A United Nations report on the situation of the Roma in central Europe compared the minority's living conditions to those of people in sub-Saharan Africa, and called for their rights to be guaranteed in practice as well as theory.
The report, prepared by Kalman Mizsei of the UN Development Program, summarised conditions for Roma in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. It found that only one in five Roma had jobs, that young Roma had few employable skills, that one in two Roma experienced hunger for at least several days a year, and one in six were hungry on a daily basis.
The UN agency regards the way central and east European states handle the problems of the Roma as a crucial aspect of their integration to the rest of Europe.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
