Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Slovakia: More on The Holocaust Documentary

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Decidely, the press in Slovakia is full of news on the documentary by Kirchhoff on the Rroma holocaust. Not bad, especially since the country has not readily acknowledged its deeds.

– Kirchhoffov film otvára zabudnutú tému rómskeho holokaustu. In: Webmagazin. 12.03.2017. http://webmagazin.teraz.sk/hudba-a-film/kirchhoff-diera-v-hlave-holokaust-romsky/7431-clanok.html [link-preview url=”http://webmagazin.teraz.sk/hudba-a-film/kirchhoff-diera-v-hlave-holokaust-romsky/7431-clanok.html”]

Czech Republic: Row on Lety

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The Czech minister wants the Romany Museum in Brno to administer the Lety memorial. It turns out that representatives of the victims disagree with this move. The change of administrator from the current one to the new one was decided unilaterally by the minister.
No comments …

– Czech Human Rights Minister wants Lety concentration camp memorial administered by Museum of Romani Culture, relative of victims disagrees. In: Romea.cz. 11.03.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-human-rights-minister-wants-lety-concentration-camp-memorial-administered-by-museum-of-romani-culture-relative-of [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-human-rights-minister-wants-lety-concentration-camp-memorial-administered-by-museum-of-romani-culture-relative-of”]

Jewish Drawings of Rroma in Auschwitz

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An article about a Jewish Auschwitz inmate who was forced to paint portraits of interned Rroma with the aim fo identifying “racial traits”. The portraits are all but that. To be looked at, and people to be remembered.

– The Jewish Prisoner Who Was Forced to Draw at Auschwitz, and Rebelled in Her Paintings. In: Haaretz. 11.03.2017. http://www.haaretz.com/life/.premium-1.776501 [link-preview url=”http://www.haaretz.com/life/.premium-1.776501″]

A Row in the Czech Republic on Discrimination

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An NGO officially disagrees with a judgement of court stating that the principal of a school in Ostrava-Muglinova discriminated against two Rroma pupils…
Bad enough that this happened, good that the court agreed, it is even more complicated. The NGO is an organisation that has been part for a long time in Rroma education and is funded in part by the Open Society Foundations. They say there is no discrimination, just a row on education.
Nothing is simple …

– Czech Republic: NGO disagrees with court that principal discriminated against Romani pre-schoolers. In: Romea.cz. 11.03.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-republic-ngo-disagrees-with-court-that-principal-discriminated-against-romani-preschoolers [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-republic-ngo-disagrees-with-court-that-principal-discriminated-against-romani-preschoolers”]

Czech Republic …

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The Liberec region in the Czech Republic is refusing to write a report on Rroma to the central government. This report is meant to define the policies on Rroma for the upcoming year. According to the region, the way this report builds on anthropology and social generalisation is simply not acceptable.
They are right.

– Czech region refuses to write report on Roma. The Prague Daily Monitor. http://praguemonitor.com/2017/03/09/czech-region-refuses-write-report-roma [link-preview url=”http://praguemonitor.com/2017/03/09/czech-region-refuses-write-report-roma”]

Slovakia and Education

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Harsh critique of the government from the opposition on its Rroma Education. According to the critique, the government is “helpless” and has not done a thing in the last ten years.
Maybe this will start the ball rolling!

– KDH: Vláda je bezradná vo vzdelávaní Rómov, robí nezmyselné kroky. In: Teraz Slovensko. 10.03.2017. http://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/kdh-vlada-je-bezradna-vo-vzdelavani/247983-clanok.html [link-preview url=”http://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/kdh-vlada-je-bezradna-vo-vzdelavani/247983-clanok.html”]

Slovakia, Rroma, and Animal Welfare

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A animal protection group in Slovakia is claiming that dogs are systematically abused in Rroma settlements. This assertion was taken up by several newspapers, fuelling yet another controversy on Rroma in that country.
Well, life is tough in the settlements, really so, and this reflects on all its inhabitants – including the ones on 4 legs.

– Are dogs being abused in Romani settlements in Slovakia? Romea.cz asks the authorities and experts. In: Romea.cz. 09.03.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/are-dogs-being-abused-in-romani-settlements-in-slovakia-romea-cz-asks-the-authorities-and-experts [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/are-dogs-being-abused-in-romani-settlements-in-slovakia-romea-cz-asks-the-authorities-and-experts”]

Moldavia: An Activist

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A portrait of Cristina Raducan, a leading Rromani pushing hard for better schooling of Rroma children in her country.
Good!

