Letter from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

[Roma Virtual Network]

----- Original Message -----

From: Thomas Acton

To: STEPHENS Katie

Cc: László Fosztó

Sent: Friday, April 08, 2016 00:18

Subject: Re: Letter from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Dear Katie Stephens, 

Please convey my thanks to the Secretary-General for his kind response and the action taken. I note that the sentiments echo those of his response to Prof.Matras and Prof. Hancock and their supporters from European Academic Network on Romani Studies. 

But - while their letter focused precisely on the Press Release, my letter discussed the contradictions and unacceptable elements within the thematic plan itself, before mentioning the regrettable fact that the press release seized on these. 

I wonder if it is possible that we - that is all concerned with a positive approach to justice for Roma, whether with in the EANRS or other networks - might look more closely at those, and the extent to which it is discrimination against young married women and mothers in the education system, rather than legal early marriage which is the main problem.  Again, I write as a university teacher who helped many mature student mothers, including some Roma, who were the victims of such discrimination, but proved perfectly capable of studying later. 

Yours sincerely

---

From: STEPHENS Katie <Katie.S...@coe.int>
To: "thos...@yahoo.co.uk" <thos...@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Thursday, 7 April 2016, 15:19
Subject: Letter from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

On behalf of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

 

Dear Professor Acton,

 

Please find enclosed a letter for your kind attention.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Katie Stephens

 

 

 

Assistant

Private Office of the Secretary General and of the Deputy Secretary General

Cabinet du Secrétaire Général et de la Secrétaire Générale adjointe

Council of Europe / Conseil de l'Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg

Tel. + 33 (0)3 88 41 31 78

Fax. + 33 (0)3 88 41 27 99

E-mail: katie.s...@coe.int  

Internet: www.coe.int