Submission to the 2nd Universal Periodic Review of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Every four years the UK’s overall human rights record is considered by the other countries which are members of the United Nations Human Rights Council in a process called Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
UPR is based on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all UN human rights conventions which the UK has signed up to. The UK was last reviewed in 2008 and will be reviewed again in 2012. The government (State) is required to submit a full report and other interested stakeholders are invited to submit what is known as ‘shadow’ or stakeholder submissions. Stakeholder submissions are strictly limited to 2815 words so with this in mind our submission focuses on what we see as the key driver of discrimination against Gypsy/Travellers – the media. Click here to read our submission.
Summit of Mayors on Roma: BUILDING MUTUAL TRUST AT THE GRASS ROOTS
(Strasbourg, France, 22 September 2011)
Organised by: the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
Key note speakers included: Sir Alan Meale (MP Mansfield), Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe, Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Special representative of the Council of Europe secretary general on Roma Issues, Rudko Kawczynski, president of the European Roma and Travellers Forum, Keith Whitmore, Manchester City Council, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Click here to read our report of the summit including the outcomes of the seminar 'Fighting Prejudice and Managing Diversity', which representatives of Article 12 in Scotland and Gypsy Council contributed to.
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2010 (published 2011)
The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey tracks the views of people in Scotland on a range of social, moral and political issues. Every year, around 1,500 people are interviewed on a wide range of different topics. Many of the questions in the 2010 survey were asked in the 2002 and 2006 survey, including questions relating to the Gypsy/Traveller community.
The following highlights findings of the 2010 survey relating to discrimination and prejudice towards Gypsy/Travellers.
* Discriminatory attitudes were particularly common in relation to Gypsy/Travellers. For example, 37% of respondents said they would be unhappy with a close family member forming a relationship with a Gypsy/Traveller.
* Respondents were asked how suitable or unsuitable different kinds of people would be for the job of primary school teacher. 47% considered Gypsy/Travellers unsuitable.
Are attitudes changing?
No. At 47%, the proportion that believes that a Gypsy/Traveller would be unsuitable as a primary school teacher is much the same as the 48% who held that view in 2006. Meanwhile the proportion who say they would be unhappy if a close relative entered into a long-term relationship with a Gypsy/Traveller is unchanged at 37%.
Click here to download a full copy of the report.
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First Minister responds to concerns regarding violation of the rights of Gypsies/Roma/Travellers
In February 2011 a delegation of organisations, including Article 12 in Scotland, Amnesty International, the Scottish Gypsy Traveller Law Reform Coalition (SGTLRC), UNISON and the Church of Scotland delivered letters to 5 European Consulates, and to Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, documenting violations of the rights of Gypsies/Roma/Travellers across Europe and urging each respective government to take concrete action to tackle them. Click here to read the First Minister's response.
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RESOURCES
Click here for a brief guide to the Equality Act 2010
In association with the Scottish Traveller Education Programme and Respect Me we have produced an anti-bullying information and advice guide for Travelling children and young people, and their parents and educators. Click here to download a copy.
In this year long survey we asked young Gypsy/Travellers, their peers from the ‘settled’ community and those working in a professional capacity to: “tell us what you think that we, the government and other organisations, should be doing to make sure that young Gypsy/Travellers can exercise their rights to voice and opinion on matters that effect them, and to live free from prejudice?” Click here to download a copy of the report.
With a bit of help from YGTL Show Racism the Red Card held the Scotland Launch of Out of Site an education pack aimed at tackling racism towards Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. Click here to download a copy.
Click here to download the draft human rights charter for young Gypsies/Roma/Travellers.
Click here for a brief guide to planning procedures - for Gypsy/Travellers.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Each year on 27 January the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). HMD has been held in the UK since 2001 and the United Nations declared this an International event in November 2005. 27 January was chosen as the date for HMD because it was on this date in 1945 that the largest Nazi killing camp Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. Each year, HMD announce a theme which provides a focal point and a shared message for the hundreds of events which take place around the UK. The theme for HMD 2011 was Untold Stories which included a testimony from a Gypsy/Traveller woman. The 2011 Scottish National Holocaust Day included a presentation by two young Gypsy/Travellers; Chantelle Watson and Justine Wilson. click here to download a copy.
Did you know?
Beth, our researcher, has been kept busy finding out all sorts of interesting facts and figures on our behalf. We would like to share some of those interesting facts and figures with you; take a look below.
Famous Gypsy/Travellers
It's a long list but even so we might have missed someone out. Feel free to send us names to add to it.
Click here to find out how many Gypsy/Travellers live in the UK
Our project is all about equality and human rights. Part of that is asking the government to include us in any new laws they pass. This is not as straightforward as it seems as the Scottish Government has only certain powers to make changes. Click here to find out what powers the Scottish Government does and doesn't have.
Here are some other information links you might find interesting:
Scottish Traveller Education Programme
European Roma Rights Centre
Travellers' Times
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For further information on the YGTL Project contact:
Policy and Research: beth@article12.org
Participation: jill@article12.org |
