Newsroom
OSCE/ODIHR Roma contact point concerned about police violence against Roma in Slovakia, encourages remedial actions
WARSAW 20 July 2001
WARSAW, 20 July 2001 (OSCE) - The Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is concerned about the recent manifestation of police violence in Slovakia which resulted in the death of a member of the Roma minority in police custody.
"We are very concerned about this recent case which was the most severe in a series of several other incidents of police violence against Roma which have been brought to the Contact Points' attention over the past months", said Nicolae Gheorghe, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. "It is important for the Slovak government to effectively address this problem."
The Contact Point welcomes the opening of an investigation of the case, as well as the decision by the Slovak Minister of Interior to improve training for all Slovak police officers and to exercise more control over police activities. "Serious implementation of these measures would be a welcome step forward", said Mr. Gheorghe.
The OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point stands ready to assist the Slovak authorities in their effort to improve the protection of the rights of the Roma minority, including by organizing round-table discussions and confidence-building measures involving local authorities, local police and representatives of Roma communities.
The OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues provides advice to governments on policy-making, acts as a clearing-house, and implements projects aimed at strengthening the rights of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area.
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For further information, please contact Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48-603683122, or Nicolae Gheorghe, OSCE/ODIHR Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues, at +48-22-5200600.
"We are very concerned about this recent case which was the most severe in a series of several other incidents of police violence against Roma which have been brought to the Contact Points' attention over the past months", said Nicolae Gheorghe, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. "It is important for the Slovak government to effectively address this problem."
The Contact Point welcomes the opening of an investigation of the case, as well as the decision by the Slovak Minister of Interior to improve training for all Slovak police officers and to exercise more control over police activities. "Serious implementation of these measures would be a welcome step forward", said Mr. Gheorghe.
The OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point stands ready to assist the Slovak authorities in their effort to improve the protection of the rights of the Roma minority, including by organizing round-table discussions and confidence-building measures involving local authorities, local police and representatives of Roma communities.
The OSCE/ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues provides advice to governments on policy-making, acts as a clearing-house, and implements projects aimed at strengthening the rights of Roma and Sinti in the OSCE area.
--
For further information, please contact Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48-603683122, or Nicolae Gheorghe, OSCE/ODIHR Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues, at +48-22-5200600.