Author Archives: Roma Foundation

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Olivera Katalina

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Olivera Katalina

Olivera Katarina, a versatile performer known for her work in film and music, passed away on July 21, 2026, at the age of 86, after a career spanning over 60 years.

Born in Belgrade, she gained fame for her role in the film ‘I Even Met Happy Gypsies’ where she played the role of a Romani singer and had a successful singing career across multiple languages and genres. She also sang in Romanes.

Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her second husband, Katarina continued to work in the arts until her later years, leaving a lasting legacy in Yugoslav cinema.

Greece News Western Europe

Social Integration

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Social Integration

The Greek Central Macedonia Region is implementing a targeted social integration program for vulnerable groups, allocating 3 million euros through regional funding to support Roma children and parents.

The program will cover seven municipalities with significant Roma populations, including areas in western Thessaloniki and the regions of Veria and Naousa.

The initiatives align with the National Strategy for Roma 2021-2030, aiming to enhance social cohesion and create a protective network for the most vulnerable social groups.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Stabbed

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Stabbed

A demonstration occurred in Ostrava (Czechia) following the stabbing of a local Roma man, which was linked to provocative social media videos by a user known as matthewwassupp.

The rally was monitored by police, including riot units, due to tensions surrounding the incident and the involvement of the Romani community.

The Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs is set to discuss the case, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety and treatment of Romani people in the Czech Republic.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash – Continued

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Trash – Continued

The reality show “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives” has faced backlash from the traveller community, who find it embarrassing and insulting, calling for it to be taken off air.

The show follows Trewley-Precious Wass, a TikTok star navigating her mixed Romani and non-Romani heritage, and her struggles with traditional gypsy rules imposed by her family.

Critics argue that the portrayal of gypsy wives in the show does not accurately represent the community and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Housing in Romania

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Housing in Romania

The Cluj-Napoca Local Council approved a program worth over 400 million lei to purchase 350 homes for Roma and other vulnerable communities, aiming for social integration rather than segregation.

Mayor Emil Boc emphasized that the initiative will use the SIEG mechanism to legally facilitate the purchase of homes and provide social services to the relocated families.

The program aims to eliminate informal settlements like Pata Rât by 2030, with over 500 individuals already relocated to decent housing through previous projects.

This is a drop of water on a hot stone …

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Bosnia and Fascism

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Bosnia and Fascism

Young artist, author of the book “Cactus in an Orchid Field” and human rights activist Almir Agić, guesting on “Sarajevo Morning”, drew attention to the worrying level of hate speech and prejudice that the Roma community faces every day in public space.

On this occasion, Agić decided to speak about the worrying comments directed at young men and women of the Roma population instead of personal successes, emphasizing that dehumanization and racist rhetoric represent a serious problem for the entire society.

“The moment when fascism becomes a solution for something in our public space and society, it is not just a problem for Roma, it is a problem for our entire society.” – Almir Agić emphasized.

Greece News Western Europe

Police Operations

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Police Operations

Targeted police operations were conducted in Messinia, Argolis, and Corinthia as part of the Greek Police’s efforts to prevent and combat crime, particularly in areas inhabited by Roma communities. In Messinia, checks focused on camps in Meligalas, Panagakia, and Agia Triada, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals for various offenses.

A 46-year-old Roma woman was arrested in Kalamata for not possessing a police identity card, and five traffic violations were recorded during the operations.

Seems meagre if, as the Greek press reports, Roma are responsible for the majority of the criminality in the country… What about the officials who embezzled millions of EU agrar help?

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Child Marriages

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Child Marriages

Child marriages, particularly in Roma communities in Montenegro, continue despite legal prohibitions, with many girls entering into arranged marriages as young as 12 or 14 years old.

Victims like Jasmina recount experiences of abuse and lack of agency, with decisions about their marriages made by male family members without their consent.

Organizations are working to combat child marriages, but many cases remain unreported due to societal pressures and the normalization of these practices within the communities.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Amnesty and Bulgaria

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Amnesty and Bulgaria

Amnesty International’s regional office in Europe has sent an open letter to the mayor of Stara Zagora, Mr. Zhivko Todorov, requesting urgent information regarding the planned eviction of Roma families in the Lozenets neighborhood on July 22, 2026.

The letter expresses concerns about the lack of proper notice and the potential impact on approximately 64 Roma individuals, including children and elderly people, who may be affected by the eviction.

Amnesty International is seeking clarification on the municipality’s assessment of the situation, alternatives to eviction, and measures for providing adequate housing for those affected.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Orban and Roma

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Orban and Roma

When Viktor Orbán’s returned to power in 2010, laws were changed to allow and promote the segregation of Roma students in Hungary, reversing previous integration efforts.

