This past week, my boss and Dženo Association Chairman Ivan Veselý, traveled to Vienna, Austria to take part in a Conference held by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The conference aim was to provide a forum for OSCE directors and heads of human rights organization and advocacy groups to find sustainable policies for Roma integration in Europe.

As I have previously referenced, Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has unvailed and begun to implement anti-Roma policies.

On the morning of July 11th the representatives of the Roma civil society, present at the OSCE meeting held a march of protest against the violent attacks and the ethnically motivated “security measures” adopted by the Italian Government targeting Roma. In particular, a group of representatives sought to bring to light the matter of fingerprinting Roma children.

Representatives of Roma focused organizations assemble in front of the Fundamental Rights Agency in Vienna

Though small in number, those marching sent a clear message to representatives gathered at the conference.

Others gathered and joined the protest wearing self made t-shirts displaying slogans with a definitevly anti-fingerprinting message.

At the end of the day, as is unfortunately the case with many pro-Roma actions, the protest pleas fell on the deaf ears of the public. However, policy makers throughout the European Union seem to be finally awakening to the Italy’s blatant human rights abuses