Initiative launched to combat Roma stereotyping

Fighting Roma stereotyping based on "Gypsy crime" as well as encouraging Roma youth to consider careers as police officers are the goals of an initiative launched in Budapest on Monday, organisers said at a press-conference.

"All Gypsies are criminals" is the most often repeated stereotype concerning the Roma in Hungary and across Europe, UK Ambassador to Hungary Greg Dorey said at the briefing. He added that he hoped the campaign would help change that false image.

The initiative may open up a new era of openness and tolerance, said U.S. Ambassador April H. Foley.

It is feared that the current economic crisis will expand into a social and moral crisis, and we have to do everything in our power to prevent that, Hungarian MEP Katalin Levai said. People tend to look for scapegoats when their livelihoods become uncertain, she said.

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