Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Hungary Kosovo News Eastern Europe

Hungarian say no to refugees because of “Gypsies”

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Hungarian say no to refugees because of “Gypsies”

László Trócsányi, Hungarian Minister of Justice lashed out at the EU proposed quota system for taking refugees, added that they had already many from the Balkan, notably from Kosovo, and anyhow, cannot take more, as they have already to integrate 800’000 Rroma in Hungary.

While we greet the “official” recognition of the 800 thousands Rroma in Hungary (officially, there are much less than that – the 800 thousand is an estimate from NGOs), the statements are simply not acceptable from a minister in an EU country. First, not all Rroma are a problem, as is indeed suggested here, and second, one cannot use a minority as an excuse against refugees.

Hungarian say no to migrants because of “Gypsies”

News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

Rroma in Strasbourg

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Rroma in Strasbourg

Viorel Costache, Rrom and president of the association PRALES (Brothers) and Gabriela Munteanu, a Romanian translator have denounced the inacceptable situation of Rroma Migrants in Strasbourg. In their press conference, they have compared the measures of the city of Strasbourg to a “modern concentration camp” for having established an enclosed camps for Rroma and are accusing the police and the authorities of a true hunt against Rroma.

We do agree with them. Please support them and join their action!

Hungary News Americas News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Roma Hungarian Researcher denied boarding to Toronto

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Austrian Airlines, Austrian airport officials, and the CIC (Citizenship, Immigration, and Canada) banned a Rroma researcher from Hungary to board a plane to Toronto where she was scheduled to do research on fellow Hungarian Rroma who migrated to Canada recently, this in spite of having a valid EU passport, 1’000 dollars, and a return ticket.

This seems to be a consequence of several airlines being fined by Canada following them transporting Rroma who later asked for asylum or for immigration to that country. In any case, there is a presumption of innocence, and the researcher’s rights were clearly flouted in a bout of racial profiling.

News Eastern Europe News Switzerland Romania

Yves Leresche: Exhibition on Rroma in Lausanne

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Yves Leresche: Exhibition on Rroma in Lausanne

Until May 23, Yves Leresche’s exhibition in Lausanne depicts the lives of some of the Romanian Rroma beggars who came to Switzerland. It goes between Lausanne and Romania, and shows a very humane picture of these people, far from the criminal bands prejudices.

These picture should nevertheless not lead to the belief that this is the only Rroma reality. In fact, it is the reality of a small group of Rroma from a few villages in the same Romanian region. Many Rroma are integrated, especially in Switzerland where beggars, thieves and other stereotypical Rroma only make a tiny percentage of the overall Rroma population there.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Indian Ambassador to Hungary on Rroma

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Indian Ambassador to Hungary on Rroma

The current Indian Ambassador to Hungary, Malay Mishra is currently studying the Rroma communities in Hungary as part of a Ph.D. he is currently registered for at Corvinius University. He is looking at parallels and at what could be learned from India in terms of integrating disadvantaged minorities.

We cannot but agree with his statement that in spite of 1’200 NGOs active in Hungary for Rroma, there seem to be precious few recipients, especially in the country side.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: A hard life for girls

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Bulgaria: A hard life for girls

An article on the Rroma Mahala in Vidin, in North Western Bulgaria. The article, while dispelling some of the stereotypes of many children, still pushes some age old prejudices, stating that marriage occurs by abduction (ritually, yes, practically, unknown), that child brides are the norm etc. What most journalists tend to blend out is that in Rroma tradition, one is married if one sleeps with one’s boyfriend. So effectively, by this standard, most of girls in Western Europe are not that different … What is different tough is that there is little contraception, resulting in early pregnancies, dropping out of schools, etc. All things that are a social poverty issue and have de facto nothing to do with Rroma.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Prostitution … Again

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Prostitution … Again

A first article in the Swiss German press since the publication of a study on the bias of newspapers in that country against Rroma (See Rroma Foundation). This time, a Swiss man allegedly bought a young Czech Rromni from a Rrom in the Czech Republic for prostitution for the sum of 256 CHF. The whole thing flew off as the woman shouted while crossing the border and she was subsequently freed.

Sad story. But what we liked, it is the first time where such a story is brought without saying that this is “typical” or “culturally driven” for Rroma. It is a criminal deed that, unfortunately does exist. It is not a cultural trait of a minority. And we are happy that this is the way it was reported.

Hungary News Americas News Eastern Europe

Rita Iszak: A Rromni and the special rapporteur for the UN on Minorities

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A portrait and interview of a Hungarian Rromni activist who worked first at the European Roma Right Centre (ERRC) and who is now the special raporteur for Minority issues at the UN.

Well done!

News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Serbia

Graduate Level Education for Rroma

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Graduate Level Education for Rroma

Many young Rroma are rebelling against so-called scientific evidence on and about Rroma. They are rebelling against statements such as “that Roma mothers willingly accept evaluation of their children as mentally disabled so that they can reap social benefits” found in a Serbian scientific journal. The Central European University is starting a program of graduate studies aimed at young Rroma so that they can contradict such nonsense from the inside!

