No one is really sure how many Roma there are in Europe. Estimates vary from 10 to 14 million. Dispersed throughout Europe, most face massive discrimination. Recently in Bulgaria, Roma families were forced into the streets as bulldozers plowed away at their homes. Last month, the Italy approved a measure of making Roma wear badges.
That’s right…badges. Roma in Italy will also have to be finger printed. Such measures should shock us all into realizing that a terrible injustice has unfolded. Its evolution or de-evolution must be stopped. Even as small children, Roma are placed in separate schools or are segregated from the other-non Roma nationals. Children, not even 5 years old, are learning from a very early age that they are different. That they do not belong. How is this possible in the age we live in? And what kind of message is that? It’s just plain wrong.
The Lisbon Treaty is up for ratification. The Lisbon Treaty is the European Union’s constitution. In this constitution is a Charter for Fundamental Rights. These are supposed to become binding and force Member States to comply with the principles upon which the treaty is based. But in reality, the lack of political will, regardless of all the positive policies coming out of Brussels, will ultimately fail these people.
How then is it possible that Europe has gone from upholding the rights of individuals to forcing an ethnic group to wear badges? Do we really need to go through this again? Is this the moral and ethical direction we want? I think not. Crime certainly exists among the Roma and indeed among all people. But Italy’s response only further stigmatizes the Roma. Those who are vying for a better life, who are struggling to make a difference, are now faced with even greater obstacles.
