Bulgaria: Conference on Roma Integration Program

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Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 09:12:33 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Bulgaria: Conference on Roma Integration Program

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Human Rights Project <[email protected]>

Bulgaria: Conference on Roma Integration Program


HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT
 
Press Statement, March 27
 
On March 26, 2000, in Sofia, representatives of over 70 Roma
formations in Bulgaria  expressed concern over the failure of
Bulgarian government to start implementation of the Framework Program
for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society. Critical remarks
regarding the delay of the Framework Program implementation and
recommendations for a more active involvement were addressed to
Bulgarian authorities by the Chair of the Specialist Group on Roma and
Sinti Issues at the Council of Europe, Ms. Josephine Verspaget.
 
One year after the agreement between the Roma community and Bulgarian
government over the Framework Program for Equal Integration of Roma in
Bulgarian Society, Bulgarian government did not comply with its
commitment to proactively guarantee equal participation of Roma in
public life.
 
At the Review Conference, held on March 26 by the Human Rights
Project, United Roma Union, Confederation of Roma in Bulgaria and the
National Council for the Ethnic and Demographic Issues at Bulgarian
Council of Ministers, the representatives of the Roma formations,
highlighted the fact that in the dialogue between the government and
the Roma community, the Roma community had not only been the leading
side but also the more responsible one. With its initiative and
constructiveness the Roma community contributed to the high estimation
for the Framework Program that was given to Bulgarian government by
international institutions. In the period following the adoption of
the Framework Program, however, the government did not show adequate
responsibility and will for a change. In analyzing the government
policy, the Roma representatives emphasized the following:
 
   * The government made a serious political commitment by the
adoption of the Framework Program, which envisages legislation changes
to warrant equality and protection of ethnic minorities and
comprehensive measures to overcome the consequences of discriminatory
treatment of Roma in all spheres of social life. One year following
the adoption, the government did not undertake to accomplish any of
the tasks put forward in the Framework Program in the fields of
protection against discrimination, economic development, territorial
planning, education, healthcare, and culture;

   * Official statements, which place the Roma issue among the
priorities of the government ring hollow given the fact that the state
budget does not envisage any resources to implement the Framework
Program. Denial of responsibility on part of state institutions to
deal with the problems of Roma, particularly as regards actions, which
do not require substantial finance, demonstrates lack of political
will;

   * Roma continue to be excluded from the decision-making processes,
despite a number of appointments of Roma to the institutions of the
central and local governments. Roma are mainly involved in these
structures as experts and in most of the cases without specific
duties, which precludes their effective participation in the
decision-making. Lack of transparency and consultations with the Roma
community in the process of appointment of Roma to the public
authorities, has led to tensions and mistrust on part of the Roma
community, a fact which could be a serious obstacle for the
implementation of the Framework Program.
 
The Conference adopted recommendations to the government to ensure
efficient implementation of the Framework Program.
 
The report of the Human Rights Project on the implementation of the
Framework Program for Equal Integration of Roma in Bulgarian Society
is obtainable from: Human Rights Project, 1000 Sofia, 23 Solunska St.,
6th fl., email: [email protected]
 
______________________
The Human Rights Project (HRP) is a non-governmental organization
which monitors the human rights situation of Roma in Bulgaria and
provides legal defense to Roma victims of human rights abuse. The HRP
is initiator of the national advocacy campaign "For Equal
Participation of Roma in the Publuic Life of Bulgaria", the outcome of
which was the adoption of the Framework Program for Equal Integration
of Roma in Bulgarian Society by Bulgarian government in April, 1999.

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