Council of Europe Recap

Educational disadvantages and lack of participation in public affairs remain issues

The Spanish authorities have shown a strong commitment to combatting poverty and improving the living conditions and social inclusion of Roma in Spain. However, the Roma population continues to suffer disadvantages in education, access to work and housing, and its participation in public affairs remains low, concludes the advisory committee of the Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities in an opinion assessing the country´s compliance with its commitments under the treaty.

Advances for Roma inclusion in Spain

The advisory committee welcomes the adoption of the Comprehensive Law for equal treatment and non-discrimination in 2022, as it addresses issues such as school segregation, demonstrating the country’s commitment to an inclusive approach to diversity management. Moreover, it considers that the recognition of antigypsyism as an aggravating circumstance in the Criminal Code in 2022 is an essential advance in combatting discrimination against Roma. The adoption of the “National Strategy for Roma equality, inclusion and participation 2021-30” also represents a significant step toward improving the living conditions and social inclusion of the Roma.

Under-reporting of discrimination and hate crimes against Roma

Nevertheless, the advisory committee notes that discrimination cases involving Roma individuals remain under-reported. It stresses that the number of complaints remains low compared to the prevalence of discriminatory practices Roma face, especially in education, employment and housing. Consequently, the advisory committee calls on the authorities to raise awareness among the Roma community of the redress mechanism provided for in the anti-discrimination legislation.

Although the training of police and judicial personnel on human rights, non-discrimination standards and hate crime has produced positive results, the advisory committee finds that there is a need for a more effective institutional approach to detecting and responding to hate crimes and hate speech and addressing under-reporting.

Education and gender-based violence remain particular concerns

The disadvantaged situation of the Roma in education continues to be a significant concern, particularly regarding the complex problem of school segregation. The committee urges the authorities to combat segregation of Roma within the compulsory education system, including through the adoption of robust policies and allocation of sufficient resources. Moreover, the committee urges the authorities to take measures to reduce early dropouts and school absenteeism among Roma pupils and students and to ensure the continuation of education, especially during the transition from primary to secondary education. It also stresses that intercultural education, and the teaching of Roma history and culture should be included in school curricula and educational materials in all autonomous communities.

Another issue of concern is violence against Roma girls and women. The committee highlights the need for effective mechanisms aimed at combatting early and forced marriages, and to condemn and declare void any judicial justification of violence against girls and women or applying as mitigating circumstances such factors as “cultural context”, arguments that involve ethnicity, “race” or religion.

To favour Roma inclusion, the advisory committee recommends that the authorities improve and promote the representation of Roma, both men and women, in the state civil service (Administración General del Estado) through targeted, positive measures in recruitment procedures.

Despite overall improvements in the Roma's housing situation, the advisory committee notes that substandard housing persists and should be addressed through sustainable housing programmes.

Specific problems for non-Spanish Roma

The growing anti-migrant and anti-refugee rhetoric has not significantly impacted Spanish Roma citizens. However, the committee notes that non-Spanish Roma face lower levels of acceptance than Spanish Roma. Non-Spanish Roma face specific challenges that need to be addressed, including language barriers, lack of legal documentation and limited access to social welfare services.

Finally, the advisory committee calls on the authorities to address the perpetuation of stereotyping of communities affected by hate speech on social media, especially the Jewish and Muslim communities, through targeted measures aimed at preventing and combatting hate speech, in close co-operation with internet service providers and the most affected communities.

Here is the link to the original press release of the Council of Europe.

Position of Roma, Turkophone, Armenian, Latin and Maronite minorities examined

The Council of Europe has acknowledged Cyprus’s continued commitment to minority protection while calling for renewed efforts to address challenges in education, inclusion, and combatting discrimination.

In its newly published sixth opinion on Cyprus, the Council of Europe’s advisory committee on the Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities praises the country’s comprehensive legal and institutional framework safeguarding the rights of people belonging to the Armenian, Latin and Maronite national minorities (defined as “religious groups” in national legislation). It also welcomes the decision to extend the framework convention’s application on an article-by-article basis to the Cyprus Roma.

Praise for national and local initiatives

Recognising Cyprus’s cultural diversity, the advisory committee commends national and local initiatives that foster intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and respect for diversity. These include awareness-raising campaigns, support for minority-language education, and cultural initiatives helping to preserve the identities of national minorities. Among them are Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic lessons, cultural centres such as the House of the Latins, and co-operation with schools and organisations in Armenia, Greece and Lebanon.

The authorities are also acknowledged for promoting education in and of minority languages, with specific school arrangements designed for each of the three religious groups as well as for the Cyprus Roma, reflecting their respective needs and interests. The advisory committee moreover welcomes Cyprus’s National Roma strategic framework 2021–30, describing it as a key policy tool for advancing equality, inclusion, and participation of the Cyprus Roma.

Difficulties remain for Roma and Turkish-speaking Cypriots

At the same time, the advisory committee identifies several areas requiring further attention. For example, Cyprus Roma are still not recognised in the domestic legislation as a specific group to be protected. Similarly, Turkish-speakers and persons affiliating with the “Turkish-Cypriot community” encounter persistent difficulties in using their first language, even though Turkish is one of the two official languages of the Republic.

The advisory committee further encourages the Cypriot authorities to strengthen institutional support for minority protection by empowering the Coordinator of religious groups with a clear mandate, adequate resources, and an extended role covering the Cyprus Roma. Enhancing minority-language education also remains a priority, notably by addressing the shortage of trained Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic teachers, establishing university chairs in these subjects, and increasing the frequency and duration of lessons, especially at the secondary level.

