07/04/2011 President
Strasbourg, 07.04.2011 – Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has issued an urgent call for Roma to be given a stronger voice at local, national and international level.
“The Roma are Europe’s largest minority, present in virtually every one of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states, yet their participation in public and political life is minimal,” the President pointed out, speaking on the eve of International Roma Day, 8 April. “This is all wrong, especially as this minority continues to face shocking conditions in some parts of Europe, as well as outright abuse and discrimination.”
“The problem is that we have spent too much time trying to do something for Roma, instead of with them. It is time for a fresh approach: Roma themselves know what needs to be done, and they are ready to articulate their hopes, aspirations, ideas and needs. But they do not always have a chance to be heard.
The Council of Europe has made an important start by helping to set up the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF), which gives Roma a voice at pan-European level. Since January, ERTF representatives are being invited to PACE committee meetings whenever Roma issues are on the agenda, and we have agreed to consult and co-ordinate more. Roma at last have a place at Europe’s table, but there is so much more to do.
For example, there are no Roma at all in our 636-member Assembly, and this has to change. I encourage national delegations to the Assembly to include members of the Roma minority. There should also be seats reserved for Roma in national parliaments, as well as on local and regional elected bodies, where many of the decisions are made that directly affect Roma communities.
Only by creating a strong and deep partnership with Roma, at all levels, can we really start to improve the situation of these 12 million Europeans who have faced so much prejudice for so long,” PACE President declared.