The Sinti, Roma and Travellers communities form a minority group that has lived in Europe for many centuries. According to their culture and traditions they are nomads who live and travel in their mobile homes. It should be mentioned that because of their traditions they have been stereotyped, stigmatized and discriminated against. In some European countries, including France and the Netherlands, explicit measures have been taken to gradually eliminate these traditions.

In the case of The Netherlands, municipal governments are currently implementing what are described as the ‘extinction policy’ of trailer parks. This negatively affects the way of living of the Sinti, Roma and Traveller and violates their human rights. The national government does not regulate the use of caravans, instead leaving it to the municipal governments.

Sabine Achterbergh, Chairperson of the Dutch Association of Sinti, Roma and Travellers and a Sinti herself has been advocating for the rights of Sinti, Roma and Travellers since she was ten years old. She has been the voice of this community in numerous international conferences at the European Union, United Nations and elsewhere. She addressed the Roma Summit, in the presence of then European Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding and many other representatives from different countries.

Jelle Klaas, Coordinator of the Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP), is bringing a human rights perspective on the Roma, Sinti and Travellers issues in Dutch policies, and will share some of his own experiences with the Roma and Sinti cases he has been involved in.

Moderator: Jeff Handmaker, International Institute of Social Studies

This event has been organised in co-operation with ISS Students of the Social Justice Major.

Join us for the dialogue organised in the framework of the Dutch Commemoration Day (4 May). Free entrance but seats are limited. register@haguetalks.com