1815
On February 13th, 2019, Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) reported to the Bundestag on the human rights activities of the federal government. His remarks are based on the 13th Report of the Federal Government on its Human Rights Policy (19/7730), which describes the domestic and foreign policy activities and initiatives of the Federal Government from 01 October 2016 to 30 September 2018.
The report cites the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) as an exemplary measure to protect national minorities at European and international level. According to the report, the Institute was established in Berlin in June 2017 at the invitation of the Federal Government. It further states that “the project was initiated by the Council of Europe and Open Society Foundations and aims, in particular, to contribute to a systematic understanding of the art and culture of the Roma in Europe and to present them in a lively and effective way in order to reduce prejudices against the minority and support their better integration in Europe.”
We feel honored and grateful for the comment made by Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas!
Original statement: “Die Bundesregierung engagiert sich zudem auch weiterhin auf europäischer und internationaler Ebene für den Schutz nationaler Minderheiten. So wurde etwa auf Einladung der Bundesregierung im Juni 2017 das „Europäische Roma Institut für Kunst und Kultur“ in Berlin eingerichtet. Das von Europarat und Open Society Foundations initiierte Projekt soll insbesondere dazu beitragen, Kunst und Kultur der Roma in Europa systematisch zu erfassen und öffentlichkeitswirksam lebendig zu präsentieren, um Vorurteile gegen die Minderheit abzubauen und ihre bessere Integration in Europa zu unterstützen.”
More information on the report can be found at: http://dipbt.bundestag.de/extrakt/ba/WP19/2442/244266.html