Combating anti-Roma stereotypes and prejudices through media
Combating anti-Roma stereotypes and prejudices through media Combating anti-Roma stereotypes and prejudices through media
Media in the International ContextIn recent years, the human rights treaty-monitoring bodies as well as public administrations and civil societyactivists have begun to pay much more attention to the rights of the Roma population. The EuropeanCommission is not the only international player: it is involved in initiatives supporting Roma inclusion with awider international scope and cooperates with the various international organizations active in this field. TheEuropean Commission's work builds on existing expertise and experiences of the Decade of Roma Inclusion2005-2015 13 and initiatives such as the Roma Education Fund, the OSCE Action Plan, and therecommendations of the Council of Europe and of the United Nations. It also participates in the RomaInformal Contact Group of international organizations.CERD General Recommendation No. 27: Discrimination against RomaIn August 2000, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination pointed out that“…the negative role played by the media in the treatment of Roma, a factor promoting racism in many areasof society, was also worthy of note. A false interpretation of freedom of the press enabled the media toattack and express opinions against the dignity of the Roma”. 14The CERD called on, therefore, contracting countries to improve the relations between Roma and non-Romacommunities, in particular at local levels, with a view to promoting tolerance and overcoming prejudices andnegative stereotypes on both sides. Measures in the field of the media are also mentioned, as follows:36. To act as appropriate for the elimination of any ideas of racial or ethnic superiority, of racialhatred and incitement to discrimination and violence against Roma in the media, in accordancewith the provisions of the Convention.37. To encourage awareness among professionals of all media of the particular responsibility to notdisseminate prejudices and to avoid reporting incidents involving individual members of Romacommunities in a way which blames such communities as a whole.38. To develop educational and media campaigns to educate the public about Roma life, society andculture and the importance of building an inclusive society while respecting the human rights andthe identity of the Roma.39. To encourage and facilitate access by Roma to the media, including newspapers and televisionand radio programmes, the establishment of their own media, as well as the training of Romajournalists.40. To encourage methods of self-monitoring by the media, through a code of conduct for mediaorganizations, in order to avoid racial, discriminatory or biased language.13 http://www.romadecade.org/14 http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/11f3d6d130ab8e09c125694a0054932b?Opendocument17
Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE AreaThe OSCE is also committed to the protection of Roma. It was the first international organisation torecognise, in 1990, the ‘particular problems of Roma’ in the context of the proliferation of racial and ethnichatred, xenophobia and discrimination (Copenhagen Document). As a result, a Contact Point for Roma andSinti Issues was established in 1994 within the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights(ODIHR) in Warsaw. In November 2003, the Permanent Council of the OSCE adopted the Decision on an‘Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area’ 15 . The aim of the actionplan is to ensure that Roma and Sinti people are able to play a full and equal part in society, and toeradicate discrimination against them. The commitment to this plan was reaffirmed and elaborated upon inOSCE Decision No. 6/08, which stresses the value of the reports by the Director of the ODIHR to thePermanent Council on the implementation of the planRacism and discrimination (also in the media) against Roma and Sinti – also addressed as "anti-gypsyism" –has been on the rise in the last decade and a half. The deep-rooted types of racism that emerged after thecollapse of the communist bloc persist, while new forms of hostility, rejection and hate speech continue tobe expressed across the OSCE region. As a result of this discrimination, many Roma and Sinti communitieshave developed strong group-centered identities that can lead, in certain countries, to a sense ofmarginalization and alienation. On the other hand, groups that are linguistically and culturally assimilated tothe majority population can find themselves defined as Gypsies for purely racial reasons.Such attitudes and racial stereotyping are reflected in the mass media, where the majority of news itemsand headlines about Roma and Sinti are linked with criminality and "otherness". In contrast, Roma and Sintivictims of racist attacks receive virtually no media coverageRecommended action by participating States:36. Launch information and awareness-raising campaigns with a view to countering prejudices andnegative stereotypes of Roma and Sinti people.37. In order to foster freedom of expression, encourage