Category Archives: Hungary

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Who are We?

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Who are We?

A community program titled “Who Are We, Roma?” was held to showcase the diverse values of Roma communities and promote dialogue and acceptance among different cultures.

The event featured discussions led by experts, including a Holocaust historian, emphasizing the importance of understanding Roma identity and cultural heritage.

Participants engaged in activities that highlighted the significance of combating racism and fostering empathy and respect in society, alongside tasting traditional Roma cuisine.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Education Campaign

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Education Campaign

A campaign aims to promote inclusive education in Hungary, focusing on integrating Roma and non-Roma children in schools to combat segregation and its negative societal impacts.

Rézműves Szilvia emphasizes the importance of showcasing schools that successfully implement inclusive practices and the need for community involvement in education.

The initiative encourages public voting for the most inclusive school, highlighting the necessity of resources and support for teachers to foster a positive learning environment.

  • NEM AZ A JÓ ISKOLA, AHOVÁ CSAK A LEGJOBBAK JÁRNAK, HANEM AHOL MINDEN GYEREK SZÁMÍT – SZAVAZZ A BEFOGADÓ ISKOLÁKRA! In: WMN. 20.10.2026. https://wmn.hu/ugy/68366-befogado-iskola-torley-katalin-rezmuves-szilvia 
Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Pride

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Roma Pride

Participants at the Roma Pride and Dignity Day in Budapest called for partnership with the current and future Hungarian government to address issues faced by the Roma community, emphasizing the importance of their voices in decision-making.

rganizer Oláh József highlighted ongoing issues such as poverty, housing difficulties, and educational segregation, calling for active participation of Roma communities in political changes.

The event featured a declaration advocating for shared responsibility and collaboration, with Roma professionals seeking involvement in policy-making and implementation processes.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Parliamentary Debate

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Parliamentary Debate

Participants in a parliamentary debate emphasized that political opposition should not justify personal attacks, advocating for respect for human dignity regardless of differing opinions.

Daróczi Ágnes criticized laws that disadvantage marginalized groups, particularly the Roma, and called for coordinated action against discriminatory regulations.

The discussion highlighted the need for the new government to address fundamental rights issues, including restrictions on movement and access to literature, while also exploring ways to combat social prejudices.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Bűnvadászok

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Bűnvadászok

The activities of the ‘Bűnvadászok’ (Crime Hunters) instill fear in the Roma community and shift public sentiment against them, as warned by the deputy commissioner for national minorities. Complaints have been filed regarding alleged unlawful evictions and the content shared by the ‘Bűnvadászok’ on their YouTube channel, with the police dismissing a related report.

The article highlights broader issues, including the treatment of Roma individuals in healthcare and education, emphasizing a lack of adequate representation and understanding of their social situation in educational materials.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Music in Hungary

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Roma Music in Hungary

On Wednesday, October 7, educator and Roma cultural studies teacher Mrs. János Jónás delivered a lecture titled “Sounds of Two Worlds: Traditional Roma Vocal Music and Coffee-House ‘Gypsy Music'” at the Sámuel Tessedik Museum in Szarvas. In her presentation, she contrasted the musical worlds of the Romungro musician Roma and the Oláh Roma, highlighting what they listen to during celebrations versus times of death and funerals.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Pride

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Roma Pride

The Roma Pride and Dignity Day will be held in Budapest on October 17, featuring a march and the presentation of a declaration promoting cooperation among Roma communities and democratic actors in Hungary.

The event aims to strengthen community self-esteem and emphasizes the importance of Roma participation in shaping the future of Hungary, addressing issues of social exclusion and unequal access to services.

The march will start at Blaha Lujza Square and end at Puczi Béla Square, with speeches and performances from various artists, highlighting the message of solidarity and partnership.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Cigany Telep

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Cigany Telep

An article about a Roma setllement in the Hungarian Matra mountains. There, according to Local representative Nikolett Szomora, around 80% of the residents are struggling with substance abuse.

The article is definitively preo-Jobbik, an extreme right party in Hungary (but by far not the one further on the right).

The situation is deplorable, and in those settlements, most people are unemployed. The last 30 years saw a steady decline in living conditions.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Expensive Kindergarten

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Expensive Kindergarten

The Hungarian state provided 460 million forints for the construction of a Reformed kindergarten in Tiszacsernyő (Slovakia); however, construction has not yet begun, despite the 2025 deadline.

According to an article by *Napunk*, the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia requested the funds on November 27, 2023, and the Bethlen Gábor Fund Management made the decision regarding the matter on December 9, 2024. Under the grant agreement, the kindergarten was to be built by December 31, 2025, with the financial and professional reports submitted by January 30, 2026. However, construction has not yet started. The site in question is covered in municipal waste and overgrown vegetation.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Press Centre

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Roma Press Centre

The Roma Press Centre (RSK) is set to move into a space previously occupied by Radio C, with a unanimous decision from the City Assembly to lease the space at a 66.6% discount for 5+5 years.

