Facing increased hardship, racism and discrimination in Central and Eastern Europe since the fall of the state socialist regimes, the Roma have fled their worsening situation in greater numbers, first as asylum seekers and later, after May 2004, as ‘new’ citizens of an enlarged European Union (EU). However, they have been met by a new wave of anti-Roma attitudes emerging in Western Europe, marked by media speculation about the consequences, real and imagined, of large scale immigration of Roma from the East.
“Disproportionately affected by poverty and discriminated against in employment,education, health care, administrative and other services, they face considerable obstacles to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”
This Report brings together research into the social exclusion of Roma minority groups in Europe and their challenges in migrating to Western Europe. It particularly focuses on the significant Slovak Roma community in Govanhill, Glasgow. The study examines the work of service providers, and looks at successes and challenges within broader political, social policy and cultural contexts.
University of West of Scotland. Commissioned and funded by South East Glasgow Community Health and Care Partnership and Oxfam.
The main findings of the research:
- Governments, both at UK and Scottish level, have not only failed to play their part in safeguarding the rights of the Roma as a recognised ethnic group in Europe, but have also failed to promote and raise awareness of Roma rights within the UK.
- Many of the problems of the Roma stem from their deliberate exclusion from citizenship in the EU countries from which they originate. This exclusion is a result of deep-rooted racism at all levels of society.
- Given the Roma’s on-going persecution and exclusion in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, it is not unreasonable to view the Roma as a group that continue to be ‘pushed’ abroad as much as being ‘pulled’ by the promise of employment.
- Roma are mainly in part-time, temporary employment, outwith mainstream structure as a result of their exclusion from public sector employment services and reliance on ‘gangmasters’ for work and housing. As a result of they are often unable to access the basic in-work benefits such as a contract of employment, a minimum wage, pension rights, paid holidays, maternity leave, and paid sick leave.
- In housing, Roma are particularly vulnerable to private sector dependency due to their employment situation and consequently they experience high rents, sub-standard conditions and non-existent tenancy agreements. This leads to overcrowding as families are forced to pool their resources, evictions, and strained community relations as a result of increased noise and waste.
- Barriers to accessing health services centre around language and culture. These barriers impact on the Roma’s ability to register with GPs and on their understanding of protocols such as booking appointments. Health care professionals have found growing levels of malnutrition amongst children, overcrowding and infestation, all of which carry with them significant public health risks.
Click here to download the report pdf
or click here to download the briefing
See also: The
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. The approach of the ERRC involves, in particular, strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and policy development, and training of Romani activists.
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