AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASEStop betraying Europe’s Roma people(Brussels, 23 June 2011) “If they had the power they’d put us all against the wall and shoot us.” Maria, a Romani woman, used to live in the centre of the Romanian town of Piatra Neamţ until the authorities forced her family to move to an old chicken farm on the edge of town. Maria’s story of discrimination is one of the many human rights violations suffered by Roma people reported in Amnesty International’s latest publication Mind the legal gap: Roma and the right to housing in Romania, issued today. The report highlights serious human rights abuses which occur with total impunity in Romania. As the European Council prepares to endorse a plan to bridge the gap between Roma people and mainstream society, Amnesty International has urged EU governments to get tough with their peers who allow Roma people to be abused. “Fine words and largesse in Brussels must translate into drastic improvements for Roma people on the ground. Too many governments are betraying Europe’s largest minority by turning a blind eye to their neighbours’ misconduct”, said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. A Romani woman forcibly evicted to the outskirts of Constanţa explained: “We don’t have electricity, we don’t have water. I bring plastic bottles to make a fire. We don’t have money for food, wood or clothes. We gather scrap iron, plastic, whatever we find.” There are more than 2 million Roma people in Romania, about ten percent of the country’s population. Discrimination by officials and society remains widespread. Roma people particularly suffer because the right to adequate housing is not protected in law since they have historically been denied access to land and property. They are further disadvantaged by the scarcity of social housing, in a country where all but three percent of housing is private.For interviews or further comment, please contact:-

23/06/2011 –  A hundred and fifty bodies were found in the sea off the Tunisian Kerkennah islands a few weeks ago. These bodies were of people who fled the violent conflict in Libya to seek safety in Europe. Their death added to the toll of refugees and migrants who die trying to reach Europe. More than 1,400 so far this year.

23/06/2011 – The right to adequate housing is a human right to which everyone is entitled without discrimination. However, in Romania, the right to housing is not effectively recognised or protected by national law. This often leaves people without access to justice for human rights violations.

21/06/2011 – Many refugees and migrants have suffered horrendous conditions of detention after being pushed back to or prevented from leaving Libya. We urge the European Union and its leaders to make a clean break and to accept their responsibilities.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Press Release

17/06/2011 – We present seven specific recommendations on human rights policy for the Polish presidency to deliver during its six month term.

14/06/2011 – In this document we wish to highlight several of our principal concerns with the current draft of the Declaration and Plan of Action.

09/06/2011 – The EU Guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment constitute a fundamentally important framework for a comprehensive response to torture and other ill-treatment in the EU’s foreign policy. The creation of country-specific human rights strategies provides an opportunity to systematically integrate efforts for the prevention and eradication of all forms of torture and other illtreatment world-wide. The joint NGO letter provides key recommendations in this regard.

09/06/2011 – In view of the review of the EU Guidelines on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (“EU Guidelines”), Amnesty International submits a number of proposals with the aim of further improving implementation of the Guidelines. This instrument continues to be a key tool in the EU’s efforts to prevent and combat torture and other ill-treatment.

31/05/2011 – Amnesty International is concerned that the new Constitution of Hungary, adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on Monday 18 April, introduces changes which may restrict internationally protected human rights and calls on the Commission to take a position on the matter and to react to what seems to be an attack against EU core principles and values. 

HUMAN RIGHTS: THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN EUROPE ON AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S 50th ANNIVERSARY Celebrating Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary with a debate and exhibition of posters in the European Parliament in Brussels, Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice President responsible for democracy and human rights, Heidi Hautala, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Salil Shetty, Secretary General, Amnesty International and Nicolas Beger, Director, EU Institutions, Amnesty International, today praised the progress that human rights has made in the world over the last 50 years, but warned that injustices remain and the EU must work to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a living reality for all. President Buzek, who opened the debate “Rising to the challenge: Europe as a champion of human rights”, said: “The world may be more free, but injustice still happens and we can never remain silent. Our outreach is global, but these values are universal. This is why the European Parliament has called for Human Rights focal points in every EU Delegation. And has asked the External Action Service to match the professionalism of a top class diplomatic service with similar enthusiasm in working for human rights.” Vice President McMillan-Scott said: “With the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009, the EU gained new scope to promote human rights outside the EU plus increased protection and a dedicated commissioner on fundamental freedoms within the EU. Human rights and democracy should be placed at the heart of EU foreign policy as Catherine Ashton keeps promising.” Ms Hautala said: “I would particularly like to thank Amnesty International for their uncompromising work to abolish double standards in the human rights policy, whether it’s about different interests to protect the human rights in the EU and the rest of the world, or treating other countries with different criteria according to their strategic importance. The information produced by Amnesty International is reliable and is a great help in the work of the Human Rights Subcommittee in the European Parliament.” Mr Shetty said: “Today we’re witnessing people power at its most inspiring in the Middle East and North Africa.  The demand to live in dignity and freedom is proof that individual people acting together can end repression and corruption.  The EU and its member states must do all they can to give tangible support to these demonstrations of popular will.” Mr Beger said: “The European institutions and EU member states must behave as genuine champions of human rights and not believe they can merely utter fine words and grandstand as brave defenders of justice.  One topical example of this clash between rhetoric and action is the outrageous response by EU countries to the refugee crisis in North Africa.  EU countries are faced with about 30,000 highly vulnerable migrants and are busy passing the buck and threatening free movement, one of Europe’s greatest achievements.” ENDS