Vulnerable groups

Roma

94. Although there are no official figures, ECRI has been informed that there are at least between 1000 to 2000 Roma in Denmark. ECRI notes that Roma representatives consider that there is no place in Danish society for their culture, language or history. They thus deeply regret the fact that Roma are still not recognised as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, despite the fact that they have held several meetings with the Danish Government to that end. ECRI further considers it important that Roma should not be portrayed in a negative manner. It also notes with concern that there is widespread discrimination against Roma in, amongst others, the employment sector and that many of them are relegated to menial jobs. In this regard, ECRI wishes to bring to the Danish Government’s attention its General Policy Recommendation No. 3 on combating discrimination and intolerance against Roma/Gypsies.

95. The biggest Roma population in Denmark is in the town of Helsingor where approximately 200 Roma families live. The Municipality of Helsingor established 3 classes where Roma children were segregated until a complaint was filed against this practice and it was deemed to be a violation of the Danish Act on Public Schools. Although ECRI welcomes the fact that these classes have now been closed, it is nevertheless worried by reports according to which some Roma children are currently being placed in “youth schools” (for 14 to 15 year olds who have left school), despite their parents’ opposition to this measure which they consider to be detrimental to their children’s education as there is a high level of delinquency in those classes. However, there are also more positive developments in Helsingor. As regards younger school children, the social services of Helsingor have for a year employed on a full-time basis two social workers whose job is to ensure that pupils go to school. This programme includes all children who missed school – both ethnic Danish and Roma children– and has proved to be successful.

The Ministry of Education has been informed by the local educational authority in Elsinore that there are no longer specific classes for Roma children neither in the primary nor in the secondary school as well as in the ”youth school”.

Recommendations:

96. ECRI recommends that the Danish Government enhance Roma’s cultural, historical and linguistic heritage by, inter alia, envisaging their recognition as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. ECRI also strongly recommends that Denmark combat all forms of educational segregation against Roma children as well as other forms of discrimination that Roma face, as indicated in its General Policy Recommendation No.3.

In section 96 of the draft ECRI recommends that the Danish Government enhance Roma’s cultural, historical and linguistic heritage by, inter alia, envisaging their recognition as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

This recommendation gives Denmark cause to remark that Denmark discusses issues related to the possible recognition of national minorities under the Framework Convention with the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Denmark therefore refers to the previous discussions between the Advisory Committee and Denmark about this question.”