The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published his written comments today in the case of Nikoleta Zereliga and Others v. Greece, currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights.
The case, lodged by five Greek citizens of Roma origin, concerns alleged violations of their rights to a fair trial, respect for private and family life, and the prohibition of discrimination. These allegations followed an administrative protocol aimed at evicting them from the informal settlement where they have been residing for around 25 years, leaving them at risk of homelessness.
In his third-party intervention, the Commissioner submits that the inadequate housing conditions prevailing in Greece’s informal Roma settlements result from a lack of sufficient efforts by the relevant authorities to provide a solution. This situation is compounded by antigypsyism embedded in society, which hinders Roma communities from fully and equally enjoying their human rights.
Furthermore, the Commissioner notes that the risk of eviction faced by Roma communities in informal settlements, which constitute a “home” under the European Convention on Human Rights, without providing alternative accommodation, disproportionately interferes with the right to respect for one’s home, especially given the vulnerability of the communities involved. He considers that an eviction, or the risk of eviction, can jeopardise the enjoyment of interrelated rights and access to other essential services.