E/CN.4/2000/16/Add.1 page 21 accession to the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons would facilitate the search for solutions to this worrying situation and would also contribute to the integration of the Roma. E. Action by civil society 91. A large number of Roma associations are active in several areas, partiicularly at the political and social levels and in the area of education, and provide significant support to government initiatives. A number of associations provide legal support for the victims of racial discrimination and are constantly working towards the elimination of this scourge. These ethnic associations enjoy the cooperation with non-governmental organizations such as Liga Pro Europa. 92. The Roma Centre for Studies and Social Action (Romani CRISS) is one of the most active organizations both in the fight against racial discrimination and in carrying out economic, social or educational projects. The Centre collaborates with governmental and municipal bodies, provides legal assistance to the victims of racial discrimination and makes recommendations to the Government with a view to amending laws. It comprises mainly Roma students, jurists and lawyers. One of the organization’s jurists, Nicolae Gheorge, was recently appointed councillor for Roma and Sinti affairs at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), where he helps to work out regional strategies to resolve problems affecting this minority. 93. Romani CRISS was involved in the discussions between the police and Roma associations aimed at finding ways to improve relations between the former and members of the Roma minority. It also cooperates with the Ministry of Education to improve school conditions for Roma children and the teaching of the Romany language. 94. The Roma Party (Partida Romilor) is a politically active association and the only Roma organization represented in Parliament. It claims to have 800 members in 200 subsections throughout Romania. It campaigns for Roma unity and to improve the economic and social conditions of the Roma. 95. Lastly, an important figure is the “King of all Roma”, His Majesty Florin Cioaba, who is also the president of the Christian Roma Centre in Romania. The King devotes himself to various economic activities, the profits from which go towards various Roma community projects in Sibiu, including the construction of a handicraft training centre intended to revive traditional Roma crafts such as basket-making, woodworking and copper-working. The King also exerts moral authority: as departmental councillor of the Roma Party, he exercises some influence within his region. 96. The Romanian Human Rights Institute, established in 1991 with the support of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, is helping to create a human rights culture in Romania by disseminating regional and international human rights instruments. It trains instructors in the field of human rights and takes the lead in studies of human rights issues in Romanian society, organizing seminars and workshops on various subjects. The Institute also presents a monthly radio programme for the general public.