European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is a Roma-led international public interest law organisation working to combat anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma through strategic litigation, advocacy, media work and human rights education. Since its establishment in 1996, the ERRC has endeavoured to provide Roma with the tools necessary to combat discrimination and achieve equal access to justice, education, housing, health care and public services. The ERRC has consultative status with the Council of Europe, as well as with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The ERRC has been the recipient of numerous awards for its efforts to advance human rights respect of Roma: in 2018, Access to Justice Award, in 2018, Columbia Global Freedom of Expression Prize, in 2018, Raoul Wallenberg Prize, in 2013, PL Foundation Freedom Prize; in 2012, Stockholm Human Rights Award; in 2010, the Silver Rose Award of SOLIDAR; in 2009, the Justice Prize of the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation; in 2007, the Max van der Stoel award given by the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Dutch Foreign Ministry; and in 2001, the Geuzenpenning award (the Geuzen medal of honour) by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of Netherlands. The ERRC’s main goal is not to defeat antigypsyism in any one thematic area or country, but to expose its breadth and perverse variety, and to enable Romani organisations and individuals to use a rights-based approach – especially litigation – to defeat it. Our work is currently concentrated in the following thematic areas: Education Environment Migration Identity Police Health Childhood