AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Media Advisory

AI Index: EUR 72/007/2007 (Public)

News Service No: 216

7 November 2007

Slovakia: Amnesty International launches report on discrimination in education of Romani children

Media invite

(Bratislava) Amnesty International will launch a report revealing segregation and discrimination in the education of Romani children in Slovakiaat a press conference in Bratislava on 15 November. The report examines the plight of huge numbers of Romani children who are still being placed in special schools and classes for children with mental disabilities and learning difficulties, or segregated in Roma-only mainstream schools.

The report, Still separate, still unequal: Violations of the right to education for Romani children in Slovakia,will be presented simultaneously at press conferences in Bratislava and in Brussels.

When:

Thursday 15 November at 11:00 Central European Time (10:00GMT)

Where:

Slovak Journalists Syndicate

Large Conference Room.

Župné námestie 7

Bratislava

Who:

Nicola Duckworth -- Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International

Rubén Barbado -- researcher on Slovakia at Amnesty International

Branislav Tichý-- Director of Amnesty International Slovakia

For more information please contact:

In London and in Bratislava-- Lydia Aroyo, Europe and Central Asia Press Officer at Amnesty International's International Secretariat, Slovak mobile (+421) (0) 918 938429; UK mobile (+44) (0) 7771 796350, e-mail: laroyo@amnesty.org.

In Bratislava-- Monika Navrátilová,Press Officer at Amnesty International Slovakia, mobile (421) (0) 918 938482, e-mail: media@amnesty.sk.

In Brussels -- Joana Gomes Cardoso, Press Officer at the European Union Office of Amnesty International. tel. (+32 2) 548 2773, e-mail: JGomes-Cardoso@aieu.be.

Note to Editors

Present at the press conference and available for interviews will be representative/s of the Romanicommunity in Slovakia.

Amnesty International has produced a Video News Access Tape intended for use by broadcasters. It includes images and interviews with Roma families living in isolated settlements with no water or electricity, children facing difficulties getting to school, segregatedRoma-onlyschool and segregated Roma and non-Roma nursery groups; interviews with a school inspector and a representative from the ministry of education.

Amnesty International has also produced CDs with photographs of Romani children at school and at home intended for use by print and online media.

Public Document

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For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566

Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org