Racism and changing
attitudes
by Ivan Ivanov
Roma
and non-Roma organizations dealing with racial discrimination should focus on
eradicating the roots of intolerance and discrimination, as well as on
combating their outward manifestations and results.
Trying
to eliminate the sources of racist attitudes and behaviour is a very difficult
task, but it yields lasting results.
Combating manifestations and looking for ways of compensating concrete damage
and harm, or obtaining legally-binding decisions
or orders by authorities for non-discrimination towards
a particular claimant seems easier and more attainable
in a shorter period of time. However, this approach
does not eliminate racist behaviour and discriminatory attitudes. A
considerably longer period of time is needed to deal with the issues
underlying racist attitudes.
Racism
and anti-Gypsyism appear in a
vertical relationship: minority member –
state institutions. Racism can also be found on a horizontal level:
minority – majority. Vertical and horizontal racism are connected. For example,
some parties may during elections refer to elements of xenophobia and anti-Gypsyism
in their political platforms, in order to earn
additional votes from the so-called
nationalistic vote. The political candidates raising issues related to
minorities are hence hoping to get the support of an intolerant majority.
There
have been a number of cases in which
state institutions have directly
discriminated against the Roma.
In many instances state officials have discriminatory attitudes either due to
their imitation of their supervisors’ behaviour,
or because of an unwritten internal policy to deny the Roma access to the
institution’s services.
Racial
discrimination is much more visible at the local level. Whereas
a framework of anti-discrimination legislation typically exists
at the national level, at the local level
there are fewer restrictions in this regard. At
the same time, racist attitudes and behaviour are more often
apparent in local administrations, especially in
regions with larger Roma populations.
At
the local level Roma face discrimination in education, health care, housing,
employment and access to public services. In addition they are subject to
discriminatory treatment by the police. Such treatment can
take an active form, expressed in
police brutality, assaults and other types of oppression of Roma people. It can
also take the shape of passive discrimination when police officers fail to take
the necessary measures to defend a Roma against a criminal or,
in some instances, against mob
violence attacks by the majority population.
Roma
and non-Roma NGOs should play a leading
role when it comes to changing attitudes. Educational activities undertaken by
these NGOs can be targeted at the majority population, the Roma community and
the public authorities.
One
of the main sources of intolerance is the lack of knowledge about Roma culture
and traditions. Educational activities targeting the
majority population should pay attention to the school curriculum and text
books in order to ensure that issues
related to the Roma are covered adequately.
Moreover, special classes on anti-racism and tolerance should be introduced in
schools and universities.
The media
can play an important role in educating European societies
about the Roma culture,
and the fact that Roma possess equal
rights as other citizens of those
countries.
Minority
members need to be educated as well. Roma leaders should be educated in
self-defense abilities and in how to organize public actions. Often the Roma do
not have leaders or they are reduced to self-defense,
and therefore can not generate positive activities
in their own interests. It is of great
importance to educate Roma about their basic
human rights, as well the obligations and
restrictions of the authorities towards them as a minority and as citizens.
Public authorities should also be educated. NGOs need to advocate the
adoption of equal opportunities and diversity policies by public institutions. Certain
employers and professional groups ought to have knowledge of the ethnic
specificity and culture of the Roma. Such
knowledge and training is, for example, necessary for police officers.
Teaching
tolerance and changing attitudes is a very difficult and slow
process, but the first step of this long journey must
be taken. If well-written anti-racist
and anti-discrimination policies are in place, NGOs
can contribute to their full and effective
implementation by helping
to build bridges between state officials and
Roma, between Roma and non-Roma communities, and by
promoting anti-racism and equal treatment.
