Conferences

The 4th Conference on Traveller Law Reform, 29th November 2002
Friends House, Euston Road, London, 10am to 4.30pm

The momentum for law reform continues to gather speed. Gypsy and Traveller organisations have lobbied hard for reform in the two years since the 3rd conference; the conference presented them and all participants with an opportunity to share reform news and ideas, not least concerning the Traveller Law Reform Bill. There were nearly 230 delegates at the conference, from a great range of backgrounds.

Lord Avebury chaired the conference, and opened with an excellent speech about historical and current developments in respect of Gypsy and Traveller law and policy.

Chris Johnson, Solicitor, of the Traveller Advice Team (TAT) at the Community Law Partnership in Birmingham, then outlined the law reform platform and process in the five years leading up the conference. He described some of the cases taken by TAT in recent times, and some of the case law developments which may arise in the near future (further information from 0121 685 8595). He noted that, unlike any other societal group in the UK, Gypsies and Travellers may end up living in supermarket car parks and other unsuitable locations regardless of their level of poverty or wealth.

After thanking the funders and supporters of TLRU over the past 7 years, Rachel Morris of the Traveller Law Research Unit then spoke about race relations legislation, noting that central government itself may be in breach of the newly strengthened laws in this area. She noted that the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities at the Council of Europe have been highly critical of the UK's treatment of Gypsies and Travellers during 2002.

Father Joe Browne then spoke about the exciting developments in the momentum towards the enactment of the Traveller Law Reform Bill and asked those present and all those interested to join the Traveller Law Reform Coalition, write to their MPs or in other ways support the drive for equitable and practical reform in law and policy relating to Travelling People.

After a lunch break networking session of marathon proportions, in the afternoon Travelling People themselves and some of their services providers spoke about the problems they face daily with respect to accommodation, education, planning, health and racism, and expressed their support for any action which might diminish or alleviate these terrible difficulties.

Lord Avebury then closed the conference, with the last word being "together".

The Traveller Law Reform Bill is the product of a process over more than four years of discussion and collaboration by Gypsies and Travellers and their organisations and the statutory and voluntary sectors (including representatives from the police, local authorities, education and health providers, churches, equality organisations, lawyers and planners). The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has funded the technical drafting of the Bill which was undertaken by the Traveller Law Research Unit at Cardiff Law School, part of Cardiff University. The Bill was launched on 31 January 2002. A revised version of the Bill was adopted and read in the House of Commons by David Atkinson MP on 10 July, and was intended to receive its second reading in Parliament on 19 July. However, this was interrupted by a Labour Whip; it is therefore not clear at present what the Bill's future progress might be. However, a new Traveller Law Reform Coalition may yet make great strides.

The process formally commenced in 1997 when a proposal was made to create a common 'platform' to take forward the reform debate. This reform process has already produced a number of conferences and a law reform document published as Gaining Ground: Law Reform for Gypsies and Travellers (launched at the House of Lords on 31 May 1999), and accompanied by a number of significant and positive governmental policy changes.

One of the Unit's books, Gaining Ground, can be purchased from the University of Hertfordshire Press.