Roma People Demand Equal Rights in Constitution

Roma People Social Help and Solidarity Association of Izmir released a report assessing and offering solutions for the challenges that Roma people confront in Turkey.

The report included Roma people's expectations from the new constitution.

While the report emphasized on the necessity of a positive discrimination and the disadvantaged situation of Roma people, it underscored the importance of implementation of certain reforms for Roma people including culture, longing, education and work.

"Roma people should become equal citizens with other groups. Roma people should benefit from social justice in terms of income. Employment should be encouraged. The ways in which Roma people can represent themselves in parliament should be opened," the report said.  

Positive discrimination

Some of the demands from the report included:

“Protection of our cultural rights and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws and regulations.

“Protection of educational rights and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws andregulations.

“Protection of lodging rights and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws andregulations.

“Protection of our right to benefit from reaching services and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws and regulations.

“Protection of working rights and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws andregulations.

“Implementation of positive discrimination measures on Roma people and enhancement of its practice with relevant laws and regulations.

"Recognition of Roma people as one of the constituent groups of Turkey.

"The new constitution and upcoming laws and regulations must underline equal citizenship rights for Roma people even though their nature and can vary." (YY)