A new publication on the housing estate of Luni IX in Košice, Slovakia. This housing estate is one of the most infamous Roma settlement in the country.
Lunik IX
Monthly Archives: February 2023
Germany: Exhibition
The exhibition “Race Diagnosis: Gypsy” will be held from February 23 to March 23 in the state parliament in Mainz, Germany.
The exhibition on the genocide of the Sinti and Roma shows the history of their persecution from the exclusion and disenfranchisement of the minority in the German Reich to their systematic annihilation in occupied Europe. In addition, the history of the survivors of the Holocaust, who were only later recognized as victims of the Nazis, is dealt with. At the end there is an outlook on the human rights situation of the Sinti and Roma in Europe after 1989.
- Ausstellung „Rassendiagnose: Zigeuner“ vom 23. Februar bis 23. März im Landtag. In: Sensor Magazin. 21.02.2023. https://sensor-magazin.de/ausstellung-rassendiagnose-zigeuner-vom-23-februar-bis-23-maerz-im-landtag/
Slovenia: Roma Community Council
Elections were held in Slovenia for the Roma Community Council. Jožef Horvat Sandreli was elected as its president unanimously.
- Izvolili predsednika sveta romske skupnosti. In: Pomurec. 21.02.2023. https://www.pomurec.com/vsebina/71577/Izvolili_predsednika_sveta_romske_skupnosti_
Bulgaria: Brawls
More articles on the fights between Roma in Plovdiv and in Montana. The fight in Plovdiv was broken up early, while the one in Montana escalated and saw one policeman wounded and 4 Roma rrested.
Bad.
- Полицай от Монтана е ранен при опит да спре саморазправа между ромски фамилии. In: BTA. 20.02.2023. https://bta.bg/bg/news/bulgaria/410607-politsay-ot-montana-e-ranen-pri-opit-da-spre-samorazprava-mezhdu-romski-familii
- Лъсна причината за бесния ромски екшън с колове на пловдивски булевард. In: Blitz. 20.02.2023. https://blitz.bg/obshtestvo/lsna-prichinata-za-besniya-romski-ekshn-s-kolove-na-plovdivski-bulevard_news938176.html
Bulgaria: Brawls
Two articles in the Bulgarian press about fights between Roma families: One in Montana, in the north of the country, and one in Plovdiv, in the South East. The fights are apparently brutal. This is really not good for Roma.
- Окървавен полицай, хвърчащи бетонни павета, тухли и дърва – такъв ромски екшън стресна Монтана. In: Blitz. 19.02.2023. https://blitz.bg/kriminalni/okrvaven-politsay-khvrchashchi-betonni-paveta-tukhli-i-drva-takv-romski-ekshn-stresna-montana_news937964.html
- Дългогодишна вражда между ромски кланове е причина за боя с прътове в Пловдив. In: Dunav Most. 19.02.2023. https://www.dunavmost.com/novini/dalgogodishna-vrazhda-mezhdu-romski-klanove-e-prichina-za-boya-s-pratove-v-plovdiv
Hanau – Three years Ago
Three years after the racist attack in Hanau, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) spoke of a “shock for all of us” that is still having an effect today. The suffering of the victims and their grieving relatives must be given more attention in our remembrance, she demanded on Sunday – exactly three years after the attack. Other top politicians and the evangelical church also commemorated the victims.
- Staatsministerin Roth: Schock von Hanau wirkt bis heute nach. In: Yahoo News. 19.02.2023. https://de.nachrichten.yahoo.com/staatsministerin-roth-schock-hanau-wirkt-113724087.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABPYqbemuxR56niyQDVMiLyEjEQTQU32sF-9-fCf7n18nUU9mM2aYgort6S0uay9ugomBnmNvhVl7CY2KnvoY_VrJx9AiwAedWA6SNvfA6l4gg6Q5iO_YuYi26JtxSFspffsVX6ms0qkZp7syXDC3mVITcoThOR6IvUUmKz1jAIL
Czech Republic and Forced Sterilisations
The Czech Prime Minister has condemned the current process of compensation of the victims of forced sterilisations. Several of them were turned down, even though the official reason for the sterilisation was that they were Roma.
Good – but it took time …
- Czech PM condemns Health Ministry process for compensating illegally sterilized women, says officials are being too bureaucratic and unhelpful. In: Romea. 17.02.2023. https://romea.cz/en/czech-republic/czech-pm-condems-health-ministry-process-for-compensating-illegally-sterilized-women-says-officials-are-being-too-bureaucratic-and-unhelpful
Małgorzata Mirga-Tas
An exhibition of the works of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas in Ferrara, Italy.
