Germany Roma Families Camping in Goerlitzer Park in Berlin

September 2, 2011

A series of German articles published in the Berlin newspaper “Der Tagesspiegel”, cover the case of three Romani families camping in Goerlitzer Park, a recreational area located in the heart of Berlin. According to the article Anger at Roma in Görlitzer Park August 2011), approximately 30 people (including two babies and many children) were evicted from their flats by the landlord on 4 August 2011, after complaints about them being “too noisy, aggressive, extremely smelly and messy”. By the time the last article was published on 2 September 2011, the Romani families had been living in the park in inhumane conditions for more than four weeks.

The article Romanians should leave Göerlitzer Park August 2011) also reports that while the Senate of Berlin sees the government of the district of Kreuzberg in charge of the issue, the district itself demands a Berlin-wide solution, especially since similar cases can be found throughout the entire capital.

On 29 August 2011, a group of 70 activists gathered for a demonstration against the discrimination of Roma, which not only addressed the situation of the Romani families in Goerlitzer Park, but also the general prejudices against Roma which persist throughout Europe and which exacerbates the situation of those fleeing from poverty.

The article New home last chance (31 August 2011) indicates that at least one family was given a new apartment in the district of Mariendorf in the south of Berlin. The chance to move was provided by a local humanitarian organisation named “Humanitas-Hilfe e.V.”. However, not only the rental fee of 850 Euro per month will be problematic for the family, but also the fact that the children were well-integrated into the local schools in the district of Kreuzberg. The pre-school teacher Annegret Byfield expressed her concern about the children no longer coming to school when living in a different district.

Two articles on 2 September 2011 (Roma still camp out in the park and Training and work instead of resentment) state that there are still a few Roma camping in the park, but instead of the police expelling them from the park, the district government intends to wait until an apartment for the remaining families is found as well.

The fact that shelter as a human right does not imply that governments must provide each one of their citizens with a roof. However, in all countries there exist people who, because of personal issues are unable to obtain housing for themselves. In those situations, governments are obliged to help make housing accessible and need to provide the means for the realization of the right to a decent standard of living. A solution should be developed either by the individual Berlin districts or by the Senate and institutions designated which are responsible for adequately taking care of such cases. Housing provides a foundation for the achievement of other human rights, such as the right to work, education and family. In order not to interrupt the integration process, it should be guaranteed that the children may continue to attend the schools they already are well-established at. The Romani families in Berlin are just a small example for the Europe-wide stigmatisation of the Roma. Bad hygiene, noise and aggressive begging are not ethnical characteristics. Instead of racist resentments, what should be provided is access to work and education. Nevertheless, and in contrast to other Western European countries such as France, it needs to be positively highlighted that Germany seeks alternatives to the act of simply expelling Romani people from the country.

Comments: Olga Herzenberg, Regional Office for Central and South Eastern Europe, Terre des Hommes- Child Relief