x

European rights chief warns Roma, travellers’ at high risk in pandemic

Europe’s top human rights official on Tuesday called on governments to ensure that Roma and people travelling can access health care and clean water during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, Dunja Mijatovic, noted that Roma people living in substandard housing and segregated settlements across Europe were among those most vulnerable to the pandemic.

“In many places in Europe, Roma still lack access to clean water and sanitation. This makes it very difficult to apply crucial hygiene measures such as regular hand washing,” Mijatovic said.

The commissioner noted that Roma settlements in France who lost access to electricity and water were because site owners left due to lockdown rules.

She, however, urged that all evictions should be stopped for the duration of the crisis.

“Roma had also been “scapegoated and targeted by hate speech,” Mijatovic said.

She noted that in Bulgaria, politicians had called for special measures against Roma; local authorities had set up police checkpoints around settlements to enforce quarantine measures.

“They even put up a fence around a particular location where the people from Roma settled to control movements.

“While action to ensure adherence to confinement rules can be justified in the present circumstances, these cannot be selectively applied to people, neither fully nor partially, on the basis of ethnicity,” Mijatovic said.

Hot this week

Flood Tragedy in Zaria Claims Lives, Leaves Several Missing

At least two people have been confirmed dead and...

How Gumel in Jigawa Celebrates Eid-ul-Maulud with Sallar Gani

While Muslims across Nigeria mark Eid-ul-Maulud with prayers, sermons,...

World Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles Defeat Rwanda 1–0 to Boost 2026 Hopes

The Super Eagles of Nigeria revived their 2026 FIFA...

 Gunmen kills one, abducts 3 passengers on Okene-Lokoja road.

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja Gunmen suspected to be  kidnappers  killed...

IGBO FATAL FLAW: DR. AUSTIN ORETTE RESPONDS

By Dr. Austin Orette, an Isoko man from Delta...

A’ibom: Police nab Monarch for attempted murder,nab two cable vandals

By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo The Police in Akwa Ibom has...

Kano Police Command, Foundation Organise Attitudinal Change Lecture For Officers

The Kano State Police Command, in collaboration with the...

FCTA Pulls Down 30 Illegal Structures at River Park Estate

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has...

Bayelsa APC Endorses Tinubu as Sole 2027 Presidential Candidate

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa The All Progressives Congress (APC) in...

Power Outages: Tinubu Moves To Ensure Reliable Electricity Supply in Tertiary Hospitals

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made concrete...

NCPC, Israel Foreign Affairs Spark Talks On Strengthening Bilateral Relations

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian...

BREAKING: Blackout as national grid collapses

Large parts of Nigeria were thrown into darkness on...

Ezekwesili Demands Reinstatement of Senator Natasha, Accuses Senate of Constitutional Overreach

Former Minister of Education Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has demanded...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img