| International Roma Day is an opportunity for us to call attention to the history, experiences, and human rights of Europe's largest ethnic minority.
Promoting and protecting the rights of Roma has long been of personal interest to me, because I saw firsthand the plight of the Roma - particularly Romani women and children - when I visited Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe as our country's First Lady. As a member of the Helsinki Commission, I urged governments to do more to protect and promote the 10 million Roma who live in Europe.
Despite important progress that has been made in the past decade, many Roma still live on the margins of society. They continue to experience racial profiling, violence, discrimination, and other human rights abuses. Too often, they lack identity documents or citizenship papers, which excludes them from voting or social services and education - even employment opportunities that would enable them to participate more fully in the countries in which they live.
The United States is committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of Roma throughout our bilateral relations and our involvement in organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We believe governments do have a special responsibility to ensure that minority communities have the tools of opportunity that they need to succeed as productive and responsible members of society. So I urge governments throughout Europe to continue their efforts to address the plight of Roma, to end discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity in education and employment.
I am particularly concerned about Roma children being able to grow up and fulfill their own God-given potential. You know, Roma have a rich artistic and cultural heritage, which has left an indelible mark across Europe and the world.
It is in the interest of the larger European and global community to create conditions that maximize success for all of the people within our borders and beyond. I hope that events taking place at our embassies and missions around the world on International Roma Day will be one more step on the path to helping Roma reach a better and brighter future. And the United States stands ready to help make that a reality.
Thank you very much.
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Ziua Internationala a Romilor este o ocazie de a atrage atentia asupra istoriei, experientelor si drepturilor celui mai numeros grup etnic din Europa.
De multi ani sunt preocupata de promovarea si apararea drepturilor romilor, pentru ca am vazut personal situatia lor -- in special a femeilor si a copiilor -- cu ocazia vizitelor facute in calitate de Prima Doamna in comunitatile de romi din Europa. Din postura de membru al Comisiei Helsinki, am indemnat guvernele sa ia mai multe masuri pentru a-i proteja si a le imbunatati situatia celor 10 milioane de romi care traiesc in Europa.
In ciuda progreselor semnificative din ultimii zece ani, multi romi traiesc si acum la periferia societatii. Ei continua sa se confrunte cu elaborarea profilelor delictuale pe criterii etnice, violenta, discriminare si alte incalcari ale drepturilor omului. In prea multe cazuri, romii nu au documente de identitate sau certificate de cetatenie, ceea ce le blocheaza accesul la vot, la servicii sociale, la educatie sau chiar accesul pe piata muncii, care le-ar permite sa aiba o contributie mai activa in tarile in care traiesc.
Statele Unite ale Americii si-au asumat angajamentul de a proteja si promova drepturile romilor, prin intermediul relatiilor bilaterale si a prezentei in organizatii precum ONU (Organizatia Natiunilor Unite) si OSCE (Organizatia pentru Securitate si Cooperare in Europa. Noi credem ca este in responsabilitatea guvernelor se se asigure ca minoritatile beneficiaza de oportunitatile necesare pentru a deveni membri activi si responsabili ai societatii. Asadar, indemn guvernele din intreaga Europa sa continue eforturile de imbunatatire a situatiei romilor, de eliminare a discriminarii si de asigurare a egalitatii de sanse in educatie si pe piata muncii.
Ma preocupa mai ales asigurarea sansei copiilor romi de a creste si de a-si valorifica potentialul cu care au fost inzestrati de Dumnezeu. Romii au o mostenire artistica si culturala bogata, care si-a lasat amprenta asupra Europei si a intregii lumi.
Crearea conditiilor necesare cresterii succesului tuturor celor care traiesc in tara noastra sau in alte tari este in interesul comunitatii europene si al celei globale. Sper ca evenimentele organizate la ambasadele si misiunile noastre diplomatice din intreaga lume cu ocazia Zilei Internationale a Romilor vor fi un nou pas in incercarea de a-i ajuta pe romi sa isi creeze un viitor mai bun si mai luminos. Iar Statele Unite sunt pregatite sa ajute la transformarea in realitate a acestui deziderat.
Va multumesc foarte mult.
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