The recent case of young Maria has brought up again the serious matter of discrimination and prejudice against Roma gypsies across Europe. A 2009 survey showed how Roma gypsies were the minority suffering the greatest degrees of discrimination and prejudice in Europe.
According to the survey 55% of respondents in Greece stated that they had been victimized due to their nationality. Specifically 30% reported discriminatory treatment in private businesses (such as cafeterias, banks etc), 24% in work or in searching for work, 23% from healthcare services staff, 20% from a landlord or intermediary, 14% from social services staff and 10% from school staff.
On average, Roma gypsies report that 11 instances of discrimination and prejudice against them on an annual basis. In Greece 90% of respondents did not report such events, because 78% believe that nothing would change, 52% explained that they did not now where to report the crime, 44% downplayed the significance of discrimination and 39% feared repercussions from reporting.
Perhaps one of the most shocking results of the survey is that about 86% of respondents in the survey were unaware that there was legislation against racism and other forms of discrimination and prejudice in Greece. Furthermore, 95% did not know who to contact for help or support. In other countries there is a greater balance between those who are aware and unaware of such legal provisions.
Regarding their relationship with authorities in Greece, 56% reported that they had undergone police search, while 69% attributed police investigations to racial profiling. The illiteracy rates of Roma gypsies in Greece are amongst the highest in Europe, with 35% declaring to be illiterate and only 4% reporting to have studied at least ten years in school.
The full report is available here.
