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UPR of the United Kingdom – MRG’s contribution

12 April 2022

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) calls on UN member states to use the opportunity of the 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Kingdom, scheduled for November 2022, to address the situation of persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and of indigenous peoples in the country.

Despite an outward commitment to human rights reflected in ratified treaties, conventions and agreements in addition to international obligations, the United Kingdom remains a State in which Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people experience stark inequalities.

This document reports on the progress or deterioration of the enjoyment of human rights of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, structured by areas of life in which discrimination and barriers are routinely encountered. Under each theme, recommendations from the Third Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) 2017 are referenced and the current situation in the UK is outlined, before our recommendations are given for necessary changes the Government should address.

MRG urges reviewing States to recommend to the United Kingdom to:

  • Government should ensure long-term support for EU citizens and their family members. This could take the form of local authority-coordinated EUSS support centres, where:
    • EUSS holders could get support to access their EUSS status and prove it;
    • those who will be identified by authorities as not having EUSS yet could get support to make their EUSS applications;
    • those still awaiting a decision could get support to complete their applications;
    • those with the temporary Pre-Settled Status could get support with updating to permanent status.
  • Government should reconsider its position on the EUSS Digital Immigration Status. EUSS status holders should get a physical proof of status.

Click here to download the full contribution.

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