CoE calls on Hungary to improve Roma access to education, housing, health care
The Council of Europe (CoE) has called on Hungary to improve the Roma minority’s access to education, jobs, housing and health care, and to eliminate the difficulties they experience in all aspects of public life, in a report published on Monday.
The advisory committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities visited Hungary in December 2019. In the report written after the visit, the body urged immediate action to reduce drop-out rates in schools and to promote inclusive, high-quality education, and called for a comprehensive training programme for teachers in disadvantaged regions.
A comprehensive policy would also be necessary to address housing issues among the Roma, the report said, adding that government-owned housing projects and housing support should be boosted significantly.
Disadvantaged regions in Hungary, where the Roma are over-represented, suffer from poor health-care services, the report said.
Patients and health-care employees should be educated regarding anti-discrimination laws, it said.
The committee praised the parliamentary representation of ethnic minorities in Hungary, and noted that minority-related cultural events enjoyed growing funding in the past five years. The committee proposed that minority representatives should be involved in the planning and distribution of funding.
Meanwhile, the committee bemoaned a “pervasive atmosphere of intolerance in the political discourse and the media”, which they said hindered minorities’ free expression of opinion.
The report called on the authorities to promote tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and mutual respect, while condemning racist and discriminatory language in the public sphere.
As we wrote in September, the European Parliament has approved the report on the Framework for National Roma Integration, laying the groundwork for integration measures proposed by Hungary to be developed further, an MEP of ruling Fidesz said.
Read alsoHungarian Hospital fined for discriminating against Romani mothers
Source: MTI
The Daily News Hungary should also report like they usually do, where Hungary stand in relation to other EU countries as well as potential EU countries like Ukrain. It would make the report much more meaningful and respectful. If Hungary was at the bottom of the standing, that would be very significant and should be especially addressed. Of course, its important to address the issue EU wide.