Author Archives: Roma Foundation

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Roma Children in Institutions

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Roma Children in Institutions

According to estimates, between 60 and 70% placed in institutions in Bulgaria are Roma, although Roma make up just over 10% of the population. Sometimes they end up there with unconvincing arguments. The state does not collect data on any stage of the process, but a study by the Non-Profit Association “Equal Opportunities Initiative” shows that on the one hand, institutions are more likely to remove Roma children from their families, and on the other hand, one of the main risks leading to separation between children and parents – poverty – most often occurs among Roma. The researchers brought together community representatives and organizations working with families at risk in search of solutions.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Romology Closure

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Romology Closure

The Institute of Romology Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra is closing down after 35 years. At the end of June, the proposal of the Dean of the Faculty, Tomáš Sollár, was approved by the Academic Senate.

The restructuring of the institute is to create a department of social work for Roma communities at the Department of Social Work and Social Sciences. This also includes personnel cuts – from the original three assistant professors and one associate professor, only two assistant professors will remain in the new department.

Says a lot about priorities …

Czech Republic

Pilsen Brawl

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Pilsen Brawl

A brawl between Roma families in Pilsen saw the intervention of the police, and cast a shadow on this event.

Bad.

Czech Republic Europe News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Festivals …

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Roma Festivals …

An editorial one can only agree with. There is a multiplication of events called “Roma festivals”. This article focuses on the ones created in Slovakia, but this is a phenomenon that exists across Europe. Quality, impact, and meaningfulness are seldom discussed. We have basic folklore, unfortunately pandering to the usual stereotypes.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Folklore …

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Folklore …

Another one of those kinds of articles. All stereotypes included. Good musicians who “migrated through Europe for thousands of years”, and so on. Well meant, but full of stereotypes.

As one says: Hell is paved with good intentions.

France News Western Europe

Art and Roma

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Art and Roma

An interview with art historian, art critic (she won the AICA prize in 2023) and curator, Elora Weill-Engerer. She is publishing “Le jour lui n’a qu’un jour. Sept textes sur Ceija Stojka” [The day has only one day: seven texts about Čeja Stijka. this fall and is curator of the exhibition “Les Rois morts” [Dead Kings] at the Suzanne Tarasieve gallery in Paris (until August 2). She is currently preparing, under the supervision of Elvan Zabunyan and Pierre Wat, a doctoral thesis at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne on the

The later part, unfortunately, reflects the lack of knowledge in France about Roma and the still prevailing stereotypes.

News Eastern Europe North Macedonia

North Macedonia and Housing for Roma

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North Macedonia and Housing for Roma

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said at the “Conversations for Equality” event, on the theme “Roma Right to Housing,” organized by the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, that despite the continued work of non-governmental and international organizations, the lives of Roma have not improved significantly.

Well, it will not unless the majority population changes their minds…

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

The usual in France about Roma. The reedition of a reportage in a Roma slum in Marseille, perpetuating stereotypes. With the closure of a camp in Nantes, the Roma families are asked to sign a convention with the municipality, pushing them towards compliance with norms and involvement with social services. Finally, also in Nantes, in a neighbourhood where Roma were given housing are protesting against them.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Planned Protests

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Planned Protests

in Šentjernej in Slovenia, where, according to media “the Roma issue has reached its peak”, a protest rally will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m., organized by the local Šentjernej People’s Initiative. The reason for it is the increasingly frequent violent events in the municipality and the fact that state authorities are not taking action. The fundamental rights of citizens, such as security, public order and peace, equality before the law and social justice, are at risk.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Letter to the Editor

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Letter to the Editor

A letter to the editor on a Roma musician who gave a concert below the windows of an apartment block in Sopot, a Polish town on the Baltic sea. The author of the letter takes it with humour, saying it is not Roma, it is the noise, and adds other sources of disturbance including nationalist marches…

Bulgaria

Underage Cohabitation

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Underage Cohabitation

Two articles about a court sentencing parents for cohabitation with underage girls (i.e. under 14 years old).The court in Kyustendil has handed down four sentences since the beginning of the year for cohabitation with underage girls, reports the BTA correspondent in Kyustendil.

In three of the cases, the girl was a minor, i.e. under 14 years of age, and the magistrates have imposed heavier penalties – suspended sentences for the young adults. The sentences are for a period of between three and seven months, with a three-year probationary period. The fourth sentence is a fine.

The other case is in Dupnitsa, which imposed probation and a fine on parents who facilitated their minor son to live as a conjugal with a girl under 16 years of age without entering into marriage.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Fights

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Bulgaria: Fights

Two articles in the Bulgarian press about fights between Roma. In one case, a Rom with an axe smashed the window of the car of a rival in the Nessembar province; in the other, a Roma was stabbed in Burgas.

These kind of news are really bad for Roma.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Croatia: Marko Perković Thompson

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Croatia: Marko Perković Thompson

A concert last Saturday in Croatia’s capital Zagreb by Marko Perković “Thompson”, attended by an estimated 500’000 people leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Nazi salutes, Ustaša symbols and songs.
Scary.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Security in Slovenia

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Security in Slovenia

According to the acting director general of the police Petrič, statistics really show that southeast Slovenia is more burdened by the number of crimes per 1,000 inhabitants than other parts of the country. The security situation in the municipality of Šentjernej is “somewhat complicated”, so the police will increase their presence there, said Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar after today’s meeting with Šentjernej Mayor Jože Simončič, which was also attended by the first police chief Damjan Petrič. The municipality is experiencing an increased number of attacks on citizens.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: Attack?

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Slovenia: Attack?

SDS MP Anja Bah Žibert shared a post on Facebook in which she stated that a Roma attack on a 72-year-old man allegedly took place in Ljubljana. She also attached a photo showing the alleged victim with a severely swollen eye, and according to the MP, he allegedly suffered a fractured cheekbone and other injuries.

There are several articles – but no confirmation so far as to whether it was Roma or why the man was attacked.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Fate in Bulgaria

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Fate in Bulgaria

Dafina Paskaleva’s life was not easy: he grew up in an orphanage, because his Roma parents apparently abandoned him as a baby. Everyone told him that he would never amount to anything. Today, he is a teacher who believes in his students – and they in him.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Interview

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Slovakia: Interview

An interview with the musicians Silvia and Vanessa Šarköziová, two Romnja who tour Europe with the groups “Gypsy Devils”. Not the most profound interview, as one of the question is: how are Slovak women perceived aboard? And the answer by Silvia is, that she doesn’t quite fit the perceptions.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Montenegro: Protest

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Montenegro: Protest

The Roma Council of Montenegro has strongly condemned the public statement of Veljo Stanišić, winner of the highest state award – the Thirteenth of July Award – who, commenting on Miloš Karadaglić’s decision to refuse the award, said in a public television appearance on TV Gradska: “That’s how Gypsies work.”

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