Indicator history

Despite the fact that no statistics are available, various studies related to the Roma minority have provided evidence of segregation as a rather common reality [1]. Either at the locality centre or at the outskirts (at times close to environmental and heath hazards or even separated by walls from the rest of the community), forcefully relocated by authorities or out of necessity becoming part of a ghetto, such communities are described by poverty, precarious conditions, overcrowding and uncertainty of tenure; all increasing vulnerability.

Furthermore, it is the authorities themselves that often segregate or worsen the conditions for the Roma. An eloquent example are the activities of the Baia Mare local authorities throughout 2011 and 2012 affecting the poorest Roma communities through the building of a wall to separate a community living in a social block from the rest, forcefully evicting and demolishing, relocating Roma communities to buildings of a former chemical factory which have drawn world attention and condemnation, but with no effect on improving the situation of the Roma or meaningful sanctions and condemnation at national level. [2]

Sources:

1. For an overview of the types of situations encountered see: Delia-Luiza Niţă (Center for Legal Resources), Housing Conditions of Roma and Travellers, Romania, March 2009, pp. 35-36, available at: http://www.crj.ro/Housing-Conditions-of-Roma-and-Travellers/ (last accessed:17.02.2012) and Amnesty International, Mind the legal gap. Roma and the right to housing in Romania (EUR 39/004/2011), 23.06.2011, available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR39/004/2011 (accessed at: 25.02.2013) and Unsafe foundations: secure the right to housing in Romania (EUR 39/002/2012), 08.05.2012, available at: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR39/002/2012/en (accessed at: 25.02.2013)

2. Materials on the situation in Baia Mare and reactions to it can be found at: Andrei Trif (2012) ‘Intoxicaţie în masă printre locatarii blocului social amenajat la Cuprom Baia Mare’ (‘Mass intoxication among the inhabitants of the social block of flats arranged at Cuprom Baia Mare’), eMaramureş, 2 June 2012, available at: www.emaramures.ro/Stiri/67195/ULTIMA-ORA-Intoxicatie-in-masa-printre-locatarii-blocului-social-Cuprom-Baia-Mare (accessed at: 25.02.2013) and Bogdan Eduard (2012) ‘Exclusiv EVZ: Auschwitz-ul de la Baia Mare. 2000 de romi mutaţi în Uzina Morţii de primarul Cherecheş “Chimicul’ (Exclusive EVZ: the Auschwitz from Baia Mare. 2,000 Roma moved from the Death Plant by mayor Chereches, the “Chemical”), Evenimentul Zilei, 4 June 2012, available at:  www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/exclusiv-evz-auschwitz-ul-de-la-baia-mare-2000-de-romi-mutati-in-uzina-mortii-de-primar-984719.html (accessed at: 25.02.2013)  Romani CRISS, Şanse Egale and Asociaţia Umanitară Împreună (2012) ‘Scrisoare Deschisă’ (‘Open Letter’), Bucharest, 3 June 2012, available at: www.romanicriss.org/PDF/Scrisoare%20deschisa%20Baia%20Mare%20evacuari%20si%20incident%20substante_2012.pdf   (accessed at: 25.02.2013); US Embassy to Bucharest (2012) ‘US Embassy Statement on the Roma Housing Situation in Baia Mare’, 6 June 2012, available at: http://romania.usembassy.gov/policy/media/pr-06062012.html (accessed at: 25.02.2013) Council of Europe, Commissioner for Human Rights, “Romania: Commissioner concerned about the relocation of Roma in a toxic building”, Strasbourg, 7 June 2012, available at: www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2012/120607BaiaMare_en.asp (accessed at: 25.02.2013); Radu Marinaş (2012) ‘Roma relocation scores Romania mayor a major vote win’, Reuters, 14 June 2012, available at: www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/romania-roma-idUSL5E8HE6F020120614 (accessed at: 25.02.2013)