Roma in Mitrovica Camps

Roma in Mitrovica Camps

Roma in Mitrovica Camps is the description used for about 500-700 Roma people living in three UN-created refugee camps in Mitrovica, Kosovo. The camps are based around mines which have fallen out of use since the end of the Kosovo War. There have been complaints that the residents are suffering lead poisoning.

Current Situation

The current situation is that a number of people have been resettled in the traditional mahala area; and most are moved from the camps to the former French UN barracks.

Background

A BBC article [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4080048.stm BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Toxic camp angers Kosovo Roma ] ] in June 2005 said that the European Roma Rights Centre was preparing legal action against UNMIK, the interim Kosovan Government over its failure to relocate the camps.

Response

The leading NGO taking up the case is the Kosovo Roma Refugee Foundation, led by Paul Polansky. Mr. Polansky's article [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/25/opinion/edpolansky.php Kosovo: Poisoned camps for the Gypsies - International Herald Tribune ] ] in the "International Herald Tribune" in the Spring of 2005, sparked an international uproar.

Since that time, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Society for Threatened Peoples, Refugees International (and many other humanitarian organizations) have demanded in writing to the UN the immediate evacuation of these three camps.

Legal actions are currently being taken by the European Roma Rights Centre. On February 20, 2006, ERRC filed a lawsuit [ [http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2519&archiv=1 : European Roma Rights Center : ] ] against the UNMik with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. On March 24, 2006, a meeting was held [ [http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2532&archiv=1 : European Roma Rights Center : ] ] by the United Nations Human Rights Committee to review the ERRC's report on the human rights situation in Mitrovica, Kosovo.

As of late 2006, there were reports of new sites being found for the Roma refugees, but suitability (given location in Albanian quarter ) and progress on moving, is unknown. [ [http://www.Celtichosting.com/KosovoRoma Roma Media Film Productions ] ] [http://www.unmikonline.org/dpi/pressrelease.nsf/0/892FE8EF4502EF61C12570F1002E4BF9/$FILE/pr1474.pdf] [ [http://kosovareport.blogspot.com/2006/01/unmik-starts-moving-kosovo-roma-to.html UNMIK starts moving Kosovo Roma] ]

Documentary

A documentary about the issue, , was completed in July 2005 by American filmmaker Daniel Lanctot.

"Gypsy Blood: The Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian IDPs of Mitrovica, Kosovo" has screened at numerous venues. It won the award for Best Informative Film at the Golden Wheel Film Festival (2005) in Skopje, Macedonia. Also in 2005, it screened at a European Parliament hearing on the "Situation of Roma women in the European Union" and at the International "One World" Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights in Priština.

References

External links

* [http://www.echr.coe.int/echr European Court of Human Rights]
* [http://www.ohchr.org/english/ United Nations Human Rights Committee]
*
* [http://www.kosovoroma.com/un-leaded%20blood/directions.html KRRF's website]
* [http://www.unmikonline.org/dpi/pressrelease.nsf/0/892FE8EF4502EF61C12570F1002E4BF9/$FILE/pr1474.pdf UNMIK Moving Roma]


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