European Roma Law Enforcement Initiative INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND HARMONIZ

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European Roma Law Enforcement Initiative
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
AND HARMONIZATION OF NATIONAL POLICIES ON ROMA,
SINTI AND TRAVELLERS 2006.05.04Bucharest

• pol. 1st Lt. György Makula

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The situation of the Hungarian and the European
Romas

• The roma ethnic group represents the biggest
  minority in Europe.
• Their number is estimated 600 000 - 800 000 in
  Hungary, and several millions of roma people live
  in Europe.
• There are serious problems regarding the romas
  position in the society, such as unemployment,
  bad living conditions, health problems or
  discrimination.

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The relationship of the law enforcement agencies
and the roma communities

• The law enforcement agencies of european states
  try to improve the relationship with roma
  communities.
• In Hungary the Civil Relation and Equality of
  Chances General Department, the General
  Directorate of Education in the Ministry of the
  Interior, and the Police HQs have different kinds
  of projects regarding the cooporation.

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The European reference of the cooperation

• On European level - neither at the Council of
  Europe, nor at the forums of the European Union
  this question not really comes up.
• Nothing proves it better than the fact that there
  is no European organization, which could
  coordinate these questions. Neither could the
  European Police Office (EUROPOL), specialised on
  criminal co-operation, has such a function.

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Similar, international organisations

• Very similar initiatives as regards their
  substance and aims have been existing in Europe
  for a while.
• A very good example for this is the European
  Police Women Organization or the National Black
  Police Association (NBPA). The latter one which
  also has branch organizations in the UK, USA,
  Canada and has a very important role in the
  coloured police officers life, increasing their
  number and reducing the prejudice.

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Antecedent of the Hungarian Initiative

• The Hungarian roma and non-roma law enforcement
  officials working in this field think that as
  Hungary joined the European Union, it is time to
  step forward.
• It is very positive that the management at the
  Ministry of the Interior and the police are
  committed to co-operate with the romas.
  Therefore, Hungary can be the first country,
  which can start a unique initiative that can be
  followed by other countries.
• We can state unfortunately there are prejudices
  in the police concerning the gipsies however we
  have to know usually the romas have prejudices as
  well regarding the police.
• Unfortunately a lot of Hungarian Roma Law
  Enforcement officers have identity problems.

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Roma Decade Programme

• The aims of the project can be integrated into
  the Roma Decade Program, directly under the
  priority fight against discrimination,
  indirectly they are connected to the themes as
  education, employment, living conditions,
  poverty.
• There are foreign and Hungarian examples that the
  law enforcement profession gives a good
  opportunity for outbreaking, living, and
  carrierbiulding for those youth who because of
  their families bad financial background are not
  able to continue their studies.

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The aims of the project

• The foundation of the Fraternal Association of
  the European Roma Law Enforcement Officers
  integrated into the Roma Decade Programme to
  reach the aims mentioned bellow - on national
  and european level
• supporting the realization of the chance equality
  within the law enforcement organizations of
  Hungary and the member states of the European
  Association (in the following law enforcement
  organizations)
• reducing the prejudice among the law enforcement
  organizations and the roma community
• increasing the number of the colleagues with roma
  origin in the law enforcement organizations
  staff
• increasing the living and working conditions of
  the roma colleagues
• assisting to solve identity problems
• acting as a mediator in roma police conflicts
• participating and cooperating in national and
  international law enforcement trainings regarding
  diversity, chance equality and reducing
  prejudice
• cooperating with national and international
  organizations
• reducing prejudice within the society and
  supporting the integration
• of the national and European roma minority.

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The aims of the project

• To inform the relevant organizations of the
  European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE
  and the UN about the foundation, aims and role
  of the organization.
• Initiating cooperation, developing joint programs
  with similar more experienced organizations
  (National Black Police Association, European
  Policewomen Association).
• In the founding states of the European
  Association based on the good Hungarian example
  initiating and supporting the establishment of
  branch organizattions

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Cooperating partners

• Ministry of Youth, Family, Social and Equality of
  Chances Affairs
• Open Society Institute (OSI)
• Civil Relations and Equality of Chances General
  Department, Ministry of the Interior
• Directorate of Education Ministry of the Interior
  
• Crime Prevention and Equality of Chances
  Division, Prevention General Department,
  Hungarian National Police
• Crime Prevention Academy, Ministry of the
  Interior
• International Training Centre, Ministry of the
  Interior
• Partners Hungary Foundation
• National Roma Local Government
• National Confederation of Fraternal Associations

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International Roma Law Enforcement Conference

• Organizing an International Roma Law Enforcement
  Conference for those, who participated on the
  Information Seminar and for the the roma law
  enforcement officers, high ranked law enforcement
  officers from Hungary and the neighbouring
  countries, members of the Roma Working Group,
  liaison officers of the County Police HQ-s,
  president of the Hungarian and European Police
  Women Assiciations, Representative of the
  European Parlament, the representative of the
  OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
  Office.

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International Roma Law Enforcement Conference

• Subjects of the Conference
• Information about the National Black Police
  Association (NBPA) (function of the association,
  ideas, programs, effitiency).
• Presentations of the National representatives
  about the programs in the relevant country (5
  persons).
• Short introduction of the project, results of the
  Information Seminar
• Proposals, opinions.
• Organizing the Nominating Committe from the
  representative of the law enforcement
  organizations, for preparating the foundation of
  the European Roma Law Enforcement Fraternal
  Association.
• Scene MOI International Training Centre
• Date 7th June 2006 from 10.00 hours to
  16.00 hours

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Tasks regarding the foundation of the European
Roma Law Enforcement Fraternal Assiciation

• Preparing of the Constating Document.
• Inviting roma and non-roma collegues to take
  part in the foundation.
• Informing the relevant organizations of several
  european countries about the project and ask
  them to delegate a roma or a non-roma collegue
  (acting or acted actively in solving the roma
  police conflict, and has adequate experience) to
  represent the country within the Association.
• Asking for opinion about the draft Constating
  Document from the relevant people.

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Tasks regarding the foundation of the European
Roma Law Enforcement Fraternal Assiciation

• Founding Conference with the participation of
  roma and non-roma collegues. Acception of the
  Constating Document, the program, and the
  leadership, founding of the Association.
• Scene MOI International Training Centre
• Date 10th July 2006 from 13.30 hours
• Developing the detailed programme of the
  Association, Annual Working Plan.
• Cooperation agreements with the law enforcement
  and other organizations.

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To inform the EU, CE, OSCE, UN and the media

• Informing - after the foundation - the national,
  international, roma, non-roma, and law
  enforcement press about the aims, role of the
  Association., based on a pre-planned
  communication strategy.
• Establishing the Hungarian and English homepage
  of the Association.
• After reconciliation with the Hungarian
  representative in the EU Parliament, initiating a
  hearing. To inform the EUROPOL, the CEPOL
  (Europen Police Academy), the Council of Europe
  Human Rights Commissionair, the OSCE Democratic
  Institutions and Human Rights Office, and the UN
  Human Rights Council, and asking for their
  support.

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Cooperation with similar organizations and
establishing the national organs of the
Association

• To initiate cooperation agreement with the NBPA
  American and British branch associations, and the
  European Policewomen Association. Pocible
  implementation of their successful programs and
  use of their experience.
• Assisting in the developement of the membership
  associations - based on the model of the
  Association - in the represented countries.

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• Thank you for your attention!