Travelers demonstrate near the headquarters of the European metropolis of Lille (Mel) to defend a “charter of fundamental rights” The charter aims to ensure Travelers “fundamental rights, present in the French Constitution, to which we, Travelers, do not have the right” “Our rights are constantly violated, we are victims of discrimination which ranges from familiarity to arbitrary expulsions,” says organizer Sue-Ellen Demestre. La Mel has 14 reception areas and four passage areas, for nearly 900 places in total, the occupancy of which is subject to authorization.
The metropolis assures that each expulsion “was decided by order of the court” and is in no way “arbitrary or discriminatory” The life expectancy of Travelers is on average ten years shorter than that of the rest of the population, according to the Council of Europe, including hunger and malnutrition, lack of vaccination, unsanitary housing and a significantly higher unemployment rate.