Summary:

In the Portuguese municipality of Vidigueira, police officers destroyed the water supply on which 67 Roma depended for drinking water, including children and elderly persons.

http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=3812

[9 February 2011] - Yesterday, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) sent a letter to the Portuguese municipality of Vidigueira expressing concern about its destruction of the water supply in an informal Romani settlement, as well as the deplorable housing conditions in the settlement. Sixty-seven Roma were deprived of water, including young children, elderly people and pregnant women.

During a 4 February 2011 visit, the ERRC interviewed several residents of the settlement where 16 Romani families live without electricity, drainage, waste removal or toilets. Residents explained that representatives of the municipality of Vidigueira and the police had destroyed 12 taps which constituted the only water source in the settlement the previous day.

In its letter, the ERRC recalled that deprivation of water threatens human survival and that the actions of Vidigueira authorities appear to violate international law, including the right to adequate housing and to fresh water sources. The ERRC called on local authorities to act promptly to restore the water supply and to guarantee adequate housing for the Romani community.

The full text of the ERRC letter is available in English and Portuguese.

Further Information:

• DISCRIMINATION: Portugal brought before European Tribunal for Roma housing situation [13 May 2010] 
• Read references to Roma children in Portugal in the Universal Periodic Review [CRIN, December 2009]
• ITALY: Outrage over death of four Roma children [8 February 2011]
• Read a briefing on discrimination and Roma children here.
• More on child rights in Portugal

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Organisation Contact Details:

European Roma Rights Centre
1386 Budapest 62
P.O. Box 906/93

Tel: +361-413-2200
Email: office@errc.org
Website: htto://errc.org

Last updated 11/02/2011 04:49:44

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