The European Union is committed to upholding Human Rights and sees this as a core and essential part of its role. As such the EU seeks to protect and defend these rights within member states and in interactions with non-members. The Roma are one of the largest minority groups within the EU numbering over six million people. Despite their number they have faced a long history of systematic abuse and significant marginalisation within Europe. Reports on the situation of the Roma within Europe have found that they remain one of the most vulnerable minorities and still fall significantly behind their European counterparts in regards to education, employment, access to health care, and housing. The EU recognises that there are issues of human rights violations relating to the treatment and integration of the Roma within the EU and have taken steps to encourage each member state to take responsibility and work towards greater Roma inclusion specifically in the areas of health, housing, education and employment and non-discrimination at a policy, police and social level. Historical Persecution Antiziganism has resulted in a long history of persecution of the Roma people. From the time of their initial migration in the 11th or 12th century they have faced mistrust, abuse, slavery, and general discrimination. This reached a peak during the Second World War where a large number of Roma faced genocide at the hands of the Nazis in the Porajmos (Roma Holocaust). Since World War Two the continued migration of the Roma from Eastern Europe to the rest of Europe has resulted in continued discrimination and marginalisation often stemming from misunderstanding, fear, and systematic abuse. Lisbon Treaty Under the Lisbon treaty the European Union was given an extra degree of force and ability to address issues of human rights violations within its member states. The Lisbon treaty came into force on 1 December 2009 and with it the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding, having the same force as primary EU law and making it the primary source of human rights law within the European Union. This was a significant step for the EU's ability to ensure human rights are maintained within member states and allow the EU courts to strike down legislation that was not consistent with the Human Rights charter National Roma integration strategy The European Union has taken positive steps towards changing the position of the Roma and eliminating