Marc Willers QC and Tim Baldwin, Garden Court Chambers, set out an overview of the discrimination and socio-economic disadvantages experienced by Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in the UK which, despite equality legislation and legal protection for their traditional way of life, has changed little over recent years.
The failure of policy-makers to address the inequalities they experience was highlighted by the Women and Equalities Committee report: Tackling inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The authors review recent Strasbourg and domestic discrimination case law relating to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
They conclude by identifying some goals to make better use of human rights and equalities legislation both as part of bringing cases and campaigning to improve protection for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.