Brussels, Belgium: The heads of two Roma rights organizations released a joint statement today to the speaking out against discrimination and urging the countries of the European Union to integrate Roma people and stop treating them like second-class citizens.

Ivan Vesely, president of the Dzeno Association and Stanislaw Stankiewicz, president of the International Romani Union, wrote the open letter to participants at the European Roma Summit:

“In the 21st century, there are still many Roma who live in the middle of Europe like in the third world. No real houses, no water, no electricity, no infrastructure provided by the state, segregation in school, police excess, and indifference from the local population at best,” read part of the letter.

“Officially, Roma are citizens of the country they live in. In practice, they are often considered to be second-class citizen at best, and administrative discrimination is a fact in many countries. Clearly, some laws have been enacted, some window dressing has been put in place. Policies vary from self-government, reserved seats in parliaments, to minority status, but these are not addressing the fundamental issue of the recognition of Roma as true citizens of their countries and of Europe.”

The Dzeno Association is a partner of The Advocacy Project (AP). AP sent Peace Fellow Colby Pacheco to volunteer with the group in Prague this summer.

Read the entire open letter.