At the press conference on March 21, 2006 HRMI launched a new study "Housing problems of Vilnius Roma community". Publication of the research opened the "Week against Racial Discrimination" organized by HRMI to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Research paper Housing problems of Vilnius Roma community analyzes possible solutions for legalization of the currently occupied real estate in Kirtimai settlement in Vilnius. The study highlighted above all that legal uncertainty regarding the issue makes Roma housing rights quite vulnerable and does not correspond with the international requirements for the protection of national minorities.
The policy by the Vilnius municipality to eliminate the historic settlement not only contradicts domestic and international law but clearly complicates problems of Roma people that already suffer the severe effects of exclusion from education, labour markets and other key areas.
HRMI Board Chair Kestutis Cilinskas noted that violation of Roma rights is nothing but a brutal violation of civil rights of residents of Ltihuania revealing the general attitude of Lithuanian government towards the Constitution and laws.
Henrikas Mickevicius, Executive Director of HRMI, said that Vilnius municipality is, in fact, eliminating Kirtimai settlement without providing Roma with an adequate alternative. The so-called social housing offer is not a valid alternative as it is not affordable for the members of community that is almost 100 percent unemployed and thus are unable to pay rent.
Jurgita Venckute from the Center of Legal Projects and Research - HRMI partner - emphasized that legal solutions to the problem exists and that forced evictions are illegal. “Let’s not forget that Roma as well as other minorities are protected by the international law which provide that forced evictions are unjustified action whatsoever"- she stated.
See more (in Lithuanian) on the news portal Delfi.
Full text of the research here.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute