World Vision Applauds Madonna's Efforts to Bring Light to Roma Discrimination in Bucharest
· Roma often considered Europe’s ‘untouchables’ · World Vision says discrimination and exclusion of Roma is pervasive
Bucharest, Romania, August 29, 2009 --(PR.com)-- World Vision applauds Madonna's efforts to bring light to Roma discrimination at her recent concert in Bucharest, Romania. Despite being booed by audience members, Madonna’s message of basic rights for Roma resounded loudly throughout Eastern Europe.
The Roma people are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, but they are often ignored or forgotten. They have higher than average unemployment, poor housing, and are often excluded from the school system and public health care. In fact, a UNDP survey found that one out of every six Roma experiences chronic hunger -- a figure that is more similar to sub-Saharan Africa than Europe.
"It's sad that Madonna experienced a form of discrimination while visiting our country, and it certainly took a lot of courage for her to speak out on behalf of the Roma people," said Anita Delhaas, World Vision’s national director in Romania. "Here, the reality is that Roma feel that discrimination every day, and they can't escape it. The fact that Madonna was booed while advocating for the Roma shows that we still have a long way to go toward basic rights and dignity for the Roma."
Throughout Eastern Europe, World Vision is advocating for the inclusion of Roma in society and supporting them to mobilize themselves by establishing microcredit and community development programs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, World Vision helped to start a Roma environmental service company that works with the local government to clean out the basements of civic buildings and clear garbage from riverbanks. Also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organization established an information center to help inform Roma people of their rights through a project funded by the U.S. government.
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World Vision Romania's national director is available for interviews. Please contact Laura Blank at +1-646-245-2496 or lblank@worldvision.org.
The Roma people are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, but they are often ignored or forgotten. They have higher than average unemployment, poor housing, and are often excluded from the school system and public health care. In fact, a UNDP survey found that one out of every six Roma experiences chronic hunger -- a figure that is more similar to sub-Saharan Africa than Europe.
"It's sad that Madonna experienced a form of discrimination while visiting our country, and it certainly took a lot of courage for her to speak out on behalf of the Roma people," said Anita Delhaas, World Vision’s national director in Romania. "Here, the reality is that Roma feel that discrimination every day, and they can't escape it. The fact that Madonna was booed while advocating for the Roma shows that we still have a long way to go toward basic rights and dignity for the Roma."
Throughout Eastern Europe, World Vision is advocating for the inclusion of Roma in society and supporting them to mobilize themselves by establishing microcredit and community development programs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, World Vision helped to start a Roma environmental service company that works with the local government to clean out the basements of civic buildings and clear garbage from riverbanks. Also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the organization established an information center to help inform Roma people of their rights through a project funded by the U.S. government.
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World Vision Romania's national director is available for interviews. Please contact Laura Blank at +1-646-245-2496 or lblank@worldvision.org.
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Rachel Wolff
253.394.2214
www.worldvision.org/press
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