More tolerance and reciprocal respect

March 21 is the International Day against Racism and Racial Discrimination. In the context of this day, Albanian Helsinki Committee, as the organization for the protection of human rights and raising public awareness hails:

·        The spirit of tolerance and understanding between the citizens that belong to different social, ethnic, national groups as well as to different religious beliefs.

·        The positive developments of the Albanian legislation as regards the protection of freedoms and human rights in general as well as minority and marginalized groups rights in particular.

·        The Legal Reform as regards the prevention of racial discrimination and other forms of discrimination.

·        The undertaken Institutional Reform and the adoption of the national strategy “On the improvement of the living conditions of the Roma community in Albania”

·        The spirit of tolerance revealed by the Albanian media.

·        The efforts made to upgrade the spirit of understanding and reciprocal respect of the rights of the foreign citizens in Albania and of the Albanian citizens in the neighbouring countries.

Despite the progress achieved during these years, the Albanian Helsinki Committee shares the opinion that:

·        The economic and social situation of some specific groups in Albania and especially that of Roma and Egyptian community is still difficult

·        The participation of the representatives of these communities in the implementation of the different strategies is relatively low.

·        The education of the children of these social groups, professional training and the employment of the Roma and Egyptian population is still unsatisfactory.

·        Their participation in the public life is also scanty.

In the context of this date, AHC brings to the attention of the public and state institutions the fact that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance  (ECRI) is concerned about the stereotypes and prejudice for specific categories of the society in many European countries such as Roma/Gypsies, asylum-seekers and migrants, against whom there are identified exposure of xenophobia and racism.

Albanian Helsinki Committee appeals that:

·        The Albanian government shall create better conditions for the representatives of the Roma minority and the Egyptian community not only for an active participation in drafting the strategies for the improvement of their conditions in the society, but also by taking concrete measures for the implementation of the respective strategies.

·        The national strategy on the improvement of the living condition of the Roma people shall be accompanied with the planning of the necessary and sufficient budgets for its implementation.

·        Considering that the year 2005 is the European year of citizenship through education the Albanian government and the respective structures shall enhance the efforts as regards the education of children in general, but also the education of Roma and Egyptians in particular.

·        The Albanian government shall keep on working for the observance and a better protection of the interests of the Albanian migrants in the countries where they live and work.

·        The Albanian legislation shall continuously be complemented and amended with the aim of preventing and condemning any kind of direct or indirect discrimination addressed to special individuals.

Albanian Helsinki Committee shares the opinion that the political parties can play a significant role in this direction. While drafting their programs, they shall also include issues that are related to the protection of the rights of the groups highly at risk from indirect or hidden discrimination.

Tirana, March 21, 2005