The National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) encountered last year 71 cases of discrimination from the 867 petitions received. The discriminatory language and behavior in public were obvious present, according to the report published on April 28.

“In crises situations, as the ones of Romulus Mailat and Marian Cozma, the public debates are pronounced using violent language, as is the ethnicity of the perpetrator, the general blame, and the victims are usually the Roma,” stated Csaba Asztalos, CNCD president.

The CNCD member determined that 9% from the overall petitions received, respectively 71 of them, are discrimination situations. As a result, five penalties were applied, of an overall amount of 8.700 lei, 25 warnings and 39 recommendations. The complains were dismissed for different reasons in 67% of the cases (530), and 24% of the petitions were not in the competence of CNCD.

According to CNCD president, in 2008 the number of petitions had decreased compared with 2007, on the criteria of socio-professional categories, of disabilities, of ethnic belonging or sexual orientation. On the contrary, the number of petitions has increased on the criteria of nationality, gender or age. 

In 2008 CNCD received 100 complains regarding the personal dignity, 213 regarding the access to public services, 16 regarding the access in public space, 18 regarding the access to education and 409 regarding employment and jobs. (DIVERS – www.divers.ro)