Roma situation in EU countries is a problem that is still waiting to be solved. The European institutions are moving slowly, despite the fact that at all levels clear positions were expressed. Meanwhile, according to an European poll recently published, half of the Roma declare themselves discrimination victims regarding the employment, housing and education, and a quarter of them says that they were victims of aggression, threats or harassment during the last 12 months.
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According to the Eu-Midis poll of the EU, Romania discriminates Roma least from all European contries. The highest Roma discrimination is in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Greece, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. These are the countries where the poll was made, but they are representative countries because here live most of the Roma. One from two interviewed Roma, felt discriminated in the past 12 months.
Romanians discriminate: in the private services sector, when employing or even at work, in the social assistance services and in schools.
The Europeans discriminate: when searching for a house to rent or buy, in coffee shops, restaurants or pubs, in shops, when opening a bank account or when applying for a lone.
On the other hand, the Czech Republic has the highest percentage of paid jobs (44%), or liberal jobs, part time jobs or full time jobs. At the opposite position is Romanian is 17% and Poland with 18%. As regards education, Roma in Greece have the worst situation, 35% of them are illiterate. Poland has 11% illiterate Roma, Romania 10% and Bulgaria just 5%.
In the above mentioned countries at least one of five from the interrogated persons, have been victims of crimes on racial grounds (aggressions, threats, serious harassment) at least once in the last 12 months.
Between 65% and 100% of the Roma, depending on the country where the poll was made, didn’t report the incidents to the police. They explained that anyhow police force would do nothing. One of three Roma was stopped by the police in the last 12 months, and one of two considers that the reason was exactly his ethnic belonging. As a result, 23% of the Roma explained that they are used to avoid some places because of a discriminatory treatment. Asked if they know any organization to protect their rights against discrimination around 86% of those interrogated could not mention one. Half of those interrogated don’t know how to report a discrimination and even consider it part of their everyday life.
”Thruth Commissions” regarding the Roma persecution
Thomas Hammarberg, the European Council commissioner for human rights, asked last month for the set up of some “truth commissions” regarding Roma persecution in the European countries.
In a document published in Strasbourg, he stated that the Roma population “is still confronted with high and durable levels of discrimination” in Europe. He suggest the setting up of some “truth commissions” regarding the sufferings endured by the Roma in the past, in order for the population to better understand this minority.
The persistent negative attitudes of the population are a serious problem and until this problem will be solved, all the programs in favor of the Roma will fail, explained the commissioner. He underlined that “the exclusion is one of the main reasons of Roma migration in Europe”.(DIVERS – www.divers.ro)