- „PRZECZAROWUJĄC ŚWIAT” – WYSTAWA MAŁGORZATY MIRGA- TAS W FERRARZE. In: Polacy we Włoszech. 18.02.2023. https://www.polacywewloszech.com/2023/02/18/przeczarowujac-swiat-wystawa-malgorzaty-mirga-tas-w-ferrarze/
Roma in Kosovo
A reportage in Mitrovica, Kosovo, among Roma. It is bad and is not improving, 15 years after the declaration of independence.
- KOSOVO, 15 ANS D’INDÉPENDANCE (4/6) • LES ROMS TOUJOURS MARGINALISÉS. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 15.02.2023. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Kosovo-15-ans-d-independance-4-6-o-les-Roms-toujours-marginalises
French Chronicle …
Not much about Roma this week in France. A Roma association lodged a complaint against the mayor of Villeron, near Paris, where the mayor and many of the residents illegally destroyed a Roma camp. Apparently, the mayor was shouting racist comments while this happened. In Lyon, another fire in a Roma camp. In Annecy, the story of a man who had so sell his parent’s house as it was squatted by Roma. Finally, a Rom killed on a highway in Nantes.
- Val-d’Oise : Plainte contre le maire après la destruction d’un camp de Roms à Villeron. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 13.02.2023. https://www.20minutes.fr/paris/4023178-20230213-val-oise-plainte-contre-maire-apres-destruction-camp-roms-villeron
- Lyon : les pompiers mobilisés sur un feu dans un campement de Roms. In: Lyon Capitale. 16.02.2023. https://www.lyoncapitale.fr/actualite/lyon-les-pompiers-mobilises-sur-un-feu-dans-un-campement-de-roms
- Annecy: squattée par des Roms, il décide à contrecœur de vendre sa maison. In: L’Essor Savoyard. 15.02.2023. https://www.lessorsavoyard.fr/55216/article/2023-02-15/annecy-squattee-par-des-roms-il-decide-contrecoeur-de-vendre-sa-maison
- Piéton fauché sur le périphérique nantais, la garde à vue du conducteur a été levée ce dimanche dans l’après-midi. In: FR3. 12.02.2023. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/loire-atlantique/reze/pieton-fauche-sur-le-peripherique-nantais-la-garde-a-vue-du-conducteur-a-ete-levee-ce-dimanche-dans-l-apres-midi-2712942.html
Minorities of Kosovo
An article about all the others (i.e. non-Serbian) minorities in Kosovo, and mostly on Roma. The situation is still not good, with unemployment, discrimination, and emigration.
- Kosovo: Kako žive nacionalne manjine i zašto retko ko tu vidi budućnost za decu. In: BBC News. 16.02.2023. https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/balkan-64655724
José Cortes “Pansequito”
One of the great voices of Flamenco died: José Cortes “Pansequito”.
May he rest in peace!
- El mundo del flamenco llora la muerte de ‘Pansequito’: “Una pérdida irreparable”. In: Il Diario de Sevilla. 17.02.2023. https://www.diariodesevilla.es/cultura/flamenco-cantaor-Jose-Cortes-Pansequito_0_1767124361.html
Hungary: An Interview
An interview with Roland Ferkovic, a Rom, about his issues with Hungarian higher education.
- Interview with Roland Ferkovics. In: Times Higher Education. 16.02.2023. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/people/interview-roland-ferkovics
Roma in the Czech Republic
An article about Roma in the Czech Republic. It states that the most numerous Roma in the Czech Republic are Slovak Roma, who make up about 75 to 80% of the total number of Roma in the country. In addition, the original Czech Roma live in the Czech Republic, as well as German Sinti and Olaš Roma. All this according to Markéta Hajská from the Department of Central European Studies.
Well, less than 60 families of Czech Roma survived the war. This is the reason why after World War Two, the Communist regime resettled Roma to the Czech part of the country. The Olaš – these are Vlach Roma, have been there since the beginning oof the 20th century. Should be enough to make then Czech.
In brief, the usual for that country. Unfortunately.
- Olašští Romové spolu mluví výhradně romsky. Je to pro ně otázkou cti. In: Radiožurnal. 17.02.2023. https://radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/olassti-romove-spolu-mluvi-vyhradne-romsky-je-pro-ne-otazkou-cti-8932872
Jan Hero
An interview with Jan Hero, the Slovak Commissioner for Roma Communities. In the interview, he says that “undignified living or existence is not an ethnic problem”, spoke about how his childhood in a Roma settlement motivates him to work as a government representative for Roma, and that he expects politicians to use Roma instead of the derogatory “cigan”.
