The Online Seminar on the European Convention on Human Rights and Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights: Focus on Roma Issues took place every Tuesday, June 22 & 29 and July 6 & 13 2021, organised by Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece in collaboration with the joint program of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, JUSTROM 3.

As Roma continue to experience discrimination and social exclusion around Europe, the Seminar discussed the fundamental rights of Roma and the challenges in their daily life. Often Roma communities, yet also civil servants, are not sufficiently aware of the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The Seminar covered the following core topics: 1. Standards for combating discrimination and antigypsyism; 2. Statelessness, lack of documentation and access to rights for Roma communities; 3. Racist violence, hate speech and antigypsyism; 4. The right to life, prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment and antigypsyism.

The presentations and discussions involved a range of excellent speakers, including academics and experts: Dimitris Christopoulos, Professor of State and Legal Theory – Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University; Andreas Takis, Assistant Professor, Law School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Garyfallia Anastasopoulou, Racist Violence Recording Network Assistant Coordinator; Stevi Kitsou, Lawyer – Golden Dawn Watch; Aikaterini Georgiadou, Lawyer; Alexandra Karagianni, JUSTROM Legal Advisor and Human Rights Defender; Christos Iliadis, National Coordinator JUSTROM; and Despina Syrri, Director of Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece who was the moderator for the four-day training. The participants included jurists, Roma mediators, journalists, civil society professionals, relevant national & local authorities staff.

Programme