RSK aims to create a Roma civil center that will host other organizations and media initiatives, promoting collaboration rather than subletting the space.

https://rroma.org/wp-admin/post-new.phpThe center will focus on Roma community issues, with plans to establish a full-time editorial team and produce content that addresses topics often overlooked by mainstream media.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Corruption?

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Corruption?

Former Hungarian cultural minister Balázs Hankó has been accused of misusing cultural funding to support his political campaign, particularly through a grant to a Roma cultural organization.

The Roma Inkubator Cultural and Artistic Association, led by István Jakab, distributed gift cards to voters in support of Hankó’s candidacy shortly before the elections.

Following the controversy, police investigated Jakab for potential electoral misconduct, and the association later declined a significant grant from Hankó due to the scandal.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Exhibition

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Exhibition

The Bura Gallery in Budapest hosted an exhibition titled “Right Here Right Now” by Roma artist Béla Váradi, focusing on the representation of Roma identity through staged photography rather than traditional documentary styles.

The exhibition features well-known figures from the Roma community, showcasing their stories in a vibrant and humorous manner, challenging stereotypes and societal perceptions.

Váradi emphasizes the importance of Roma individuals participating in their own representation, aiming to reclaim the narrative around their identity and experiences.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma and Elections

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Roma and Elections

Former cultural minister Balázs Hankó has been accused of misusing cultural funding to support political campaigns, particularly benefiting the Fidesz party ahead of elections.

A scandal arose when a Roma cultural organization received significant funding shortly before the elections, with its leader allegedly distributing gift cards to voters in support of Hankó’s candidacy.

The article suggests that a secret fund of 17 billion forints was used to support Fidesz-affiliated artists and events, raising concerns about transparency and the integrity of cultural funding.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Verzió Festival

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Verzió Festival

The 23rd Verzió International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival will showcase over eighty films in Budapest and eight other cities, focusing on the theme of trust in what we see amidst the rise of AI and manipulated images.

The festival opens on November 16 with the Hungarian documentary “Papa,” which highlights the diversity of Roma communities and features films by Roma creators.

The event will include discussions and community-building activities, supported for the first time by the National Film Institute with a significant financial contribution.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Cooking Competition

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Cooking Competition

A team from ÁGOTA Community participated in the Kivilágos Kivirradtig Festival cooking competition, showcasing traditional Roma dishes and winning a silver award.

The event highlighted the importance of community and mentorship for young people living in residential homes, with a focus on shared experiences and cultural pride.

The festival served as a platform for young talents, like 18-year-old Nikólasz, who is training to be a chef and actively contributes to the community through cooking.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Roma Resistance Day

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Roma Resistance Day

The article discusses the debate surrounding the commemoration of the Roma Resistance Day on May 16, which some historians question as a historically verified event.

Proponents, including Roma politician Béla Radics, argue for the establishment of a memorial in Budapest to honor the Roma heroes who resisted Nazi forces during the Holocaust.

Critics, including historians, assert that there is no evidence of a rebellion on that date, suggesting that the commemoration may be based on myth rather than historical fact.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

János Szapula

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János Szapula

Hundreds gathered in Taktakenéz to light candles in memory of local councilor János Szapula, who was fatally attacked at work by a 48-year-old public worker.

Szapula was a significant member of the local Roma community, known for his willingness to help others, and his death is seen as a tremendous loss for the village.

The memorial was organized by the Roma Welfare Association, and attendees expressed shock and grief over the violent incident that took Szapula’s life.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Barber Story

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Barber Story

Mihácsi Patrik, a Roma barber shop owner in Győr, refuses to be seen as a victim and is proud of his heritage, actively helping disadvantaged children through his business.

His barbershop was vandalized with a racist slur, prompting local support from the Jojó Box Club, which offered solidarity and a voucher to the shop.

Patrik emphasizes the importance of challenging stereotypes about Roma people and believes in the value of character over ethnicity, showcasing positive examples through his work and community involvement.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary and Roma

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Hungary and Roma

Bódis Kriszta, a Hungarian MP, discussed the challenges of working within the state compared to civil organizations, emphasizing the need for a system that addresses everyone’s needs equally.

She acknowledged the ongoing discrimination against the Roma community and the necessity for their representation in government, while also addressing the structural issues that perpetuate their marginalization.

Regarding Tisza’s policy on Roma issues, the government commissioner stated that they do not intend to restructure Roma advocacy from an administrative standpoint. While they attach great importance to minority self-governments, they will take care to ensure these bodies do not become tools of political power. Kriszta Bódis believes that the Roma—specifically those in the most vulnerable situations—have been deliberately kept in poverty.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Pilgrimage in Hungary

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Pilgrimage in Hungary

Hungarian Roma, also known as Cigany, participated in an annual religious pilgrimage to a Virgin Mary shrine spring in Csatka, Hungary, on September 12, 2026.

The event highlights the cultural and religious practices of the Roma community in Hungary.

The pilgrimage is a significant occasion for the community, emphasizing their traditions and beliefs.

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