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Sat, May 26 2012
UN committee urges France to stop collective deportation of Roma
A Roma woman arrives back home together with about 300 other Roma on planes departing from Paris and Lyon, in the latest wave of what French president Nicholas Sarkozy's government calls a voluntary repatriation scheme, Bucharest, August 26 2010.
Photo: Reuters
A UN Watchdog Group is urging France to stop the collective deportation of Roma, also known as Gypsies. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination calls collective expulsions a violation under international law. The Committee monitors States' implementation of the 1969 International Convention on the elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.
The UN Committee, which is composed of 18 independent members, says it is concerned by a rise in racism and xenophobia in France in recent years.
It is particularly worried by what it sees as an increase in violent racist demonstrations against Roma immigrants. It notes, since France presented its report to the Committee two weeks ago, a number of Roma have collectively been deported to their countries of origin.
Committee Member, Pierre-Richard Prosper, says the committee is concerned that the removal or return of the Roma has been done on a collective rather than individual basis.
"We understand that a State has a right and a responsibility to deal with security issues and issues of immigration and illegal immigration," said Prosper. "But, our view is when you are doing so, as we said, it should not be on a collective basis. It should not be targeting a group as a whole. Individual assessments need to be conducted and look at each particular circumstance of each individual and decide does he or she merit a return or should be allowed to stay."
Prosper says the concerns of a state have to be balanced against human rights obligations, and protection and asylum needs.
France recently sent hundreds of Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria and dismantled more than 100 illegal camps. The French government justifies its expulsion of the Roma on grounds of security.
In its report to the Committee, the French delegation said the returns were voluntary and decisions were made on an individual, case-by-case basis. The delegation added the Roma were provided with humanitarian assistance upon their return.
The Committee was not persuaded by this argument. Prosper says the members remain concerned.
"It is a real concern as we receive information and we monitor how the Roma are being treated in France, as well as elsewhere. There is an appearance of discrimination. And, this is what we raised with the State party and we suggested to them in our recommendations that as they take their measures that they avoid taking measures that are discriminatory, avoid taking measures that are collective and look at this as on an individual, by individual basis"
The Committee agrees the Roma is not just a French problem. It is a problem for all of Europe and must be resolved by all of Europe.
Romania and Bulgaria are both members of the European Union. And, as such, their nationals, including the Roma, have a right to travel freely to other European countries. The Committee says they also have the right not to be abused.
Source: VOANews.com
The UN Committee, which is composed of 18 independent members, says it is concerned by a rise in racism and xenophobia in France in recent years.
It is particularly worried by what it sees as an increase in violent racist demonstrations against Roma immigrants. It notes, since France presented its report to the Committee two weeks ago, a number of Roma have collectively been deported to their countries of origin.
Committee Member, Pierre-Richard Prosper, says the committee is concerned that the removal or return of the Roma has been done on a collective rather than individual basis.
"We understand that a State has a right and a responsibility to deal with security issues and issues of immigration and illegal immigration," said Prosper. "But, our view is when you are doing so, as we said, it should not be on a collective basis. It should not be targeting a group as a whole. Individual assessments need to be conducted and look at each particular circumstance of each individual and decide does he or she merit a return or should be allowed to stay."
Prosper says the concerns of a state have to be balanced against human rights obligations, and protection and asylum needs.
France recently sent hundreds of Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria and dismantled more than 100 illegal camps. The French government justifies its expulsion of the Roma on grounds of security.
In its report to the Committee, the French delegation said the returns were voluntary and decisions were made on an individual, case-by-case basis. The delegation added the Roma were provided with humanitarian assistance upon their return.
The Committee was not persuaded by this argument. Prosper says the members remain concerned.
"It is a real concern as we receive information and we monitor how the Roma are being treated in France, as well as elsewhere. There is an appearance of discrimination. And, this is what we raised with the State party and we suggested to them in our recommendations that as they take their measures that they avoid taking measures that are discriminatory, avoid taking measures that are collective and look at this as on an individual, by individual basis"
The Committee agrees the Roma is not just a French problem. It is a problem for all of Europe and must be resolved by all of Europe.
Romania and Bulgaria are both members of the European Union. And, as such, their nationals, including the Roma, have a right to travel freely to other European countries. The Committee says they also have the right not to be abused.
Source: VOANews.com
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained off-topic content
I am from vancouver,canada and i wanted to comment on the racist,reactionary policy of the french gov.with regard to the Roma People.The french gov.got a long history of reactionary policies.In june 1848 thousands of french citizens were shot down in Paris.In Febuaray of that year the french people helped the emerging bourgeoisie to get rid of the last remnenantes of feudalism.This is what they got for it.In 1871 there was an even worse massacre in paris.Adolph Thiers at the time ordered the french troops into Paris to eliminate the working class there.It was brutal and is considered the worst massacre [...]
Read the full comment of Paris.The french gov. is no stranger to fascism and racism.The french people got a long histy of fighting against these racist thugs.All the progressive people and unions in France should support the Roma People.
Sorry, for the spelling mistake-I meant point, not pint in my previous writing,though pint might be a good starting point for the day to some of those bloggers-Cheers,mates!
Anthony ,what a nice idea but does not bring income to the French,why would they bother?!!
I am shocked to see such an open hatred not to mention how much against the 'Western democracy and anti-racism' those comments express written by Westerners -what their blog names suggest.
But to the pint mates:
What exactly criminal deeds these poor citizens performed in comparison with other 'close societies'-What about the Jewish minorities in the West?
Are they repressed because they do not 'adapt'to the local culture?
Awaiting for your answers but please,at least show some dignity!
I heard that a few years ago,the French government allowed Americans to buy a few hectares of land on the outskirts of Paris,so they could build a tourist attraction,I think it was called "Euro Disney" or something like that. Why don't they give an equal amount of land to the Gypsies? If they can give 1000 hectares of land to Americans,to build Euro Disney,can't the give 1000 hectares to the Gypsies,to live on? The Gypsies need their own country. Take a piece of land in Europe,about one kilometer wide,and one kilometer long,and give it to the Gypsies,and let them declare [...]
Read the full comment that the tiny new country is the Gypsy Republic. A better name for it might be Tsiganistan. After all,Europe already had a few tiny countries,like Monaco and Vatican City,what's wrong with another tiny country?
I'm sure Bulgaria and Romania are proud to stand up in the EU and claim Roma should be free to travel. What they forget to say is that they are even more happy to get rid of them. Roma are treated like crap in Bulgaria and Romania so how Hypocritic of both countries to scream discrimination.
ROMA DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE GENERAL POPULATION THEY REFUSE TO INTEGRATE OR INTERMARRY.THEY WISH TO LIVE APART.BUT NOT TOO FAR THAT THEY CANNOT REACH OUR POCKETS.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language