- Splnomocnenec pre rómske komunity Hero: Fico by nemal o Rómoch hovoriť ako o Cigánoch. In: Dennik N. 16.02.2023. https://dennikn.sk/3241976/splnomocnenec-pre-romske-komunity-hero-fico-by-nemal-o-romoch-hovorit-ako-o-ciganoch/
Slovakia: Segregation
The Slovak Supreme Court ruled that at the primary school in Stará Ľubovna, Roma children are segregated. The Court decisions is based on the appeal of the non-governmental organization Counseling for Civil and Human Rights. It has been conducting court proceedings in this matter since 2015 after a public lawsuit was filed under the Anti-Discrimination Act.
The defendants are the Slovak Republic, represented by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic, and the founder of the school, which is the city of Stará Ľubovňa. According to the judgment, the defendants “violated the principle of equal treatment by not taking sufficient preventive measures to protect against discrimination and measures to eliminate discrimination against Roma children” in primary schools based on their ethnic origin.
- Na základnej škole v Starej Ľubovni sú rómske deti vo vzdelávaní segregované, rozhodol Najvyšší súd. In: Aktuality. 14.02.2023. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/TxPLEG1/na-zakladnej-skole-v-starej-lubovni-su-romske-deti-vo-vzdelavani-segregovane-rozhodol-najvyssi-sud/
- Najvyšší súd: Na ZŠ v Starej Ľubovni sú rómske deti segregované. In: Teraz. 13.02.2023. https://www.teraz.sk/regiony/najvyssi-sud-na-zs-v-starej-lubov/694190-clanok.html
- Stará Ľubovňa verdikt Najvyššieho súdu rešpektuje, ale tvrdenie o segregácii odmieta. In: SME Korzar. 14.02.2023. https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/23134083/stara-lubovna-verdikt-najvyssieho-sudu-respektuje-ale-tvrdenie-o-segregacii-odmieta.html
Czech Republic: A Success Story
The story of a small town in the mountains which, 10 years ago had several Roma settlements on the outskirts of the town, where Roma did not attend school, with high unemployment. Thanks to the effort of a social worker Markéta Horneková, who developed a community centre so that the children had somewhere to spend their time meaningfully after school and built a team of field workers from local skilled Roma who were eager to make a difference, huge progress was made.
With the mayor also pitching in, the situation has totally changed ten years later.
Well done.
- Žít ve Velkých Hamrech býval horor. Radnice problém vyřešila chytře a lidsky. In: Denik. 14.02.2023. https://www.denik.cz/z_domova/velke-hamry-vyloucene-lokality.html
Slovakia: Scathing Assessment
A really scathing assessment of the Slovak Republic Strategy for Roma education between 2016 and 2020. According to the official audit, 173 Mio Euros were spent, which in comparison to 500’000 Roma in the country is not exactly a lot.
The programs did not meet their own set goals. Worse, the programs did not have clearly specified goals. Thus, according to the article, “it was not possible to monitor the progress and adapt the activities or to inform the public about the development. Later, the indicators were modified, which lost continuity and made everything even more unclear. What did not change over time was the problem of data unavailability. They were missing during the entire period.”
- Minuli 173 miliónov na vzdelávanie Rómov. Bez výsledku. In: Dennik N. 14.02.2023. https://dennikn.sk/3238319/minuli-173-milionov-na-vzdelavanie-romov-bez-vysledku/
Slovenia: Really???
As part of the National Platform for Roma project, the Government Office for Nationalities has prepared a video competition on the topic of early and forced marriages in the Roma community. It is possible to register a video, the purpose of which will be to raise awareness and educate about the inadmissibility of early and forced marriages in the Roma community.
Well, forced marriages are not the norm. Early are common, because married life means living with someone else. This “competition” will increase the stereotypes, not fight against poverty and exclusion.
- Urad vlade za narodnosti z video natečajem na temo zgodnjih in prisilnih porok pri Romih. In: STA. 14.02.2023. https://www.sta.si/3138898/urad-vlade-za-narodnosti-z-video-natecajem-na-temo-zgodnjih-in-prisilnih-porok-pri-romih
Lithuanian Folklore and Roma
Ištvan Kvik, the well-known Lithuanian singer and leader of the Romano ensemble “Sare Roma”, is mostly known for Roma songs. He is now venturing in the Lithuanian folklore. Looking at Lithuanian folk songs from a different perspective, he says that they can also be given a fierier Roma touch. He also says that anyhow, Roma music has always been influenced by local music.
- Kvikas – apie kolegų netektis, pasirodymą D.Čižausko atminimo koncerte ir norą švęsti gyvenimą. In: 15 Min. 14.02.2023.https://www.15min.lt/zmones/naujiena/lietuva/i-kvikas-apie-kolegu-netektis-pasirodyma-d-cizausko-atminimo-koncerte-ir-nora-svesti-gyvenima-1050-2008796?copied
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