Fundación Secretariado Gitano

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) publishes a new report on Romania [editar]

This report, the fourth published by ECRI, is focused on implementation and evaluation. It examines the extent to which ECRI’s main recommendations from previous reports have been followed and include an evaluation of policies adopted and measures taken. 

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) was established by the Council of Europe. It is an independent human rights monitoring body specialised in questions relating to racism and intolerance. It is composed of independent and impartial members, who are appointed on the basis of their moral authority and recognised expertise in dealing with racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance.

ECRI conducts country-by-country monitoring work, which analyses the situation in each of the member States regarding racism and intolerance and draws up suggestions and proposals for dealing with the problems identified.  

In the report, it is stressed the progresses made since the last ECRI publication on 21 February 2006. Among them, the setting up of an advisory Council of the Churches and Religious Denominations to prevent conflicts between different religious communities and the amendment of the Criminal Code which has made racist motivation an aggravating circumstance for all offences. In addition, the categories or complainants who can seize the People's Advocate have been broadened, several measures have been taken to combat prejudice against the Roma, and campaigns to recruit members of national/ethnic minorities in the police force have been developed.

However, emphasis is placed in several issues that continue to give rise to concern. Despite a new law, difficulties for various religious communities persist in order to obtain official recognition; the law on the status of national minorities has not yet been adopted and the 5% threshold set for the eligibility of candidates in local elections can hinder the ability of national/ethnic minorities to elect their representatives under the same conditions as the majority.

“ Stigmatising statements against Roma are common in the political discourse, as far as public insults and defamation on racial discrimination grounds are not prohibited under the law”.

Moreover, there is no institution that collects data on the breach of criminal law provisions against racism, and more funds for the National Council for Combating Discrimination are needed to carry out its work effectively.

In its report, ECRI has made a number of recommendations to the Rumanian authorities to take further action in a number of areas, such as:

• Facilitate the requirements that religious associations and religious groups need to meet in order to obtain official recognition;
• Amend the Criminal Code in order to ensure than public insults and defamation against a person or a group regarding the race, colour, language, religion, citizenship or national/ethnic origin be prohibited;
• Provide information to the general public about the criminal law provisions against racism and instances which can provide redress and assistance;
• Devise a comprehensive data-collection system on the application of criminal law provisions against racism;
• Give strong impetus to the Strategy on the Inclusion of the Roma Minority, remove all obstacles to its implementation and allocate sufficient funds.

The report, including Government observations, is available here