24/06/2019
FSG_Igualdad y no discriminación
Salvini's declarations are the maximum expression of the anti-Gypsy hate speech, and they are crossed in addition to an intersectional gender component, since this type of sterilization policies especially affects Roma women
On June 20, the Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini made a statement [1] against a Roma woman, requesting her sterilization. The minister accuses this woman of trying to avoid prison by claiming her pregnancy.
These statements remind us of the terrible practices of forced sterilization that took place throughout the 20th century, from which the Nazis started in 1933 against roma women and people with disabilities, to those that have occurred in countries such as Sweden, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. [2] against roma women until the end of the 20th century [3].
It is a racist practice based on the ideology of eugenics, "improving the race" by indirectly exterminating a population, preventing its reproduction.
These declarations are the maximum expression of the anti-Gypsy hate speech, and they are crossed in addition to an intersectional gender component, since this type of sterilization policies especially affects Roma women. We live again in the heart of the European Union a shameful episode in which the target is put on the Roma population, inciting hatred, feeding intolerance and anti-Gypsyism.
But above all, it is a violation of fundamental rights, such as equality and dignity of people, and therefore, from the Fundación Secretariado Gitano we believe that such serious manifestations of some public officials as Salvini must have a rapid legal and political response. For this act we have mechanisms and legal instruments within the framework of the European Union and the Council of Europe that condemn this type of demonstrations: specifically Article 2.3 of the Treaty of Lisbon of December 13, 2007 and the various Resolutions of the European Parliament and of the European Parliament and Council of Europe in this matter [4].
European institutions and states can not remain silent and inactive in the face of serious public demonstrations by the Italian Minister of the Interior. It is necessary that they be mobilized and that they make use of the available mechanisms to sanction these declarations. We must defend the framework of fundamental rights that we have endowed ourselves as european citizens.
Likewise, we appeal to the decency of the Italian democratic institutions and to that part of society that does not feel represented either by this exclusive discourse or by fascist politicians like Salvini. A mobilization of all sectors of Italian and European society is necessary and urgent.
Finally, from the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, as an entity that has been working for decades defending the right to non-discrimination of Roma people, assisting victims and supporting complaints before the courts, we ask for the support of institutions, political parties and Spanish society to denounce these serious statements.
[1] https://www.lavanguardia.com/internacional/20190621/463017879848/italia-gitanos-carterismo-robos-inseguridad-salvini-lega-norte-esterilizacion.html
[2] Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on sterilization of Roma women:
- V.C. v. Eslovaquia (nº 18968/07). 8 de noviembre de 2011. Disponible en:
hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf/?library=ECHR&id=002-290&filename=002-290.pdf
- N.B. v. Eslovaquia (nº 29518/10). 12 de junio de 2012. Disponible en:
www.globalhealthrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NB_-_Slovakia_-_2012.pdf
- I.G., M.K. y R.H. v. Eslovaquia (nº 15966/04). 13 de noviembre de 2012. Disponible en:
hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-114514
- R.K. v. República Checa (nº 7883/08). 27 de noviembre de 2012. Disponible en:
hudoc.echr.coe.int/webservices/content/pdf/001-115481?TID=thkbhnilzk
- G.H. v. Hungría (nº 54041/14). 9 de junio de 2015. Disponible en:
[3] https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterilizaci%C3%B3n_forzosa
[4] Council of Europe:
Thematic report on combating anti-Gypsyism, hate speech and hate crime against Roma
ECRI:ECRI General Policy Recommendation N°3 on combating racism and intolerance against Roma/Gypsies
Recomendación 13 sobre antigitanismo:
https://rm.coe.int/ecri-general-policy-recommendation-no-13-on-combating-anti-gypsyism-an/16808b5aef
Euroean Parliament:
European Parliament resolution on the need for a strengthened post-2020 Strategic EU Framework for National Roma Inclusion Strategies and stepping up the fight against anti-Gypsyism (2019/2509(RSP))
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2019-0098_EN.html?redirect
European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2017 on fundamental rights aspects in Roma integration in the EU: fighting anti-Gypsyism (2017/2038(INI))
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0413_EN.html?redirect
Resolution of 15 April 2015 on the occasion of International Roma Day – anti-Gypsyism in Europe and EU recognition of the memorial day of the Roma genocide during World War II
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2015-0095_EN.html?redirect
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