In addition, Cyprus is urged to ensure the right to free self-identification to be in line with the framework convention’s requirements. Better data collection is also needed: the authorities should publish without delay the 2021 census results concerning the Cyprus Roma population – disaggregated by ethnic affiliation, religion, and language – and support independent research on Roma culture, history, and traditions.

Training for officials needed

Efforts to combat hate speech and xenophobia should be intensified through comprehensive training for police, prosecutors, and judges, as well as continued public campaigns promoting mutual respect and tolerance. The opinion further recommends full implementation of the National Strategic Framework for the equality, inclusion and participation of Cyprus Roma 2021-30 to ensure equal access to education, housing, healthcare, and social services. Finally, the advisory committee calls on the authorities to promote equal participation by allowing people identifying as Armenian or Maronite to register for the election of their representatives without requiring certification from religious authorities.

The opinion, adopted in July 2025, has been published alongside the authorities’ comments.

Here is the link to the original press release of the Council of Europe.

Stronger equality measures still needed says Council of Europe committee

The Council of Europe has commended Malta for its continuing efforts to foster diversity, promote equality and strengthen the integration of everyone in society, while also identifying key areas where further action is needed to ensure full and effective protection against discrimination.

In its just published sixth opinion on Malta the Council of Europe’s advisory committee on the Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities highlights Malta’s rapid demographic evolution over the past decade, marked by growing cultural and religious diversity. The advisory committee welcomes the launch of Malta’s Integration strategy and action plan (2025–30) as a major step towards deepening inclusion and reinforcing community cohesion. It also praises the work carried out by the International learners’ directorate and other educational initiatives that help children from migrant backgrounds integrate successfully in schools.

Training for legal profession recommended

Other advances have also been noted including the implementation of the Anti-Racism Strategy 2021–23, ongoing training for public officials on cultural competence, and cooperation between the National Commission for the promotion of equality and the media to combat stereotypes and promote intercultural understanding.

At the same time, the advisory committee observes that Malta’s progress could be consolidated by ensuring that everyone who might benefit from the framework convention is aware of his or her rights, by improving data collection in its censuses, by enhancing institutional independence of its equality body and national human-rights institution, and by strengthening pre- and in-service training for judges, prosecutors, investigators and other members of the legal profession to address discrimination effectively.

Here is the link to the original press release of the Council of Europe.

New Council of Europe expert committee report released

The Czech authorities should amend national legislation to ensure that people belonging to national minorities can exercise the rights established by the Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities in a more flexible manner, and to prevent the strict application of population thresholds from hindering the enjoyment of these rights.

In addition, the authorities should ensure effective redress for sterilisation of women, in particular Roma women, unlawfully carried out in the past, and compensate the victims, and improve the general situation of the Roma, notably as regards access to education.

Priority recommendations on protection of national minorities in Czechia

These are some of the priority recommendations that the advisory committee on the Framework Convention for the protection of national minorities has issued to Czechia in an opinion published today.

The committee notes that, since the adoption of its previous opinion in 2021, the authorities have continued to demonstrate their awareness of the importance of protecting minority rights and have taken several measures to revise curricula and legislation on personal names (women's right to use their surname in a minority language has been expanded). In 2024 the government approved a request of the Georgians to be represented at the Government Council for national minorities, bringing the total number of national minorities represented to 15.

However, the committee also highlights that the implementation of national-minority-rights protection appears to be hinder by a lack of a systematic policy approach and resources.

It notes that the 2021 census confirmed a long-standing trend: a significant number of respondents (about 32%) did not declare a nationality or ethnic affiliation, which directly affects their ability to exercise specific rights at local and regional levels. The committee consequently recommends reviewing the census form and commissioning independent research to estimate the number of persons belonging to national minorities and speaking minority languages.

The advisory committee observes that both the Government Council for national minorities and the Government Council for Roma minority affairs facilitate regular contacts between the national authorities and the national minorities. However, the committee regrets that the Council for national minorities is understaffed. In 2022, the authorities established the Government Commissioner for Roma minority affairs to protect the rights of the Roma minority.

The number of Roma children attending kindergarten has continued to grow, and almost all Roma pupils are educated in the regular primary education curriculum, but school segregation and ensuring access to quality education remain challenges. In addition, access to housing for Roma remains a concern.

Regarding the 2021 law providing for the compensation of women, including Roma, sterilised illegally, the committee urges the authorities to ensure effective redress and to compensate the victims without delay.

Placename signs in minority languages

As regards the use of minority languages, the committee stresses that Polish is the only minority language which can be used for communication with local authorities. Also, at the moment, pre-school to secondary education is only available in a minority language to pupils from the Polish minority. However, plans are in place to introduce bilingual education in German and Czech. The committee calls on the authorities to introduce the teaching of Slovak in public education.

Topographical signs in minority languages exist only in Polish, since the Polish minority is the only minority that reaches the 10% population threshold in municipalities. Nevertheless, the authorities have announced they will encourage local authorities to use topographical signs also in other minority languages.

The opinion highlights that the authorities have improved the legal framework to combat hate speech and hate crime, including incitement to violence or hatred on grounds of affiliation with a national minority, and have organised training for the judiciary. Nevertheless, it notes that expressions of intolerance towards Roma persist.

Finally, the advisory committee calls on the authorities to support the creation of a sustainable institutional structure for cultural activities of individual national minorities, including funding, and to strengthen the offer of TV and radio programmes in public service media in minority languages, which is currently scarce.

The opinion, adopted in July 2025, has been published alongside the authorities' comments.

Here is the link to the original press release of the Council of Europe.