Legal 

Legal status

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The World Roma Federation is an International Legal Personality with its headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium, issued by Royal Decree under international non-for-profit associations and foundations law of 27 June 1921, as amended by the Law of 2 May 2002.

 

As an AISBL, World Roma Federation pursues a purpose of international utility.

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International Law:

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Our rights as an international legal personality include the right to enter into treaties. The assets, documents, data bases and archives of the World Roma Federation shall be inviolable and immune from seizure or other legal or administrative process. We have the right to send and receive legations, and the right to bring international claims to obtain reparation for damages. We are able to participate directly with international bodies and organizations created by legislation and treaties.

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights ARTICLE 20 1. states "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association". Roma do not have a country or officially recognized government. However, internally we have the Kris (Romani: kris) or Kris-Romani is a traditional court for conflict resolution in the culture of Roma branch of the Romani people.  It is a key institution for enforcing the Romani Code (Romani: romano zakono; zakonuri). within Romanipe.

 

Under European law, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union: article 12 says:

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Freedom of assembly and of association

 

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association at all levels, in particular in political, trade union and civic matters, which implies the right of everyone to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his or her interests.

 

2. Political parties at Union level contribute to expressing the political will of the citizens of the Union

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International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - Summary of relevant articles applicable.

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Article 1

1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

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3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

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Article 2

1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

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Article 16

Everyone shall have the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

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Article 19

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

 

2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice. 

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Article 20

1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law.

 

2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.

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Article 21

The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

 

Article 22

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

 

2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on members of the armed forces and of the police in their exercise of this right.

 

3. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to the International Labour Organisation Convention of 1948 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative measures which would prejudice, or to apply the law in such a manner as to prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.

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Article 25

Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:

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(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

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(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;

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(c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.

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Article 26

All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

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Article 27

In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.