Author Archives: Roma Foundation

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary Commemoration

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Hungary Commemoration

August 2 is recognized as the international memorial day for the Roma Genocide during the Holocaust, marking the liquidation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Roma camp in 1944, where over 3,000 Roma were killed by the SS.

A remembrance event will take place in Miskolc, Hungary, including a mass for the victims and speeches by notable figures, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Roma Holocaust Memorial.

The Roma Holocaust remains a lesser-known aspect of World War II, with ongoing efforts to ensure its recognition and remembrance in historical narratives.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

School Dropouts

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School Dropouts

The city of Podgorica and the NGO Center for Roma Initiatives have published a book addressing the causes and consequences of Roma and Egyptian children’s dropout from primary education, authored by Fana Delija.

The book emphasizes the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty and discrimination, urging policymakers to ensure that no child drops out of school and to promote social integration.

The publication coincides with the European Day of Remembrance for the Roma genocide during World War II, aiming to foster understanding and combat racial discrimination in Montenegro.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial Service

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Vienna Memorial Service

A memorial service for Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust will take place on August 2 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, led by Auxiliary Bishop Franz Scharl, with a wreath-laying ceremony to follow.

Austria officially recognizes August 2 as a National Holocaust Remembrance Day for Roma and Sinti, commemorating the murder of approximately 4,300 individuals in Auschwitz in 1944.

The 30th Roma Pilgrimage to Mariazell is scheduled for August 9, celebrating faith and culture, with participation from Roma communities across Europe.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation Confusion

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Relocation Confusion

Mihály Dancs (from the Hungarian Roma Autonomy) discusses an agreement for the social department of the Košice municipality to visit families in Szalonna to understand their situation and help them stay if they wish. From the article it is not clear whether they have already been relocated or the relocation is intended.

He expresses doubts about the feasibility of families commuting to school in Košice due to language barriers and long travel distances, which could lead to conflicts within the local Roma community.

Dancs emphasizes the need to support the Roma families from Košice while ensuring that tensions do not arise within the Hungarian Roma community.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation Update

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Relocation Update

The Slovak city of Košice is destroying a Roma settlement. Some of the families seem to have been relocated to Szalonna, Hungary.

The mayor of Encs urged residents not to sell properties to prevent the town from becoming a site for these relocations, labeling the situation as a ‘ghetto’ issue.

Political tensions are rising, with right-wing parties like Mi Hazánk opposing the influx of Romani individuals, citing concerns about their integration and criminal backgrounds.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

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Austria and Roma

In May, the police in Neusiedl am See issued a warning about a group of Roma in Parndorf, which sparked public outrage and criticism.

The warning referred to members of the ‘traveling people’ who were in the area, specifically a group of Roma from Alsace, France, and Germany, who frequently stop in Austrian communities during their travels to Evangelical Mission meetings.

It now turns out that the warning was vetted within the police …

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

NGOs in Montenegro

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NGOs in Montenegro

The NGO “Mladi Romi Podgorice” received funding for the project “One Country, Many Stories: An Intercultural Journey of Youth through Montenegro” aimed at enhancing intercultural dialogue and understanding between Roma, Egyptian, and majority youth in Montenegro.

The other article discusses the financial support of 120,000 euros provided to the NGO Elita Plus, co-founded by Astrit Hodža, the Secretary of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Various projects funded by the ministry over the years are detailed, highlighting significant amounts awarded to Elita Plus, which has led to calls for an investigation into possible misuse of public office.

The NGO Network from the north of Montenegro has urged authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the funding and the involvement of Hodža, who has been in office since June 2022.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Roma Teachers

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Roma Teachers

The shortage of teachers is a significant challenge for the educational system, but a new initiative is helping young people find careers in education.

The initiative “Teacher in My Community” has enabled twenty young individuals of Roma descent to graduate and many are now working in education.

The program identifies high-achieving students in small towns, supports their education, and facilitates internships in kindergartens to ensure they are employed after graduation.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Illegal Settlement

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Illegal Settlement

Residents of the Poduene district in Sofia are complaining about an illegal Roma settlement and severe living conditions near the Hadji Dimitar metro station, with local authorities ignoring the issue.

The area has been plagued by waste, fires, and aggressive stray dogs, despite numerous complaints to the district administration led by Mayor Kristian Hristov.

Citizens have filed a lawsuit against the local government for their inaction regarding the deteriorating conditions in the public property designated for green space and community use.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Ando Glaso

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Ando Glaso

The Ando Glaso Roma Fest, Scotland’s largest festival celebrating Roma arts and culture, will be held on September 4-5 at the University of Glasgow and Destiny Church, featuring free events including live music and educational activities.

The festival aims to promote Roma culture through performances by renowned artists and a focus on youth engagement, with activities designed to build confidence and community ties among young Roma talent.

Key performances include Hungarian pop star Jázmin and various Romani ensembles, with the festival supported by local organizations and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Criminal Complaint

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Criminal Complaint

A criminal complaint has been filed against retired public prosecutor Jasmina Paunović and YouTube show host Dejan Lučić for racial and other discrimination due to controversial statements made during media appearances.

