will be covered by the organisers.

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The Secretariat

Evropako Forumo e Romengo thaj e Phirutnengo (EFRP)
Forum européen des Roms et des Gens du voyage (FERV)
European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF)

DG III - Cohésion Sociale / Social Cohesion
Conseil de l'Europe / Council of Europe
AGORA Bâtiment - 1 quai Jacoutot
F - 67075 Strasbourg

Tel.: + 33 (0)3 90 21 43 31
Fax: + 33 (0)3 90 21 56 58
E-mail: robert.rustem@coe.int
http://ertf.org