Much of today’s hearing will focus on Central and Southern Europe, post-communist countries where Roma are the most numerous, but there are Roma in almost every OSCE country, and Roma face prejudice in every country in which they live.
Roma in many democracies continue to fight the straight-jacket that is racial stereotyping. In fact, in the United States, there are over one million Roma, and it was only in 1997, for example, that the legislators unanimously voted to repeal an anti-Roma statute in the state of New Jersey, which was originally adopted way back in 1917.
The hearing will shape how to better understand the plight of the Roma people and potential policies that may curb the frequent human rights abuses they face.
