OSCE PA human rights Chair condemns anti-Roma attack in Ukraine, raises alarm at increasing intolerance

COPENHAGEN, 28 June 2018 - The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's human rights committee today expressed her deep concern about a recent deadly attack on a Roma community in western Ukraine. Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), who also serves as a Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, offered sincere condolences on behalf of the Assembly to the families of the victims, and called for a thorough investigation into this apparent hate crime.

"This shocking crime should be a wake-up call to all of us that intolerance and discrimination are still far too prevalent in our societies," said Santos. "This brutal crime must be thoroughly investigated and those guilty brought to justice without delay. But perhaps even more importantly, politicians in Ukraine and across the OSCE must redouble their efforts to counteract the intolerance that appears to be behind such acts.”

The attack, on a community on the outskirts of Lviv, reportedly left one dead and four others – including a 10-year old child – injured. Santos noted that there have been several such attacks in Ukraine in recent months and cautioned that the perpetrators must be brought to justice promptly to avoid creating a climate of impunity.

Santos called on political leaders across the OSCE to actively speak out against all forms of violence motivated by racial hatred or xenophobia. She noted that a history of discrimination and persecution has pushed Roma and Sinti to the margins of society in many OSCE countries, and that they face a worrying rise of hate-based violence.

Santos urged all OSCE countries to actively engage with the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues at the OSCE/ODIHR to promote protection of Roma and Sinti human rights.

Isabel Santos was appointed as Chair of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions recently by President George Tsereteli following the departure from the Assembly of previous Chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor.

Members of the OSCE PA will be meeting in Berlin from 7-11 July, where issues related to intolerance and discrimination are expected to feature in debates among the gathered parliamentarians.