Uncovering anti‑Roma discrimination in criminal justice systems in Europe: Disproportionate outcomes
This animation portrays real life experiences uncovered in our research. There are several incidences of people being imprisoned for failing to pay disproportionately large fines for extremely minor offences that clearly did not warrant any police intervention.
Racial prejudice is widespread in societies across Europe, and it affects many ethnic groups. Given their long history of persecution and continuing socio-economic challenges, Roma are especially vulnerable to harmful stereotyping and negative societal attitudes that influence perceptions
of criminal justice decision-makers, and impact criminal justice outcomes.
New research carried out by criminal justice NGO Fair Trials, in partnership with APADOR-CH, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, and Rights International Spain shows the prevalence of discriminatory views against Roma in criminal justice systems of Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Spain.