– LA FÉE ROM QUI ENVOIE LES FILLES À L’ÉCOLE. In: Amnesty International. 08.03.2017. https://www.amnesty.ch/fr/sur-amnesty/publications/magazine-amnesty/2017-1/cristina-raducan-reseau-femmes-roms-moldavie [link-preview url=”https://www.amnesty.ch/fr/sur-amnesty/publications/magazine-amnesty/2017-1/cristina-raducan-reseau-femmes-roms-moldavie”]

US State Department Criticises Romania

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The US State Department strongly criticised Romania for corruption but also for its treatment of Rroma as well as for its mistreatment of detainees. Discrimination against Rroma is rampant in Romania.

– U.S. Department of State criticizes Romania on mistreatement of detainees, Roma discrimination and corruption. In Actmedia. 08.03.2017. http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384 [link-preview url=”http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384″]

Slovakia: Documentary on Rroma Holocaust

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Robert Kirchhoff was born in 1968 in Nitra and studied documentary production and dramaturgy at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. He is a film director, screenwriter, producer, and cameraman, and has had a number of films that have won awards at domestic and foreign festivals. Amongst others, he made documentaries Hey, Slovaks !, Ghost in the Machine, The Case Cervanová, etc. and was a producer and co-producer of films like Blind Loves Disease of the Third Power, in Ash.
From 2003 to 2016, he has been preparing a documentary on the Holocaust of Roma and Sinti called A “Hole in the Head”, which will have its premier in March 2017. He has interviewed many survivors of the Holocaust and recorded their fate.

– Vyhľadal Rómov a Sintov, ktorí prežili holokaust, a natočil skutočné diery v hlave. Etno safari odmietol. In: Dennik. 01.03.2017. https://dennikn.sk/681418/vyhladal-romov-a-sintov-ktori-prezili-holokaust-a-natocil-skutocne-diery-v-hlave-etno-safari-odmietol/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/681418/vyhladal-romov-a-sintov-ktori-prezili-holokaust-a-natocil-skutocne-diery-v-hlave-etno-safari-odmietol/”]

Slovenia and Basic Rights

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Some deputies are trying to force the issue of Rroma slums in Slovenia by proposing that the government pay a lump sum to all municipalities with Rroma camps and force them to provide basic services (water and electricity) to the Rroma.
The Forum of Rroma Councillors, which represents two thirds of the Rroma in that country is welcoming this proposal.

– Še en poskus urejanja romske problematike. In: Delo. 03.03.2017. http://www.delo.si/novice/politika/se-en-poskus-urejanja-romske-problematike.html [link-preview url=”http://www.delo.si/novice/politika/se-en-poskus-urejanja-romske-problematike.html”]

Again …

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Yet another Daily Mail article, this time about the christening of a Rroma boy in Slovakia with lots of money splashed around.
We do not need this – really.

– It’s a Big Fat Gypsy… christening! Baby covered in £550 worth of banknotes and handed a dummy on a gold chain in Roma ceremony costing £25,000. In: Daily Mail. 04.03.2017. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4281492/Gypsy-baby-covered-550-worth-banknotes.html [link-preview url=”http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4281492/Gypsy-baby-covered-550-worth-banknotes.html”]

Slovakia: Opposition to Rroma Community Centre

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In Poprad, a petition against a Rroma Community Centre was signed by 1’300 people… And it is supported by the city hall. A lawyer of the Rroma says that such petitions should not encourage the violation of the constitution. He is right.

– V Poprade sú výhrady proti komunitnému centru pre Rómov. In: 24 Hodin. 27.02.2017. http://www.24hod.sk/v-poprade-su-vyhrady-proti-komunitnemu-centru-pre-romov-cl496463.html [link-preview url=”http://www.24hod.sk/v-poprade-su-vyhrady-proti-komunitnemu-centru-pre-romov-cl496463.html”]

Hungary and Racism

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An interesting article about a recent speech by Viktor Orban on “Ethnic Homogeneity” …
Scary and mad in a country which, according to the Austro Hungarian Empire counted 30% of Magyar at the end of the 19th century…

– SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL: TRYING TO HIDE THE REAL MEANING OF “ETHNIC HOMOGENEITY”. In: Hungarian Spectrum. 02.03.2017. http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/03/02/scandal-after-scandal-trying-to-hide-the-real-meaning-of-ethnic-homogeneity/ [link-preview url=”http://hungarianspectrum.org/2017/03/02/scandal-after-scandal-trying-to-hide-the-real-meaning-of-ethnic-homogeneity/”]

Slovakia and Rroma Education

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There have been many articles recently that thematise the segregation of Rroma children in the Slovak education system and the consequences thereof. Also in Slovakia itself.
Good that this gains traction!

