Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe

Testimony to Anastasia Crickley, Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office to promote greater tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination

NLCHP was one of a select group of non-governmental organizations to speak with Ms. Crickley on her visit to the U.S.  In response to our testimony, Ms. Crickley commented that homelessness "is a critical issue for linking the hard edge of discrimination across the region."  She then shared the story, similar to that of many homeless persons in the U.S., of a Roma woman, living in a tent with her ten children who went to the hospital but was refused treatment, and died later that day in her tent.  Ms. Crickley promised to try to find the links between homelessness in the U.S. and other OSCE countries and raise them on the international level.

• Read NLCHP's testimony on racial discrimination in housing.
• Read more about the Personal Representative and her mandate. 
• Listen to the Personal Representative speaking on housing and other discrimination against Roma population in Europe.