European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) The independent human rights monitoring body of the Council of Europe in the field of combating racism and intolerance

ECRI is a human rights body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts, which monitors problems of racism, discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion and language, as well as xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance, prepares reports and issues recommendations to member States. ECRI takes its decisions at plenary sessions held in Strasbourg three times a year. ECRI has a permanent Secretariat provided by the CoE and based in the Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs.

Background The CoE estimates that there are over 11 million Roma in Europe, over 5 million of whom live outside the EU (notably in Turkey, Russia and Serbia). Recent developments in several CoE member states have highlighted the fact that the Roma continue to be victims of discrimination and intolerance. Strasbourg declaration, October 2010 = pledge to cooperate at all levels on Roma issues (including EU, national governments, NGOs) including European training programmes for Roma mediators and lawyers.

GPR13 on combating anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against Roma General Policy Recommendations (GPR) are detailed guidelines to help shape national strategies and policies on particularly important issues. Already in 1998 ECRI issued GPR N° 3 on Combating racism and intolerance against Roma/Gypsies. However in its long-term country-by-country monitoring activities, ECRI has documented that Roma continue to face serious problems throughout Europe. This is why ECRI decided to dedicate a specific GPR on how best to combat anti-Gypsyism and discrimination against Roma. Definition : anti-Gypsyism is a specific form of racism, an ideology founded on racial superiority, form of dehumanisation and institutional racism nurtured by historical discrimination, which is expressed, among others, by violence, hate speech, exploitation, stigmatisation and the most blamant kind of discrimination.

General provisions Urges countries to ratify Protocol 12 to the ECHR (anti- discrimination), as well as the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Countries should develop and implement comprehensive national plans on Roma-related issues, working together with Roma representatives. They should also develop mutual trust between Roma and public authorities, in particular through training mediators.

Education Each Roma child should have genuine access to nursery school. Urgent steps should be taken to end segregation at school and the placement of Roma children in special schools. Measures should be taken to prevent and combat stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination experienced by Roma in schools. Teaching on the Roma genocide should be included in school curricula.

Employment Positive measures should be taken for Roma in respect of employment, as concerns particularly recruitment and vocational training. Steps should be taken to stamp out discrimination against Roma as regards, inter alia, recruitment. There should be no obstacles to Roma exercising their traditional trades. Roma should be consulted to find alternatives to vanished trades in which they have traditionally engaged, for instance through loans and/or tax benefits.

Housing Governments should combat forced or de-facto segregation. Roma should not be evicted without notice and without opportunity for re-housing in decent accommodation. Steps should be taken to legalise illegal Roma settlements built in breach of town planning regulations which have been tolerated for a long period of time by the authorities. Governments should ensure that appropriate encampment whether for permanent occupation or transit areas are available in sufficient numbers on suitable and duly services sites. Governments should make sure that Roma communities are not disadvantaged in respect of public services such as water supply, electricity, refuse removal, transport and access to the road system.

Racist violence and crimes against Roma The police and prosecuting authorities should conduct investigations of racist crimes against Roma. Steps should be taken to encourage Roma victims of racist violence and crimes to lodge complaints.

Media The participation of Roma in the media sector in general should be promoted by taking steps for journalists and presenters from among Roma communities to be recruited and trained. The media should be encouraged to refrain from broadcasting any information likely to fuel discrimination and intolerance toward Roma.

Other The legislation and its implementation on the freedom of movement of persons within the EU should not be discriminatory towards Roma. Forced sterilisation of Roma women should be expressly prohibited. Governments should set up a comprehensive system for recording acts of violence against Roma. Steps should be taken to promote Roma recruitment to the police force and their participation in the media sector. Governments should also encourage systems to monitor anti-Gypsyism online and ensure effective prosecution. All Roma children should be registered at birth and all Roma should be issued with identity documents.

Follow-up Findings of ECRI country by country monitoring reports. Judgements of the European Court of Human Rights: ECRI standards and country-by-country monitoring reports are increasingly referred to by the Court in its judgements. Monitoring of NGOs and national Specialised Bodies against discrimination.

For further information please contact: Secretariat of ECRI Directorate General of Human Rights – DG II Council of Europe F STRASBOURG Cedex Tel: +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) Visit our website: