News Service 61/98

AI INDEX: EUR 39/12/98

EMBARGOED FOR 21 APRIL 1998 (TIME TO BE ADVISED)

MEDIA ADVISORY

ROMANIA

Publication of a new summary of human rights concerns

(AI INDEX: EUR 39/06/98)

On the anniversary of the suspension of human rights monitoring by the Council of Europe, serious human rights violations persist in Romania. Within the context of the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Europe’s Monitoring Committee this month -- aimed among other things at reviewing Romania’s compliance with a set of specific recommendations -- Amnesty International is publishing a new report, Romania: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns.

The report contains a general background about the lack of progress in the protection of some fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Romania, international treaties and domestic law, and explores:

∙the failure of legislative reforms to safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms;

∙the imprisonment of prisoners of conscience, and

∙the authorities’ failure to promptly and impartially investigate cases torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers -- including incidents of racist violence against Romani communities.

The report also includes extensive recommendations concerning legislative reforms and investigations into human rights violations.

ENDS.../

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The report will be launched at a press conference on 21 April in the Council of Europe, Strasbourg. For a copy of the document or to arrange an interview please contact Soraya Bermejo, Press Officer, on +44 171 413 5562.

Amnesty International now has an ISDN line for studio-quality radio interviews from our offices in London, please phone for further details.