UNIVERSITY OF ORADEA FACULTY IRISPSC EUROPEAN STUDIES YEAR 1

Combating racism in Europe

Vulnerable groups of Roma in Italy. Case study

Student: Florin- Marcel Petrisor

"When society suffers , it feels the need to find someone who he might impute evil, someone to get revenge for its disillusionment" Emile Durkhein, sociologist

Introduction
The term raceentered the vocabulary of Europe towards the end of the 15th century, it imposed as a scientific classification in 19th century, the word "racism" was created only in the 20th century, between the two world wars and have gained momentum after the second World War due the discovery of Nazi horrors related experience. Using the term "racism" not only amplified, but also designated and trivialized in many forms of hatred, contempt, rejection or discrimination.

Racism
Racism is a social-political conception that supports anti-scientific and reactionary unfounded ideas of biological and intellectual inequalities of the races, and determined character of racial peculiarities of the people, regarding the struggle between races. In certain historical experiences: has been manifested weak, limited and secondary and sometimes it is more likely to talk about xenophobia or cultural tensions than racism itself It sweeps everything in its path, structuring social and political life, animate changes, justifies conquest and war

The empirical space of racism

Level 1
the phenomenon is both minor and seemingly disjointed; it can be remarked the presence of doctrine, the spread of opinions and prejudices often xenophobic rather than truly racist; violence can occur, diffused and very localized segregation can be outlined in the shape of social and racial form; discrimination can be felt in some institutions.

Level 2
racism still remains fragmented, but is already more accurately manifested; It appears, clearly stated and measurable for example in the polls, surveys etc. The doctrine is prevalent, it inspires numerous publications, and some circles and groups of influence; Violent behaviours are more common, repetitive enough to not be seen as a secondary phenomenon; Segregation and discrimination are also marked, perceivable in various areas of social life.

Level 3
when racism becomes the principle of action for the political power; it becomes itself a policy, animating open debate and manifestations, mobilizing broad sectors of the population; It creates a context to amplify violent actions or using violence itself as a strategy to seize power; it attracts genuine intellectuals, enrolls or creates an ideological tradition calling upon concrete discriminatory measures or racial segregation projects.

Level 4
when the State itself is organized on the basis of racial guidelines; It develops political activities and programs of exclusion or discrimination; it calls upon scholars and intellectuals to contribute to this effort; Racism becomes complete if those who run the state manage to subordinate everything: science, technology, institutions and economy, moral and religious values, past history, military expansion.

Combating racism and racial discrimination in Europe

we can outline a few broad categories in which racism and racial discrimination occur: day to day life in major areas, such as employment, education, housing and access to social services; human rights violations against members of Roma communities; hostile attitudes to and stigmatization of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers; increasingly widespread anti-Semitic incidents; intensification of expressions of Islamophobia; use of racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic arguments in political discourse; a negative climate in public opinion, which plays a crucial part in the emergence of expressions of racism and intolerance in society

The notable feature of the Council of Europe Member States action over the past few years is the fact that they address the issues surrounding the fight against racism and racial discrimination from the perspective of protecting and promoting human rights. In other words, the right to be protected from racism and racial discrimination is first and foremost a fundamental right of all human beings.

When it comes to working out practical and viable long-term solutions to combat racism and racial discrimination, choices may differ from one country to another. All strategies in this respect should at least comprise measures in the areas: Legislation; awareness-raising; Education; Positive action and participation. While legislation alone is not enough to combat racism and racial discrimination, the law is obviously a cornerstone.

The European Parliament

European conventions on the protection of the rights and fundamental freedoms in European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the related case law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the rights of the Child; EU treaties, in particular Articles 2, 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union and Article 13 (measures to combat discrimination based on race and ethnicity, among other criteria), Article 12 (prohibition of discrimination based on nationality), Article 17 (European citizenship), Article 18 (freedom of movement), Article 39 and following of the EC Treaty; Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin;

its previous resolutions, in particular regarding to the Roma community, racism and xenophobia, anti-discrimination and free movement;

Vulnerable Roma groups in Italy

The Italian Government- 21 May 2008, a decree declaring a state of emergency regarding the situation of nomand camps in the regions of Campania, Lazio and Lombardia, under Law no. 225 of 24 February 1992 on civil protection, which empowers the government to declare a state of emergency in case of "natural disasters, catastrophes or other events that, considering their intensity and extent, be controlled with the help of competent and extraordinary means".

The authorities estimate that some 150 000 Roma and Sinti currently live in Italy. About half of them (mostly Sinti) are Italian citizens and belong to groups that have lived in Italy for centuries. Some 35 000 Roma migrated to Italy from the Balkans, mainly the countries of the former Yugoslavia, especially during the 1990s. More recent arrivals, most of whom live in the vicinity of the major cities, are estimated to number about 50 000 and mainly come from Romania. Most Roma in Italy experience severe marginalisation and discrimination in terms of access both to housing and to other social rights. The general climate regarding Roma is strongly negative: many stereotypes and prejudices exist concerning them, which are sometimes reflected in, and even reinforced by, the attitudes and policies adopted by politicians

According to an opinion poll conducted in 2008 and cited by the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), 70% of Italians would like to expel the Roma from Italy, despite the fact that a little more than half of them are Italian nationals and 20% are EU citizens.

New decisions of the Prime Minister on 30 May 2008

The Prefects of Rome, Milan and Naples are Commissioners for the Roma emergency; these officials are given extraordinary powers in respect of identification of persons, including minors and also fingerprinting them; they are empowered to take all necessary measures against those who are, or could be subject to an expulsion order under an administrative or judicial action; derogations are granted to a number of laws on a wide range of issues affecting constitutional prerogatives, for example, the right to be informed when subject to administrative procedures, such as fingerprinting and the requirement that a person must be declared as dangerous or suspect or refuse to identify themselves before they undergo an identification which involves photographing, fingerprinting and collection of anthropometric data.

Reccomandations regarding the Italian authorities

To take immediate steps to address the lack of passports and residence permits among members of the Roma and Sinti communities. Many of them, who are not in possession of any identity document, are at permanent risk of being deported under the immigration legislation Those who are actually detained with a view to their deportation cannot be expelled from the country since they have no identity documents. It is equally impossible for these persons to integrate into Italian society as their lack of official documents prevents them from finding legal work or housing

Conclusions
The authorities have referred to a variety of efforts to foster the social inclusion of Roma. Initiatives were funded by central government between 2007 and 2008 in an amount of 5 million, to support the inclusion of Roma in the labour market, integrating Roma pupils into the school system and providing housing for the Roma population. the Ministry of Health also ran a scheme aimed at distributing information on access to health care to the Roma and Sinti in Romanian and the Romany language. the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is participating in research aimed at gathering specific data on the implementation of projects in favour of the Roma financed by the EU Structural Funds.