Environs of discrimination or WHERE DOES IT HAPPEN?

• In employment and profession

It is considered discrimination if, based on ethnic origin, a person is treated unfavorably in application for employment, awarded less compensation for equal work, provided unjustifiably lower work conditions than others, or intimidated by bullies in the workplace. A good example is demonstrated by a situation where a Roma with a Master’s degree is not accepted for a job requiring university education, yet a non-Roma with only a high school education eventually fills the position. Another example of discrimination is presented if a person in a small town with a Hungarian majority is victimized by colleagues simply because that person does not understand Hungarian language.

• In school

Bullying by schoolmates, unfavorable grading from teachers, or non-acceptance at entrance exams is considered discrimination. If teachers influenced by stereotypes automatically accuse a Roma child of stealing in a dressing room, it is also discriminatory.

• In healthcare

It is discrimination if perhaps in a maternity hospital, Roma women are placed in a special, separate room (segregation), or if doctors perform surgical procedures on them without asking for their permission, although permission is necessary for any surgery and always collected from white female patients. A doctor’s refusal to provide treatment to a patient because of his or her darker skin also counts as discrimination.

• In social affairs

Not informing or providing social rights to (f.e.) Roma families even though they are entitled to it by law, is considered discriminatory.

• In products and services provision

Unreasonable refusal of restroom personnel to allow a Roma to enter the facility, or a shop assistant’s unwillingness to give out clothes for trial to a Roma customer, etc., is considered discriminatory.

• At offices

It is discriminatory when a state firm organizing a public tender gives preference to a candidate of the same nationality as the responsible state official, even though another competing candidate’s offer was better. Assigning grand or donation from Euro Funds on basis of ethnic affiliation of the applicant is also considered discrimination.

• At the police, in court

It is discriminatory for the police to provide ineffective legal protection against race-motivated attacks on life, health or possession of someone. It is also discriminatory if a court shows partiality towards particular ethnic members.

• In different situations

F.e. the refusal of the youth organization “Turista” (“Traveler”) to admit a Roma as a new member, although the organization’s statute allows everybody equal membership.