Supreme Court Victory for Segregated Roma Children in Miskolc, Hungary
PILI Applauds Use of Pro Bono Legal Services in Human Rights Victory
For the first time, a Hungarian court of law awarded compensation to victims of anti-Roma school segregation. Five Roma children were awarded compensation on 2 June 2010 for enduring segregation during their primary schooling in Miskolc in northeastern Hungary. Their hard-fought case in the Hungarian Supreme Court was taken on pro bono by the Budapest office of Allen & Overy for the non-profit organization, Chance for Children Foundation (CFCF), which has been fighting on behalf of Roma children for years. The case highlights the vast potential for law firms to make a real impact on everyday lives through their pro bono work and to advance human rights.
While studying law in Bucharest, Romaniţa Iordache (1991-2000 PILI Fellow) became acutely aware of the issue of Roma discrimination. "I started to hear stories of Roma houses being set on fire. There were also many cases of violence being perpetrated against Roma youth. For me, that was a huge wake-up call because I realized that real discrimination was not something abstract or happening miles away, but events happening in my vicinity that I could influence."
Published in Ukrainian in cooperation with the International Renaissance Foundation, the text of the original English language handbook has been adapted to the Ukrainian context and incorporates new material drawn from the activities of Ukrainian public interest law organizations, as well as practical information on public interest advocacy in Ukraine.
PILI's Russia Country Director Examines Effective Models of Legal Aid at OSCE Human Dimensions Seminar, Warsaw
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights hosted a three-day seminar (17-19 May) on strengthening the independence of the judiciary and improving public access to justice through effective remedies. The seminar was designed to serve as a platform for the exchange and discussion of the best practices among participating States.
PILI Applauds Use of Pro Bono Legal Services in Human Rights Victory
While studying law in Bucharest, Romaniţa Iordache (1991-2000 PILI Fellow) became acutely aware of the issue of Roma discrimination. "I started to hear stories of Roma houses being set on fire. There were also many cases of violence being perpetrated against Roma youth. For me, that was a huge wake-up call because I realized that real discrimination was not something abstract or happening miles away, but events happening in my vicinity that I could influence."
A Handbook for Legal Professionals and Activists
PILI's Russia Country Director Examines Effective Models of Legal Aid at OSCE Human Dimensions Seminar, Warsaw
