ERRC submission to CERD on Roma situation in Italy
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Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 13:03:33 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: ERRC submission to CERD on Roma situation in Italy
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Tatjana Peric <[email protected]>
ERRC submission to CERD on Roma situation in Italy
PRESS STATEMENT – 5 MARCH 1999
In written comments submitted today to the United Nations Committee on
the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva, the
European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) documents that Roma in Italy are
the victims of police violence and pervasive racial discrimination in
virtually all spheres of public life. The comments are presented on
the occasion of the Committee’s examination of Italy’s compliance with
the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination.
In its submission, ERRC demonstrates that the Italian government has
failed to comply with its obligations under the Convention to
prohibit, punish and remedy racial discrimination against Roma. In
particular, the submission highlights the following areas of concern:
As to Article 2 of the Convention (requiring States to bring to an end
racial discrimination by all appropriate means, including
legislation), legal prohibitions against racial discrimination in
Italy remain of uncertain scope and provide for ineffective remedies.
Officials at all levels of government seem to lack awareness of – let
alone determination to act on - their obligation to ensure the
effective enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and regulations.
As to Article 3 (banning racial segregation), by developing a housing
policy for Roma premised on the racist and incorrect characterisation
of them as "nomads," the Italian government has fostered the
segregation of Roma into inhuman and degrading "camps" to which no
other segment of the population is confined.
As to Article 4 (obligating States to not permit public authorities or
institutions to promote or incite racial discrimination), government
authorities in Italy have failed to acknowledge and condemn widespread
anti-Roma policies, practices and attitudes.
As to Article 5 (guaranteeing equality before the law), Roma are
commonly subjected to unremedied, racially-motivated police violence,
and are discriminated against with respect to a broad range of rights
to which non-Roma in Italy are entitled, most egregiously and
systematically, the rights to equal treatment before law enforcement
authorities and the courts, freedom of residence within the country,
housing, education, and access to public accommodations and services.
ERRC’s concerns with regard to Italy’s compliance with the Convention
are illustrated with concrete cases providing evidence of recent and
repeated violence and discrimination against Roma.
In view of the serious deficiencies addressed by the submission, ERRC
recommends that the Italian government should establish an office
staffed with qualified personnel with responsibility for publicising
anti-discrimination norms, and for investigating and prosecuting
violations of anti-discrimination law; abolish racial segregation in
housing and eliminate its attendant effects in other fields;
discipline and prosecute police and others for racially-motivated
violence and other crimes against Roma; and at the highest levels,
speak out against racial discrimination against Roma and others, and
make clear that racism will not be tolerated.
The CERD is a United Nations body charged with responsibility for
overseeing compliance with the Convention. It was ratified by Italy in
1976. Composed of eighteen internationally-recognised experts, the
CERD reviews state implementation of the Convention through a
reporting procedure which obliges governments to submit reports on a
periodic basis. The March session marks the first time since 1995 that
the Committee reviews reports submitted by the Italian government. The
full text of the ERRC written comments to the CERD concerning Italy,
is available on Internet at www://errc.org, or from ERRC upon request.
* * *
The European Roma Rights Center is an international public interest
law organisation which monitors the situation of Roma in Europe and
provides legal defence in cases of human rights abuse. Romani
organisations and Romani individuals throughout Europe contribute
time, money and expertise to the ERRC. ERRC publications and other
information concerning the organisation’s activities are available on
Internet at www://errc.org.
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