Press Release 26 July 2007
Pavee Point Statement
Pavee Point since its foundation has sought to highlight the situation of Travellers and Roma both at a national and Global level. We have linked in to various European and UN mechanisms to ensure that the needs of these communities are addressed. A key objective of Pavee Point is to work in partnership and solidarity with other NGOs representing Travellers and the statutory sector. At a European level Roma includes Travellers and the Irish Representative to the European Roma Traveller Forum is Martin Collins our Assistant Director.
We have every confidence in the role we have played over the past number of months in relation to the Roma and that we have not deviated from our remit. Pavee Point never ever attempted to undermine or question the integrity of the Department of Justice or the courts to decide on the fate of the Roma on the M50.
Pavee Point’s exclusive concern from the very start was the humanitarian crisis on the M50 roundabout. We were attempting to highlight the crisis and call on the State services to provide the basic necessities of life — accommodation, food, heating and clothing to allow the Roma live a dignified existence until the department or the courts decided on their fate.
We also endeavoured to highlight the situation of Roma in Romania and generally in Europe as documented by the European Commission on Racism and Intolerance’s Third Report on Romania, The Final Report by Mr Alvaro Gil-Robles Commissioner for Human Rights on the Situation of The Roma, Sinti and Travellers in Europe, The Open Society Institute 2007 EU Monitoring and Advocacy Programme Country Report Romania, The European Roma Right’s Centre Report State of Impunity, Human Rights Abuse of Roma in Romania and UNICEF’s 2007 report Breaking the Cycle of Exclusion: Roma Children in South East Europe among others
We are confident that our involvement has been very much within Pavee Point’s remit. Pavee Point in its reporting obligations to its funding agencies has always emphasised the need for work with Roma. This has been reflected in our Annual Reports to funders, submissions and strategic plans. These are freely available for anyone who wishes to inspect them.
We will of course cooperate with any request from the Government in their enquiries to clarify this matter.
ENDS
Contact: Martin Collins Assistant Director Pavee Point. 01 8780255
Further information:
- Opportunity for Ireland to Promote Human Rights Should Not be Missed - Crosscare
- Irish Traveller Movement supports Pavee Point in its role in highlighting humanitarian crisis of Roma at M50
- 24 July 2007 - Press Release: Roma Repatriation
- Romani CRISS reports and Photographs
- Statement by the Children's Rights Alliance: Roma Crisis
- 24 July 2007 - Point of clarification
- 23 July 2007 - Pavee Point rejects accusations of the Embassy of Romania in Ireland
- 23 July 2007 - Press Release: Response to the Statement from the Romanian Embassy
- 21 July 2007 - Press Release: Deportation Notices an Inadequate Response to Roma Crisis
- Press release: Inhumane Living Conditions in Ireland- Not Acceptable, Action Demanded Now.
- Press Release June 07: Pavee Point and the Roma Support Group calls on Government to offer humane support to Roma Families camping on roundabout.
- Case Study: Rostas Family
- Statement from Anastasia Crickley of the the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
- Social Workers call for action to reunite children with parents. Press release from the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW)
- Social Workers call for government action on Roma family crisis in North Dublin
- Photographs from the scene at the Ballymun Roundabout
- Background context report by ERRC, Romania: State of Impunity Human Rights Abuse of Roma in Romania (PDF)
- Extract from Council of Europe/European Commission against Racism and Intolerence: Third Report on Roma (PDF)
- Campaign Support: How to support the Roma