From the Opening Statement by Ms. Navi Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Human Rights Council 24th Session

9 September 2013  Full version

I am disturbed by the continued social exclusion and segregation of Roma in many European States. Alongside worrying reports about Roma increasingly becoming the targets of hate speech, demonstrations and violence by non-State actors, the authorities themselves have in some cases adopted policies that increase the vulnerability of Roma populations.
I note with concern the findings of the report of the French Ombudsman in July that showed that forced evictions of Roma in France were taking place in ways that were incompatible with international standards and national legislation, and support the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

In similar vein, I also note and support last month’s report of the Ombudsperson in Slovakia which identifies human rights violations committed by the police against the Roma inhabitants of a segregated rural shantytown (Budulovská, Moldava nad Bodvou, added by ETP). I urge both Governments to act on the recommendations of these reports.

Link – Video from Moldava nad Bodvou