The Chance For Children Foundation (CFCF) successfully challenged school segregation through legal means prior to 2010, resulting in the integration of approximately 3,000 Roma students. The current situation shows a significant increase in Roma students attending segregated schools, with estimates suggesting that two-thirds are now in such institutions, compared to one-third before Orbán’s regime.

Greece News Western Europe

Heat and Roma

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Heat and Roma

The Community Center of Sparta conducted an awareness campaign to prevent heatstroke, focusing on local Roma settlements.

The initiative aimed to educate vulnerable populations about the dangers of extreme heat, particularly for children who are often outdoors during peak sun hours.

Social workers provided information and distributed illustrated pamphlets with safety tips to ensure the message was accessible to all age groups.

Nice but what about better housing?

Austria News Western Europe

Jenisch

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Jenisch

Markus Josl speaks Jenisch, a language influenced by German and Romani, which is now spoken by only a few people and is part of his cultural identity.

Jenische people share a mixed European culture with Roma, Sinti, and Jews, historically connected through travel and craftsmanship.

Josl, a Jenisch activist, aims to preserve his culture and language, advocating for political recognition of the Jenische as a distinct ethnic group in Austria.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash

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Trash

Trewley-Precious Wass, a 26-year-old TikTok star, is featured in Channel 4’s reality series “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives,” showcasing her life as a half Romani gypsy and half Gorger.

The show highlights her struggle with family expectations, particularly regarding her career as an influencer, which contrasts with traditional Traveller customs.

Trewley-Precious has a unique full name and three sisters with equally distinctive names, and she shares a close bond with her brother, Jamie John, who supports her choices.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma Soul

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Roma Soul

The project “Roma Soul Food” explores Roma musical and culinary traditions through interviews with community members in three countries, resulting in a collaborative album.

The initiative emphasizes the connection between food and music as vital elements of Roma culture, fostering community ties and storytelling.

Despite being one of Europe’s largest ethnic minorities, Roma communities face significant social exclusion, with low feelings of inclusion reported in Serbia, Greece, and Slovenia.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

No Water

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No Water

Residents of the Roma neighborhood “Kremikovtsi” in Garmen have been without water for over two months after the local government cut off supply due to illegal housing and unpaid bills.

For six years, water was supplied from the drinking water pipeline of Garmen, but issues with unpaid bills and deliberate damages led to the service being terminated.

The situation has escalated to regional authorities and political parties, prompting a swift political response.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia and Roma

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Czechia and Roma

According to lawyer Maroš Matiaško, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of the death of Stanislav Tomáš could be a key verdict for the protection of the rights of Roma in the Czech Republic. According to him, the court named errors in the police intervention, shortcomings in the subsequent investigation and the state’s failure to investigate a possible racial motive. Matiaško represents the deceased’s sister in cooperation with the European Roma Rights Center and the Human Rights Forum.

Montenegro News Eastern Europe

Montenegro and Roma

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Montenegro and Roma

The Roma and Egyptian communities in Montenegro face structural discrimination, low living standards, and limited access to education, employment, and social security, necessitating long-term interventions for true equality and integration.

A significant portion of individuals at risk of statelessness are children, with many lacking birth registration, which is essential for legal identity.

Despite existing laws and programs aimed at inclusion, high levels of discrimination persist, particularly in education and employment, leading to poverty and social isolation among these communities.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Social Cards

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Serbian Social Cards

The UN has criticized Serbia’s social card system for leaving over 60,000 citizens, particularly from the Roma community, without financial assistance due to issues with data processing and automated decision-making.

Experts highlight that many Roma earn informal or irregular incomes, which are misinterpreted as grounds for denying social aid, exacerbating their poverty. The UN recommends that Serbia improve transparency, establish effective appeal mechanisms, and ensure that digital systems do not lead to discrimination against vulnerable populations.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgarian Elections

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Bulgarian Elections

Boyko Borisov, leader of GERB, predicts that the Roma community will overwhelmingly support the Progressive Bulgaria party in the upcoming presidential elections, citing their influence over the voting process.

He expresses skepticism about the ability of other political parties to compete fairly under the current voting system, which he claims is controlled by the Ministry of Interior. Borisov criticizes the current government budget, calling it deceptive and suggesting that the administration is artificially lowering revenue projections despite high inflation leading to increased tax income.

Would be nicer if he were using ‘Roma’ instead of “цигани” in some of these articles, and not be so dismissive as to assume that all Roma will vote en block for his party.

  • Борисов за президентския вот: Ромският вот ще е изцяло за Прогресивна България. In: Flagman. 19.07.2026. https://www.flagman.bg/article/386096
France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much this week in France about Roma. A concert titled “Vent d’Est” in the South of France; the closure of acamp near Nantes will not be closed before next spring; and finally, an article about the accusation by the rightist oppposition in Nantes, that Roma were registered to vote (which by the way in legal for EU citizen to vote in local elections in France.

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