MINELRES: ERRC: Roma Rights 1/2005: Positive Action to Ensure Equality

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: European Roma Rights Centre <errc@errc.org> 



Roma Rights 1/2005: Positive Action to Ensure Equality

The principles of equality and non-discrimination are fundamental to
human rights. They are enshrined in international human rights law and
in many domestic constitutions. Recognising that formal equality or
treating everyone the same is not sufficient to eliminate all barriers
facing certain groups, a number of the international human rights
treaties oblige states to adopt special measures to address inequalities
based on race, gender, disability, etc. Such measures -- described also
as positive or affirmative action -- are acceptable where they are
carefully tailored to match particular circumstances, and are
proportionate, and are temporary until the objectives of the special
measure has been achieved. European Union law also encourages Member
States of the EU to adopt special measures to promote equality.

Roma Rights 1/2005 brings together discussions of the current state of
efforts to make good on the equality promises of international and
domestic law. An article by Barbara Cohen details the evolution of the
concept of equality and the legislative and policy efforts in the United
Kingdom to challenge institutional racism through imposing a positive
duty on public authorities to promote equality. Olivier De Schutter
responds to ERRC questions concerning the idea of a Roma Integration
Directive -- an EU legal instrument which would oblige states to
undertake action to integrate Roma -- proposed by the EU Network of
Independent Experts in Fundamental Rights. Alexandra Xanthaki discusses
the proposal in detail. Claude Cahn analyzes the European Court of Human
Rights ruling on the case of Connors v. UK and its implications for
establishing a right to positive action. The full table of contents,
with direct links to articles, follows:

EDITORIAL
Binding States by Law to Roma Inclusion
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2158

NOTEBOOK
Positive Obligations: Shifting the Burden in Order to Achieve Equality
Barbara Cohen
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2161

Towards Realising a Right to Positive Action for Roma in Europe: Connors
v. UK
Claude Cahn
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2160

EU Roma Integration Directive � Filling the Gap in the Equality Legal
Regime
Interview with Mr Olivier De Schutter, Coordinator of the EU Network of
Independent Experts in Fundamental Rights
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2163

The Proposal for an EU Directive on Integration
Alexandra Xanthaki
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2211

The Future of Romani: Toward a Policy of Linguistic Pluralism
Yaron Matras
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2165

Keeping the Criminality Myth Alive: Stigmatisation of Roma through the
Italian Media
Claudia Tavani
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2168

NEWS ROUNDUP: SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND EUROPE
Albania * Bulgaria * Czech Republic * Denmark * Greece * Hungary * Italy
* Kosovo * Lithuania * Romania * Russia * Serbia and Montenegro *
Slovakia * Slovenia * Spain * Ukraine * United Kingdom
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2207

LEGAL DEFENCE
Legal Practice under the Bulgarian Protection against Discrimination Act
Daniela Mihaylova
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2166

HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
ERRC Continues Cooperation with the Swedish Ombudsman against Ethnic
Discrimination for Human Rights Training of Roma in Sweden
Larry Olomoofe
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2164

TESTIMONY
My Life as a Refugee, 1999-2004
Dzavit Berisa
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2162

ROMANI LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS
Koncepto Thaj Praksa Afirmative Akciako Romani language translation of
"Concept and Practice of Affirmative Action", a report by the UN Special
Rapporteur on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Indigenous Peoples and Minorities
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2167

MEET THE ERRC
The Personal is the Political: A Story of Another Journey from India
Zarine Habeeb
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2169

CHRONICLE
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2159

Roma Rights is published quarterly in Budapest, Hungary, by the European
Roma Rights Centre.

Editor-in-chief: Dimitrina Petrova
Executive editor: Claude Cahn
Associate editor: Savelina Danova Russinova
News co-ordinator: Tara Bedard
Design and layout: Istv�n Fenyvesi

� March 2005 European Roma Rights Centre ISSN 1417-1503. The opinions
expressed in authored pieces are not necessarily those of the European
Roma Rights Centre. The contents of this journal are free from all
copyright restrictions on condition that the source is mentioned and
reproduction is not for commercial purposes. The ERRC requests that
three copies of the reproduced text be sent to the editor.

For information on how to receive copies of the printed version of Roma
Rights, please contact: office@errc.org.
_____________________________________________

The European Roma Rights Centre is an international public interest law
organisation which monitors the rights of Roma and provides legal
defence in cases of human rights abuse. For more information about the
European Roma Rights Centre, visit the ERRC on the web at
http://www.errc.org.

European Roma Rights Centre
1386 Budapest 62
P.O. Box 906/93
Hungary


Phone: +36 1 4132200
Fax: +36 1 4132201

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