All the luck to them!

Bulgaria France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

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French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

The French Press is again full of news on forced eviction of illegal Rroma camps in France. This is nearly the only news that is given about Rroma in France.

Several articles are devoted to the evacuation of the camp in Saint-Herblain near Nantes. In this case, these are to a large extent French Rroma / Manouches, and not newer migrants from Romania and Bulgaria.

Other than that, a camp emptied in Argenteuil; another one in Limeil-Brévannes; one in Bonneuil-Limeil; while a Rroma camp is blocking the reconversion of a former prison in Loos; and in Ivry, Rroma are appealing against an imminent expulsion. Finally, Rroma who were recently expulsed are asking the prefect for new lodging, as is required by the French law prior to an eviction.

Albania France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

French Prefect in front of tribunal

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French Prefect in front of tribunal

The prefect of Lyon, Mr. Michel Delpuech, has to appear in front the administrative tribunal of Lyon following a complaint from about 60 Romanian Rroma who were expulsed from their illegal camp by order of the prefect. There is a further complaint from Kosovars and Albanians for the same reason. The Prefecture states that there is no legal basis for asking to be re-lodged, as this is purely required for asylum seekers and not for EU citizen.

We hope he gets convicted…

France News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

France: Integration is also possible

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France: Integration is also possible

An nice article on a young Rrom from Romania who managed to get out of the camps, get a job, a flat, and a nearly normal life.

It shows that in spite of Mr. Valls’ statement that Rroma cannot integrate that they do, given the chance.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

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Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

The appellate court in Budapest upheld the first instance judgment against the perpetrators of the hate crimes against Rroma in Hungary. Three of the perpetrators are sentenced to life without parole, while another forth one to 13 years in Prison.

Czech Republic Hungary News Eastern Europe Romania Slovakia

European Commission slams Slovakia

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European Commission slams Slovakia

The European Commission criticised Slovakia for systematic discrimination of Rroma children in education. It started legal proceedings for breaches of EU anti-discrimination law, referring to discrimination against Roma children in education. After the Czech Republic where such a procedure was started in September 2014, this is the second country in Europe that is being targeted.

Segregation in schools has been common in both the Czech and Slovak republics, but also exists in Romania and in Hungary. The practice of sending Rroma children systematically to schools for mentally disabled people is unfortunately also part of this pattern.

We welcome these actions!

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Police trains their Czech counterparts

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Slovak Police trains their Czech counterparts

The Slovak police is training their Czech counterparts in dealing with the Rroma minority. Looking back at the latest scandals in Slovakia where police brutality against Rroma is common and widespread, one can ask whether this is really a good idea.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe News Switzerland Romania

Romania: Between poverty and the hope of integration

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Romania: Between poverty and the hope of integration

Swissinfo reports on Swiss help for Rroma in villages in Romania and on the fact that the Swiss government is making Rroma a priority for their foreign aid, especially to Romania and Bulgaria.

The report focuses on an initiative of Terre des Hommes, funded by the Swiss government in several villages in South Western Romania.

News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

Sweden Municipality hires wrong translators

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Sweden Municipality hires wrong translators

The Swedish municipality of Helsingborg hired Rroma translators instead of Romanian translators in order to communicate with Romanian immigrants. Needless to say that most Romanians did not understand a word, showing that contrary to people’s beliefs, not all Romanian immigrants are Rroma …

Czech Republic Hungary News Eastern Europe Romania

Amnesty International condemns the Czech Republic for segregation

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Amnesty International condemns the Czech Republic for segregation

alJazeeraAmnesty International condemned the fact that the Czech Republic has failed to comply with a European court order to stop placing Roma children in schools for the mentally disabled regardless of the students’ capabilities. Placing Rroma in schools for mentally disabled people has a long tradition in the Czech and Slovak republics as well as in Hungary and Romania. This is simply no longer acceptable in the 21. Century.

News Eastern Europe News Switzerland News Western Europe

Amnesty: Who are Rroma

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Amnesty: Who are Rroma

amnestyAmnesty wrote a FAQ sheet on Rroma. Not bad, but still perpetuating some stereotypes. Rroma “travelled from place to place”. This is clearly false in many places, in the Balkans but also in Western Europe. Pity that they couldn’t get over their stereotypes.

News Eastern Europe

Police Brutality in the Slovak Republic

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Police Brutality in the Slovak Republic

The Slovak Police raided the village of Vrbnica on April 3rd to seek people who faiuled to show up for prison sentences. Rroma activists state that the police action was brutal and violent, and showed their injuries. The police had not been using cameras, making any proof of these allegations extremely difficult, but this raid and the violence is reminiscent of another case in Moldava nad Bodvou.

Fact is, the police there is prone to use violence against minorities and has an extremely negative view of Rroma. This has to change.

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