UN experts call for end of discrimination of Roma populations
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Hungarian Roma asylum seekers in front of a refugee reception centre in Malmö, Sweden.
Governments around the world are being urged to mark Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day with a commitment to confront modern-day hatred, violence and discrimination against Roma.
The appeal has come from two United Nations independent experts on minority issues and racism.
Derrick Mbatha reports.
Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed on 2 August to remember the approximately 3,000 Roma and Sinti who were murdered when the so-called "Gypsy" camp was liquidated in Nazi Germany in 1944.
UN independent expert on minority issues, Rita Izsá who is herself of Hungarian Roma origin, says not enough is being done to challenge what she calls a rising tide of hostility and discrimination against the Roma in Europe.
UN expert on racism, Mutuma Ruteere calls for raising awareness about Roma identity and culture to address what he says is the persistent prejudices that fuel racism and intolerance against them.
It is estimated that up to 12 million Roma live in Europe and other sizeable Roma populations are in Latin America and other regions, most of them on the margins of society.
Derrick Mbatha, United Nations.
Duration: 1’07″
