Thomas Hammarberg is dedicated to strengthening Sinti and Roma rights in Europe, which he believes are "shamefully flawed". In a number of speeches and statements, Hammarberg actively seeks to improve living conditions for the largest minority in Europe and criticises the alarming levels of racism directed at these people. Hammarberg paints a clear picture of the situation; for example, in his latest report on Italy he heavily criticises the Italian authorities over their treatment of Sinti and Roma people.
In 2010, Hammarberg published a comprehensive position paper on the human rights situation of Sinti and Roma, in which he stressed the need for a unified and comprehensive programme aimed at improving the situation, warning that "today's rhetoric against the Roma is alarmingly similar to that used by the Nazis before the mass killings started".
In a published letter to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel dating back to 2009, Hammarberg calls for a halt on deportations to Kosovo in particular, saying that those deported there are exposed to political persecution and are forced to live in camps. He repeated this "urgent recommendation" one year later in a letter to the then German Federal Minister of the Interior, Lothar de Mazière. A special committee organised by Hammarberg described a Roma camp in Kosovo as "a humanitarian catastrophe".
The EU Human Rights Commissioner also heavily criticised France's mass deportation of Roma in 2010.
When deciding on the prize-winner, the jury chair Romani Rose highlighted the resilience and passion shown by Hammarberg in his work. The founder of the prize, Dr Manfred Lautenschläger, praised Hammarberg for his "exemplary human rights work."
Journalist George Lacatus, winner of the special prize endowed with 5,000 euros, works as an investigative reporter at the Romania Liberia, one of Romania's most popular newspapers. Lacatus is engaged in a number of activities which aim to abolishing stereotypes and negativity towards Roma people in the Romanian media and promote awareness and understanding among journalists with regard to Roma issues. In 2009, Lacatus founded the Roma Journalists Association (RJA) which he has presided over ever since. Work carried out by the RJA centres on three main areas: It denounces racist media reports, organises journalism courses and is also a collaborative partner for Roma NGOs at press conferences and journalist training programmes.
The European Civil Rights Prize introduced in 2007 aims at defending civil rights and equal opportunities of Sinti and Roma minorities in their European home countries. It also seeks to send an important message to politicians, the media and social groups across Europe to fight against deep-rooted clichés, prejudices and any form of exclusion.
Further information can be found at www.buergerrechtspreis.de [German] and www.civilrightsprize.com [English].