Concerning the Roma and statistics…

In March 2011 the ERRC (European Roma Rights Center) published a report about trafficking in Romani communities. Entitled “Breaking the Silence”, this report, which covers five Central and Eastern Europe countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), aims “to raise awareness, but to avoid politicisation and stereotyping” (Foreword, p. 1).

In the introduction, the authors note that “despite the lack of concrete official data about trafficking and exploitation akin to trafficking of Roma, the present research documented widespread perceptions that Roma are affected by trafficking in human beings and that Roma are significantly overrepresented among trafficked persons in some countries” (p. 9).

In fact, according to the findings of this survey, the Roma represent, in 2010, “50-80 % of trafficked persons in Bulgaria, up to 70 % in parts of the Czech Republic, at least 40 % in Hungary, around 50 % in Romania and at least 60 % in Slovakia” (p. 11).

Where do these statistics come from? On what grounds are they based?

The authors carried out field research from February to April 2010. During this field research, they met different people concerned by the issue of trafficking. In all, 227 persons were interviewed (just over a dozen in each location). Amongst them were: police officers, prosecutors, health mediators, social workers, NGO and government representatives, mental health service providers and teachers. 26 “special informants” and 37 victims of trafficking were also interviewed.

Thus, in this report, the statistics concerning the involvement of Roma in trafficking activities are mainly based on estimations given by the “anti-trafficking service providers, police and Government officials” (p. 32). As the authors themselves acknowledge: “The source of the interviewees’ perception was self-identification or informal assessments based on living conditions or location, color of skin, etc. Although it was not explicitly stated by any interviewee, widespread public prejudice concerning the involvement of Roma in criminal activities may have influenced the answers of some interviewees” (ibid.)

In other words, it’s only on the basis of individual testimonies, which are obviously impressionistic and perhaps influenced by stereotypes, that the authors of Breaking the Silence have based their statistics and, consequently, established the “overrepresentation of Roma” in trafficking.

Whatever we may think about this report, the previous remarks lead us to question the relevance of the use of statistical and quantitative approaches when we aim to examine the situation of persons or groups referred to as minorities or disadvantaged. We can in particular wonder if such a statistical and quantitative approach doesn’t actually risk reinforcing the stigmatization of the groups referred to as Roma/Gypsies, and the exposure of these latter to the violence of mainstream society and its institutions. Especially if we take into account the current rise in anti-gypsyism in many European countries in a background of social, economical and political crisis.

Furthermore, we cannot forget that statistics, especially ethnic statistics, can be used as a scientific support for the reinforcement of existing stereotypes. This fact is highlighted by Cosima Rughinis in an article published in 2010 and entitled: « Quantitative Tales of Ethnic Differentiation: Measuring and Using Roma/Gypsy Ethnicity in Statistical Analyses ».

Are these observations not worthy to be scrutinized, not only by scholars, researchers or organizations supporting the Roma (such as the ERRC), but also, and more generally, by the institutions in charge of research policy and Roma inclusion, at the European level as well as at the national level?