Collective Rights and the Cultural Identity of the Roma

Claudia Tavani, Ph.D. (2010) in Law, University of Essex, cooperates with various non-governmental organisations and universities, including the University of Cagliari. Her research interests are cultural rights, cultural identity, protection of minorities, non-discrimination, collective rights and human rights in general.

• Acknowledgements; Abstract; List of Abbreviations; IntroductionBook Outline; 1 Chapter I: An overview of the Roma and their culture 1.1 Introduction: the importance of recognising the Roma as an ethnic group;1.2 Culture and cultural identity;1.3 Historical background;1.4 The Roma today: main characteristics and identification;1.5 Conclusions: the Roma as an ethnic and transnational minority; 2 Chapter II: The definition of minority and the protection of Roma in international law instruments2.1 Introduction;2.2 Article 27 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 2.3 International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples; 2.4 The 2005 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; 2.5 The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 2.6 The Council of Europe and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; 2.7 The European Charter for Regional of Minority Languages; 2.8 Conclusions;3 Chapter III: The protection of minority rights through individual human rights3.1 Introduction; 3.2 The principles of equality and non-discrimination as a full realisationof the rights of minorities; 3.3 The protection of minorities in the European Union; 3.4 The United Nations instruments and their jurisprudence ;3.5 The European Convention on Human Rights and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; 3.6 Conclusions: de facto equality, affirmative action and special measures as ways to protect minorities;4 Chapter IV: Individual v. Collective rights 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 The added value of collective rights; 4.3 The protection of collective rights in international instruments; 4.4. The debate between supporters and critics of collective rights; 4.5 Collective rights and cultural identity? ; 5 Chapter V: The case of Italy5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Background information on the Roma in Italy; 5.3 The Italian legal system; 5.4 The juridical status of the Roma in Italy; 5.5 Measures “in favour” of the Roma?; 5.6 Conclusions and final remarks; Conclusions; Appendix I ; Appendix II; Appendix III ; Appendix IV ; Appendix V; Bibliography; Table of Cases; Index.

"Die Untersuchung zeigt auf interessante Weise nicht nur die im Hinblick auf die Roma als Minderheit gegenwärtig bestehenden Probleme, sondern auch wie diesen rechtlich begegnet werden kann."Sabine Scharnagl, Newsletter Menschenrechte, 3/2013-Literatur, pp. 223-224, Österreichisches Institut für Menschenrechte.