Press Release July 2007
Response to the Statement from the Romanian Embassy
23rd July 2007.
Pavee Point notes with serious concern allegations that we and the Roma Support Group have made misleading statements concerning the situation of Roma in Romania and Europe generally over the past few weeks.
Pavee Point and the Roma Support Group when discussing the situation of Roma in Romania has quoted and referred to several noted international bodies concerning the situation of Roma in that country. We have not misled or misrepresented the situation of Roma in Romania and indeed across Europe generally. It is a situation that is well recognised at a EU, UN and Council of Europe Level.
Concerning the situation on the Ballymun roundabout the crisis is plainly a humanitarian one. We have no proof of alleged property belonging to the Roma who are living on the roundabout. We can only take the situation as we find it and it is a situation that is appalling as anyone who would care to visit the camp can testify to. A number of Irish organisations with experience in this area can bear witness to this.
Regarding the situation for Roma in Romania we direct journalists to the European Commission on Racism and Intolerances Third Report on Romania, The Final Report by Mr Alvaro Gil-Robles Commissioner for Human Rights on the Situation of The Roma, Sinti and Travellers in Europe, The Open Society Institute 2007 EU Monitoring and Advocacy Programme Country Report Romania: which outline some of the concerns we have voiced in the media over the past number of weeks. In addition we would urge journalists to contact the European Roma Rights Centre, Romani Criss and organisations working on the ground in Romania.
The Ambassador has stated today on the radio that statements concerning Roma childrens education in Romania were untrue. The European Rights Centre states: Romani children who are in schools frequently attend racially segregated classes or schools. In some instances, Roma children are segregated in schools for mentally disabled children. www.errc.org
The European Commission on Racism and Intolerances Third Report on Romania notes with concern that the situation of Roma in Romania remains disturbing. Members of the Roma Community are still discriminated against in areas such as employment, education and access to public places, housing, and health care services. It also highlights that the banning of segregation in schools for Roma in Romania is not legally binding where Roma are still segregated: they all too often find themselves in schools of a distinctly lower standard than the others or are relegated to the back of the classroom or placed in separate classrooms.
We note with disappointment that the Romanian Ambassador would chose to focus her energy on negative comments rather than seeking an equitable solution to a very real humanitarian crisis. ENDS
Issued by Pavee Point Travellers Centre, 46 North Great Charles St, Dublin 1.
Further information:
- Opportunity for Ireland to Promote Human Rights Should Not be Missed - Crosscare
- Irish Traveller Movement supports Pavee Point in its role in highlighting humanitarian crisis of Roma at M50
- 26 July 2007 - Pavee Point Statement
- Statement from ATD Fourth World
- 24 July 2007 - Press Release: Roma Repatriation
- Romani CRISS reports and Photographs
- Statement by the Children's Rights Alliance: Roma Crisis
- 24 July 2007 - Point of clarification
- 23 July 2007 - Pavee Point rejects accusations of the Embassy of Romania in Ireland
- 21 July 2007 - Press Release: Deportation Notices an Inadequate Response to Roma Crisis
- Press release: Inhumane Living Conditions in Ireland- Not Acceptable, Action Demanded Now.
- Press Release June 07: Pavee Point and the Roma Support Group calls on Government to offer humane support to Roma Families camping on roundabout.
- Case Study: Rostas Family
- Statement from Anastasia Crickley of the the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
- Social Workers call for action to reunite children with parents. Press release from the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW)
- Social Workers call for government action on Roma family crisis in North Dublin
- Photographs from the scene at the Ballymun Roundabout
- Background context report by ERRC, Romania: State of Impunity Human Rights Abuse of Roma in Romania (PDF)
- Extract from Council of Europe/European Commission against Racism and Intolerence: Third Report on Roma (PDF)
- Campaign Support: How to support the Roma