OSCE Conference on Roma and migration, Warsaw 22-24 October 2000
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Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 09:14:49 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: OSCE Conference on Roma and migration, Warsaw 22-24 October 2000
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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OSCE Conference on Roma and migration, Warsaw 22-24 October
2000
On October 23-24 in Warsaw the OSCE held a conference on Roma and
Sinti in Europe and on migration issues. Representatives of European,
North American, and Asian governments were in attendance together with
representatives of intergovernmental bodies such as the UNHCR. NGOs
were also represented.
In preparation for the discussion, the two largest international
Romani associations worldwide, the Roma National Congress (RNC) and
International Romani Union (IRU) met on October 22 to coordinate their
positions. This meeting, facilitated and moderated by Nicolae Gheorghe
of the OSCE-ODIHR, was the first time that the two organizations
officially produced a joint resolution.
While both organizations presented their own policy recommendations
during the conference, the joint declaration was a common statement by
the two entities, calling on European governments to allow Roma who
flee countries in which they feel unsafe to be granted the right to
stay in the destinations of their choice. The IRU-RNC common position
paper on migration reads as follows;
The countries of Central/Eastern Europe are not able to ensure the
protection and security of Roma against physical violence or
neo-fascist groups. The efforts of the countries in which
discrimination and racism are present are not adequate or efficient.
These are the reasons for migration of Roma from East and Central
Europe, especially from Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia and from the
Czech and Slovak Republics.
We call attention to the paradox seen in European funding of
Roma-oriented programs; those countries which have received the most
European money in recent years are the same countries from which
immigration to the EU is now highest. We recommend a Romani-led study
group to review the programs that have benefited from European
financial support in these countries and we suggest funding of these
same programs be stopped until a thorough examination of the work and
the programs can be reported.
The Roma of Kosovo have to be accepted as refugees in the countries
they have fled to. In cases of war the Roma must be accepted as
refugees and to have refugee status. Very often Roma are the victims
of both sides of the war as is seen in the practise of Kosovo. Very
often Roma are viewed as not refugees but Roma, which does not give
them an equal chance as other refugees have. Often these refugees are
discriminated against.
All Roma who feel unsafe in their homes in Europe and have resultingly
fled to other countries in Europe have to be granted refugee status
and be recognized as refugees by the UNHCR, in accordance with the
Geneva Convention. At present many countries refuse to award Roma the
refugee status as the Geneva Convention assures.
At the conclusion of the conference there was an additional meeting
between officials of the European Commission and Council of Europe and
of the IRU and the RNC. The discussion focused primarily on the two
organizations'demand for a Romani-led study group to evaluate European
funding of Romani-oriented programs in the accession states. While the
creation of such a group was not agreed upon, the European Commission
and Council of Europe are open to the possibility and further
discussions on how to form such a team will be held before the end of
the year.
Visit http://www.romnews.com/a/OSCEWarsaw2000.html
for the following:
- Report on the Condition of the Roma in Europe
With special attention to the historical and contemporary situation of
refugees and asylum-seekers and the causes of migration Report
commissioned by the OSCE for presentation October, 2000 by Rudko
Kawczynski
Original document - [pdf] or [text]
- Key Roma organizations reach breakthrough agreement at Warsaw
meeting
Press Release / OSCE / 24 October 2000
-Common Position Paper of the Roma National Congress and the
International Romani Union
RNC & IRU / Warsaw / Poland / 22nd October 2000 Original document -
[pdf] or [text]
The Individual Positions of the IRU and the RNC:
- Roma National Congress workgroup on refugees and migration
Hamburg 23rd of September 2000 [document]
- International Romani Union Statement On the Migration of Roma in
East and Central Europe
This Statement is Based on the meeting decisions made in Oslo (May
6-8, 2000) Nr. 3 and the decisions of the 5th Congress of IR. Doc. Nr.
1 in Prague [document]
- Rudko Kawczynski's speech on the International Consultation on Roma
Refugees and Asylum Seekers meeting on 23rd October 2000 [english]
- Rudko Kawczynski's speech on the OSCE Delegation Plenary Session on
the 24th of October 2000 [deutsch]
- The Association of Czechoslovak Roma in Canada [position paper]
- Republic of Macedonia Prepared by: Asmet Elezovski [full report]
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