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OSCE human rights chief welcomes Action Plan on Roma and Sinti
WARSAW/MAASTRICHT 2 December 2003
WARSAW/MAASTRICHT, 2 December 2003 - An action plan to eradicate discrimination against Roma and Sinti and to ensure that they play a full and equal part in society has been adopted today at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Maastricht.
"The new Action Plan for improvement of the situation of Roma and Sinti is encouraging for all who are concerned with their rights," said Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "The communities in question and the ODIHR must now focus on moving from plan to action."
The plan suggests ways to fight particular forms of discrimination and racism currently encountered by Roma and Sinti. It deals with issues ranging from treatment by police and in the media, housing and living conditions, unemployment and other economic issues, to health care and improving access to education.
Sub-titled For Roma, with Roma, the action plan expands the areas addressed by the ODIHR, which is home to the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues.
The ODIHR will take on new responsibilities, such as assisting the OSCE participating States in developing anti-discrimination legislation and establishing anti-discrimination bodies, collecting documentation and developing policy on Roma-related issues in co-operation with other OSCE institutions and structures.
Furthermore, the ODIHR will compile "best practices" in the OSCE region regarding Roma and Sinti issues, facilitate discussions among journalists of the image of Roma and Sinti in society and support capacity-building of NGOs.
The provisions of the Action Plan are also linked to recommendations and actions on Roma and Sinti undertaken by other organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the European Union, UN agencies, the World Bank and others.
"The new Action Plan for improvement of the situation of Roma and Sinti is encouraging for all who are concerned with their rights," said Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). "The communities in question and the ODIHR must now focus on moving from plan to action."
The plan suggests ways to fight particular forms of discrimination and racism currently encountered by Roma and Sinti. It deals with issues ranging from treatment by police and in the media, housing and living conditions, unemployment and other economic issues, to health care and improving access to education.
Sub-titled For Roma, with Roma, the action plan expands the areas addressed by the ODIHR, which is home to the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues.
The ODIHR will take on new responsibilities, such as assisting the OSCE participating States in developing anti-discrimination legislation and establishing anti-discrimination bodies, collecting documentation and developing policy on Roma-related issues in co-operation with other OSCE institutions and structures.
Furthermore, the ODIHR will compile "best practices" in the OSCE region regarding Roma and Sinti issues, facilitate discussions among journalists of the image of Roma and Sinti in society and support capacity-building of NGOs.
The provisions of the Action Plan are also linked to recommendations and actions on Roma and Sinti undertaken by other organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the European Union, UN agencies, the World Bank and others.