Lučić’s comments included conspiracy theories about a so-called “population replacement” and derogatory remarks about Roma people, which he referred to as a “fraud.”

The complaint alleges that Paunović and Lučić incited hatred and discrimination against members of the Serbian Progressive Party and other political opponents during their show aired on July 21.

Germany News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Slovakia

Berlin Exhibition

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Berlin Exhibition

The exhibition “You Are All Our Children in One” opens at the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture in Berlin, exploring the ongoing impact of racial classification and forced sterilization on Roma and Sinti communities post-World War II.

Slovak artist Emília Rigová, who works under the pseudonym Bári Raklóri [Big (non-Romani) Girl], presents her work addressing the suppression of Roma identity through installations and performance art, including a piece on the forced sterilization of Roma women in Czechoslovakia.

Rigová shares her personal connection to the issue, revealing that her mother was sterilized without consent, which deeply affected her childhood and emotional world, highlighting the broader historical trauma faced by women in similar situations.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

More on Relocation

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More on Relocation

Families living in deep poverty and not speaking Hungarian have been relocated from a Roma settlement in Košice, Slovakia, to Szalonna, Hungary, without informing local residents.

The mayor of Encs condemned the relocation, suggesting it is a form of deportation and calling for local authorities to prevent such actions.

Dancs Mihály, president of the National Roma Self-Government in Hungary, expressed concerns about the well-being of the relocated families and the potential for conflict within the local community.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Roma in Ukraine

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Roma in Ukraine

The Roma community in Sumy, Ukraine, close to the Russian border, faces severe challenges due to ongoing conflict, with many families affected by violence and displacement.

Local organizations are providing humanitarian aid, educational support, and vocational training to help Roma families cope during the war.

A new educational center has been established to ensure Roma children continue their education, while also offering legal and psychological support to adults in need.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Cluj Project

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Cluj Project

The article discusses a social experiment initiated by Cluj’s mayor, Emil Boc, involving the distribution of apartments to low-income Roma families, funded by Norwegian grants which the author dismissively qualifies as ‘Soros-Type’ grants.

Critics argue that this initiative is ineffective and raises questions about the financial sustainability and integration of these families into the community, especially given the high cost of living in Cluj.

The author expresses concerns about potential discrimination against other disadvantaged groups in Cluj, suggesting that the focus on Roma families overlooks the needs of other citizens struggling with housing and financial issues.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

“Illegal”

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“Illegal”

A new operation to remove so-called “illegal constructions” in the Roma neighborhood “Lozenets” in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, has been scheduled, with over 400 illegal structures already removed.

The regional governor emphasized the need for coordination among institutions and the importance of humane execution of the removal process, despite the legal obligations.

Social services have reported that some residents have expressed a desire for municipal housing, but no applications for temporary accommodation have been submitted yet.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation!!!

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Relocation!!!

We did doubt the news about the relocation of Roma families from Košice to Hungary. Now it seems to be confirmed.

Families living in deep poverty and not speaking Hungarian have been relocated from a Roma settlement in Košice to Szalonna, Hungary, with local authorities allegedly involved in the process.

The illegal settlement in Košice, lacking basic utilities, has seen the demolition of several structures, with the mayor claiming that alternative housing was arranged for the affected families.

Residents of Szalonna express concern over the new arrivals, fearing additional social challenges, while some Roma leaders suggest that more families may be moved from Košice to Hungary soon.

Mihály Dancs, president of the National Self-Government of Roma in Hungary, stated that the mayor of Košice does not support the establishment of a system for relocating families to Hungary.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Heroes

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Roma Heroes

The Roma Heroes International Theatre Festival and its organizer, the Independent Theatre of Hungary, will receive a special award from the Theatre Critics’ Association in 2026 for their outstanding performance over the seasons.

The Independent Theatre of Hungary promotes collaboration between Roma and non-Roma artists, aiming to create a more inclusive theatre environment in Hungary.

The Roma Heroes Festival has established itself as a pioneering platform for Roma theatre in Europe, fostering diverse audiences and innovative storytelling since its inception in 2017.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

The Regional Governor of Western Greece, Nektarios Farmakis, has signed the inclusion of two new social structures aimed at enhancing social cohesion, specifically for the Roma community in the municipalities of Ilida and Pindos, with a total budget exceeding €1.38 million.

The project in Ilida will provide personalized social support, educational interventions, and legal guidance to the local Roma population, which constitutes 9% of the area’s total population.

The initiative is part of a broader program to improve living conditions and promote equal participation of all citizens in social and economic life in Western Greece.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Conspiracy Theories

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Conspiracy Theories

Dejan Lučić, a publicist known for conspiracy theories, made derogatory statements denying the existence of Roma, calling their identity a ‘fraud’.

The portal Romanenevimata.rs condemned Lučić’s remarks and announced legal actions against him for spreading hate speech and anti-Roma sentiment.

Activists and organizations are urged to publicly denounce such narratives to combat discrimination and promote equality for the Roma community.

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