On 1 March 2012, the Independent newspaper published a letter by Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
In his letter Mr Hammarberg voices his concern that Gypsies and Travellers’ right to adequate housing is not being met and refers particularly to Dale Farm. He calls on ‘Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to ensure that a settlement is found to the crisis, which would protect the Travellers’ legal right to housing and respect their cultural diversity’.
He also notes that ‘central government has a duty to ensure that local acts do not lead to human rights violations’.
Click here for letter
