The international ``Workshop on Violence against Roma`` took place on 19 January 1996 in Warsaw. The meeting was organised by the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues (CPRSI) within the ODIHR and was attendedby 35 representatives of Roma and Sinti associations and NGOs. Representatives of the Council of Europe and the UNHCR were also present. In the course of discussion the participants reconfirmed that special emphasis in the activities of the CPRSI should be continuously placed on discrimination and violence against Roma. In this context a specific need for prompt and reliable information about all cases of violence available in the CPRSI was underscored. Such information would also substantially, facilitate the preparation of a special report on cases of violence against Roma and Sinti for the information of the OSCE Permanent Council.

While addressing the situation of Roma and Sinti in different countries several common levels were indicated for violent and racist actions against Roma and Sinti: individual citizens committing criminal offence; skinheads or extreme-right groups; collective actions of ethnic natureat the community level; police and other law enforcement institutions.Many participants pointed out that violence against Roma and Sinti is an all-European phenomenon. This has been manifested in many areas of public and social life in various countries, i.e. inter-ethnic relations in the society, functioning of governmental institutions and administration, practice applied in the system of justice, education, behaviour of police, attitude of media, language used to describe violence main characteristics, A view of close interrelationship between violence against Roma and general living standards in the society was commonlys hared. Participants also focused their attention on the issue of the lack of legal assistance to Roma and Sinti in view of the growing numbers of violent attacks and ethnic tensions around Roma refugees and displaced persons. Better coordination of different existing legalassistance programmes dedicated to Roma as well as education and training were strongly recommended to be intensified in this field.The participants further more indicated the need for effective continuation of the liaison function of the CPRSI and its cooperation on Roma andSinti issues with the Council of Europe and the European Commission,Several proposals were made to strengthen the CPRSI, in terms of its staff and resources, An expectation was expressed that it might be examined at the OSCE review conference later this year. During an exchange of views on the urgent need for increasing prevention of violence, the CPRSI proposal for convening a ``Workshop on Roma and Sinti and the Media`` was welcomed. The participants recommended also that future workshops on violence against Roma take place in other countries.