Portugal has adopted measures to improve the living conditions and to counter the discrimination of the Roma population, but should ensure that they have an effective and long-term impact throughout the country, says the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe (FCNM) in an Opinion published today.
The Opinion recalls that many Roma continue to be discriminated against and live on the margins of society. At times they live in very poor housing conditions, their school enrolment and educational performance is lower than the rest of the population, in particular for Roma girls, and they suffer a high level of unemployment. Whilst over recent years, several Portuguese municipalities have been very active in implementing local action plans for the inclusion of Roma with the help of Roma mediators, others still lack behind.
The Advisory Committee has made a number of priority recommendations to the Portuguese authorities.
