COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SLOVENIA WITH A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning heard from a representative of a non-governmental organization from Slovenia, ahead of its review of Slovenia’s report later this week.
A representative of Amnesty International raised the difficult conditions in which the Roma minority was living, particularly in their informal settlements, as well as the failure of Slovenia to recognize the rights of non-citizens, mainly those “erased”, and to restore their status.
Egypt, Mongolia and Turkey will also have their reports reviewed this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations present to talk about the situation in those countries.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to start its review of the combined seventeenth to twenty-second periodic report of Egypt (CERD/C/EGY/17-22).
Statement on Slovenia
A representative of Amnesty International said that the institutional framework in Slovenia remained ineffective in upholding the right to non-discrimination, or providing effective remedies for its violation. Roma communities continued to be discriminated against, in particular regarding access to adequate housing and safe drinking water and sanitation. Generally, the living conditions of Roma in informal settlements remained worrisome. In several Roma settlements, residents were at risk of eviction. The Government had failed to fully implement legislation to recognize the rights of non-citizens, namely the “erased” and restore their status. Over half of the more than 25,000 victims were denied any form of reparation. Children of “erased” persons born outside the territory of Slovenia were deprived of their rights to claim permission for permanent residence in Slovenia. The Slovenian Government should put in place a comprehensive framework to advance the situation of Roma. Slovenia should also urgently address the situation of the “erased”, with special measures to enable their access to justice and reparation.
Discussion on Slovenia
Who exactly were the “erased” people and why had they been erased, an Expert asked. What was their current number? The Amnesty International representative said that in its alternative report, Amnesty provided an explanation and the background of the issue of the ”erased”, which could be consulted.
A question was also asked on the total number of Roma in Slovenia. Experts also wanted to know about the access of Roma, and particularly Romani women, to employment. Amnesty International was asked to comment on Slovenia’s educational system, which the State party liked to present as exemplary, and to which degree it included Roma. Was the lack of the access to water related to the lack of their land titles?
Experts also inquired about racism in political discourse and the migration situation, especially the reaction of the extremist groups in the country.
The Amnesty International representative said that he would provide the exact numbers of Roma and the “erased” shortly. All other replies would also be provided after checking with researchers in Slovenia.
For use of the information media; not an official record
CERD15/032E