According to the British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG) Website, the organization was founded in 1992 as an "independent" non-governmental organization focused on monitoring democracy and human rights in member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Website outlines the organization's "profile" stating, in part, that the BHHRG does not take "a corporate view" or "a political stance." The BHHRG is a registered charity in Britain that "has no links with organisations like the Council of Europe or the International Helsinki Federation" (8 Mar. 1998). Further information on the BHHRG is available at the organization's Website.

For opinions concerning bias and credibility and information regarding funding, please consult the following attached documents: Transitions Online Feb. 1999, "Clashing Over Europe's Strongmen"; and "War of the Monitors". Also attached is an open letter of 2 April 1999 by Monika Horakova, Czech Republic Member of Parliament and European Roma Rights Center member, which is critical of a BHHRG report on the situation of Roma in the Czech Republic.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG). 8 March 1998. "About BHHRG." http://www.bhhrg.org/about.htm [Accessed 27 June 2000]

European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). 2 April 1999. "Press Statement." http://errc.org/publications/letters/1999/cz_apr_2_1999.shtml [Accessed 27 June 2000]

European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC). 2 April 1999. "Press Statement." http://errc.org/publications/letters/1999/cz_apr_2_1999.shtml [Accessed 27 June 2000]

Transitions [Prague]. Feb. 1999. Luke Allnutt. "Clashing Over Europe's Strongmen." http://www.ijt.cz/transitions/feb99/clashing.html [Accessed 27 June 2000]

_____. Feb. 1999. Jeremy Druker. "War of the Monitors." http://www.ijt.cz/transitions/feb99/warofthe.html [Accessed 27 June 2000]