training of Roma and Sinti journalists andtheir employment in media outlets with a view to facilitating wider access to the media forRoma and Sinti people.38. Encourage the media to show positive aspects and present a balanced portrayal of Roma life,refrain from stereotyping Roma and Sinti people and avoid inciting tension between variousethnic groups. Organize round tables between media representatives and Roma and Sintirepresentatives to promote this objective.Recommended action by OSCE institutions and structures:39. In co-operation with the ODIHR as well as relevant international organizations, theRepresentative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) should consider how the OSCE couldcontribute to the establishment of a European Roma Radio which would broadcast throughoutEurope. The ODIHR and the RFOM should organize public debates, anti-discriminationcampaigns and joint training programmes with and for the media.15 http://www.osce.org/pc/1735918
- Page 2 and 3: Combating anti-Roma Prejudicesand S
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- Page 7 and 8: people uncertain and create anxiety
- Page 10 and 11: Preface“Prejudice is a great time
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- Page 14 and 15: Part OneRoma Anti-Discrimination an
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- Page 23 and 24: Overcoming anti-Roma discourseThe h
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- Page 37 and 38: ReferencesAmnesty International (20
Media in the International ContextIn recent years, the human rights treaty-monitoring bodies as well as public administrations <strong>and</strong> civil societyactivists have begun to pay much more attention to the rights of the <strong>Roma</strong> population. The EuropeanCommission is not the only international player: it is involved in initiatives supporting <strong>Roma</strong> inclusion with awider international scope <strong>and</strong> cooperates with the various international organizations active in this field. TheEuropean Commission's work builds on existing expertise <strong>and</strong> experiences of the Decade of <strong>Roma</strong> Inclusion2005-2015 13 <strong>and</strong> initiatives such as the <strong>Roma</strong> Education Fund, the OSCE Action Plan, <strong>and</strong> therecommendations of the Council of Europe <strong>and</strong> of the United Nations. It also participates in the <strong>Roma</strong>Informal Contact Group of international organizations.CERD General Recommendation No. 27: Discrimination against <strong>Roma</strong>In August 2000, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination pointed out that“…the negative role played by the <strong>media</strong> in the treatment of <strong>Roma</strong>, a factor promoting racism in many areasof society, was also worthy of note. A false interpretation of freedom of the press enabled the <strong>media</strong> toattack <strong>and</strong> express opinions against the dignity of the <strong>Roma</strong>”. 14The CERD called on, therefore, contracting countries to improve the relations between <strong>Roma</strong> <strong>and</strong> non-<strong>Roma</strong>communities, in particular at local levels, with a view to promoting tolerance <strong>and</strong> overcoming <strong>prejudices</strong> <strong>and</strong>negative <strong>stereotypes</strong> on both sides. Measures in the field of the <strong>media</strong> are also mentioned, as follows:36. To act as appropriate for the elimination of any ideas of racial or ethnic superiority, of racialhatred <strong>and</strong> incitement to discrimination <strong>and</strong> violence against <strong>Roma</strong> in the <strong>media</strong>, in accordancewith the provisions of the Convention.37. To encourage awareness among professionals of all <strong>media</strong> of the particular responsibility to notdisseminate <strong>prejudices</strong> <strong>and</strong> to avoid reporting incidents involving individual members of <strong>Roma</strong>communities in a way which blames such communities as a whole.38. To develop educational <strong>and</strong> <strong>media</strong> campaigns to educate the public about <strong>Roma</strong> life, society <strong>and</strong>culture <strong>and</strong> the importance of building an inclusive society while respecting the human rights <strong>and</strong>the identity of the <strong>Roma</strong>.39. To encourage <strong>and</strong> facilitate access by <strong>Roma</strong> to the <strong>media</strong>, including newspapers <strong>and</strong> television<strong>and</strong> radio programmes, the establishment of their own <strong>media</strong>, as well as the training of <strong>Roma</strong>journalists.40. To encourage methods of self-monitoring by the <strong>media</strong>, <strong>through</strong> a code of conduct for <strong>media</strong>organizations, in order to avoid racial, discriminatory or biased language.13 http://www.romadecade.org/14 http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/11f3d6d130ab8e09c125694a0054932b?Opendocument17
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