Stateless Roma in Europe
by Mike STANNETT
Meeting at European Parliament, 29th November 2017
Considerations for The Salvation Army
Institutional discriminatory practices are common not only in the Balkans, those hoping for EU accession, but also within the EU both in home and host countries.
- Are we sufficiently aware of the administrative/ documentary hurdles facing the Roma we work together with?
- Are we overlooking the more complex documentary issues, without offering advice or sign-posting help?
- Do we actively inform the Roma of their rights?
Have we or should we develop partnerships with organisations that can help with rights issues.
Hosted by: UNHCR, European Network on Statelessness and The European Roma Rights Centre
The fundamental rights of Roma and their integration in the EU was addressed at a conference attended by the EU Affairs Office ‘Stateless Roma in Europe’ focussing on the documental and administrative hurdles many Roma face, either leaving them without evidence that they ‘belong’ anywhere or are unable to access their social protection and human rights.
A new publication was presented ‘Roma Belong: Statelessness, Discrimination and Marginalisation of Roma in the Western Balkans and Ukraine’. (www.errc.org). Though the report relates mainly to the situation of Roma in and from the Balkans, it is evident that even within the EU that Roma statelessness, documentation and identity limits their access to their full human and social rights.
It was pointed out that Roma migrating from within the EU are less likely to be technically stateless; although many may have ‘holes’ in their documentation, as this is common in their country of origin.
Roma from the Balkans that have irregularly migrated to the EU will be on the streets of member nations and therefore be limited or even completely refused of their rights and access to basic support. This will include registration of birth, access to education, access to maternity health care and wider health care, jobs and accommodation.
Being either Stateless or undocumented has obvious significant impact upon an individual and their community, their psychological health, their dignity, self-confidence and even their spiritual health. It is common that many Roma do not officially exist, as they have no registration of their birth, therefore they cannot be officially married, their children cannot be registered, get a proper job, own property, or even have a funeral . This all contributes to much of the hopelessness of the Roma situation both in their home countries but also as they move to new countries.
EU law and EU rights as well as the law and rights of member states require equality of rights but in practice this is not the case. There are clear cases of discriminatory practices, where state and municipal authorities are knowingly perpetuating the situation, by insisting on documentation that they know full well the individual cannot possibly comply with, either because the documentation does not exist, is lost or the costs in acquiring them are prohibitive, and then do nothing or little to resolve the issue.
Insightful quotes from the meeting
‘I am Roma, I live in Europe and yet I am stateless’
“Discrimination causes statelessness, perpetuates and maintains it.” It has a profound impact on the individuals, communities, society and its neighbours. It is a life in limbo. UNHCR
“This is our home, we are not foreigners, we speak the same language and we were born here and we live here, but we don’t belong” (Macedonian Roma)
“We are invisible, we are stateless”
“Statelessness makes you feel empty”
“I feel I am an invisible presence” (Roma in Italy)
“Every child has the right to education regardless of their documentation and not rely on a generous school director” (M. Fidalgo)
“There is an human trafficking element; that these children are at extreme risk of exploitation” (A Corazza Bildt MEP)
MEP H. Vautman said that “Roma stateless women are three times a victim: As Roma, as a woman, as a stateless person. We need to fight the stereotypes, we think of Roma as beggars she said. She stressed that the EU must take the lead on statelessness; all children must be registered regardless of parent’s status. They need full access to their rights as all citizens, especially healthcare. It was also highlighted that education and health care is key to the future for Roma children, maternity health care puts the unborn, the mother and baby at high risk. Lack of documentation and statelessness also exposes the child to exploitation.
See news article here by Swedish Roma MEP Soraya Post on the issue
M. Stannett
EU Affairs Officer
Tags: Europe