OSCE Summit Language on Roma November the 24th, 1999 [Circulated by the U.S. Delegation to the OSCE Summit] November 18, 1999 / 0845 Fact Sheet: Roma and Sinti Background. Roma are one the most vulnerable minorities in the OSCE region. They migrated from India to Europe in the early part of this millennium and brought with them their own language (Romani, related to Hindi) and distinct cultural traditions. Roma in German-speaking countries are known as Sinti. The name "Gypsy," which Roma are more commonly called in English-speaking countries, is a corruption of the word "Egyptian," reflecting a mistaken belief that Roma had come from Egypt. Many Roma reject "Gypsy" as pejorative and prefer, instead, "Roma" (a term of self-ascription from the Romani language). There are Romani minorities in virtually every OSCE participating State, including an estimated one million in the United States, but they are concentrated in Central and Southern Europe. Romani history in Europe has been characterized by severe repression, including enslavement in Romania and Moldova and efforts to assimilate them forcibly. During the Holocaust, Roma were targeted by the Nazis for extermination. Since 1990, Roma have become the targets of racially motivated violence in some post-Communist countries. The absence of legislation to protect Roma from discrimination in the workplace, public places, education, housing, and the military often leaves Roma without legal recourse in many countries. This year, they have been the targets of violence by ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. In the Czech Republic recently, the city of Usti nad Labem constructed a wall to divide Roma from non-Romani residents. The United States has commended the Czech government and parliament for opposing the wall, which is incompatible with a democratic society. The Romani civil rights movement is increasingly organized. The OSCE has a Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, appointed in May. He has been active in advising the OSCE mission to Kosovo on issues relating to the Romani minority there. The OSCE, with comprehensive scope and membership, is well suited to provide further assistance and guidance to countries seeking to improve respect for their Romani minority. The High Commissioner on National Minorities will soon release a detailed report on Romani issues. A summary of his recommendations is available at: www.osce.org/inst/hcnm/index. The High Commissioner, in his capacity as Chair of the Southeast European Stability Pact's Working Table on Democracy and Human Rights, has established a Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities Task Force to investigate measures to safeguard the rights of Roma. Key Developments. With strong U.S. support and urging, Summit leaders in Istanbul have given increased priority to Roma issues. In the Charter for European Security, the leaders have recognized the particular difficulties faced by the Roma and the need to undertake effective measures in order to achieve full equality of opportunity consistent with OSCE commitments, and said they would reinforce their efforts to ensure that Roma are able to play a full and equal part in our societies and to eradicate discrimination against them. In the Summit Declaration, the leaders committed to ensure that laws and policies fully respect the rights of Roma and, where necessary, to promote anti-discrimination legislation to this effect. The leaders recognized that these issues are primarily a responsibility of the OSCE states concerned. The United States will work actively in the OSCE Permanent Council to be sure the new Summit priority for Roma issues leads to stronger support and concrete actions. Excerpt from the OSCE Charter for European Security, adopted by the OSCE Heads of State and Government in Istanbul, Turkey, Nov. 19, 1999 20. We recognize the particular difficulties faced by Roma and Sinti and the need to undertake effective measures in order to achieve full equality of opportunity, consistent with OSCE commitments, for persons belonging to Roma and Sinti. We will reinforce our efforts to ensure that Roma and Sinti are able to play a full and equal part in our societies, and to eradicate discrimination against them. Excerpt from the OSCE Summit Declaration, Nov. 19, 1999 31. We deplore violence and other manifestations of racism and discrimination against minorities, including the Roma and Sinti. We commit ourselves to ensure that laws and policies fully respect the rights of Roma and Sinti and, where necessary, to promote anti-discrimination legislation to this effect. We underline the importance of careful attention to the problems of the social exclusion of Roma and Sinti. These issues are primarily a responsibility of the participating States concerned. We emphasize the important role that the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti issues can play in providing support. A further helpful step might be the elaboration by the Contact Point of an action plan of targeted activities, drawn up in co-operation with the High Commissioner on National Minorities and others active in this field, notably the Council of Europe.
[Circulated by the U.S. Delegation to the OSCE Summit]