– Roma segregation – Slovakia’s evergreen problem. In: The Slovak Spectator. 01.03.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20471589/roma-segregation-slovakias-evergreen-problem.html
– Slovakia continues to allow discrimination against Roma children. In: EURAKTIV. 02.03.2017. http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/slovakia-continues-to-allow-discrimination-against-roma-children/ http://www.euractiv.fr/section/justice-affaires-interieures/news/slovakia-continues-to-allow-discrimination-against-roma-children/
– Rights groups: Slovakia discriminates against Roma kids. In: Associated Press. 28.02.2017. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rights-groups-slovakia-discriminates-roma-kids-45812947
– Slovak Roma Students Still Segregated Says Report. In: TOL. 02.03.2017. http://www.tol.org/client/article/26739-slovakia-roma-segregation-schools-report.html
– AI: Slovensko nezabezpečuje rovný prístup rómskych detí k vzdelaniu. In: Spravy Pravda. 01.03.2017. http://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/421645-ai-slovensko-nezabezpecuje-rovny-pristup-romskych-deti-k-vzdelaniu/
– Amnesty International preháňa, tvrdí Kaliňák o kritike segregácie Rómov. In: TA3. 25.02.2017. http://www.ta3.com/clanok/1100609/amnesty-international-prehana-tvrdi-kalinak-o-kritike-segregacie-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20471589/roma-segregation-slovakias-evergreen-problem.html “]

Hungary: More on the New Alliance

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Jews and Rroma joined force in Budapest to combat right wing extremism. This is new, and this is good, as both minorities are in the crosshair of extremists.

– In Budapest, Roma and Jews use alternative JCC to fight right-wing populism. In: JTA. 27.02.2017. http://www.jta.org/2017/02/27/news-opinion/world/in-budapest-roma-and-jews-turn-alternative-jcc-into-anti-government-hub
– In Budapest, Roma and Jews turn alternative JCC into anti-government hub. In: The Jewish Standart. 02.03.2017. http://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/in-budapest-roma-and-jews-turn-alternative-jcc-into-anti-government-hub/ [link-preview url=”http://www.jta.org/2017/02/27/news-opinion/world/in-budapest-roma-and-jews-turn-alternative-jcc-into-anti-government-hub “]

Slovakia and Education

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Another article on the failure of the Slovakian school system for Rroma. And it is unfortunately true in many cases.

– Government failing to educate, integrate Roma children. In: Al Jazeera. 02.02.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/government-failing-educate-integrate-roma-children-170301171600351.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/government-failing-educate-integrate-roma-children-170301171600351.html”]

Poland – It made it to the West

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The results of the survey on foreigners and minorities in Poland are slowly coming to the west. This study shows that more than 50% of the Poles regard Rroma negatively.

– Wen die Polen mögen. In: Polen Heute. 27.02.2017. http://polen-heute.de/wen-die-polen-moegen-30011/ [link-preview url=”http://polen-heute.de/wen-die-polen-moegen-30011/”]

Slovakia: Government Action

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The former Slovak government Roma proxy, Peter Pollak, said that the current positive strategies being put forward by his successor Abel Ravasz will not work as long as discrimination remains the norm in the country.
This discrimination is prevalent also amongst the very people meant to implement positive steps towards Rroma.

– Roma proxy Ravasz: It’s futile to take positive steps when discrimination remains. In: The Slovak Spectator. 27.02.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20470466/roma-proxy-ravasz-its-futile-to-take-positive-steps-when-discrimination-remains.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20470466/roma-proxy-ravasz-its-futile-to-take-positive-steps-when-discrimination-remains.html”]

Hungary: Minorities join Forces

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Rroma joined Jews to turn a Budapest club into a anti-government hub. Rroma are especially concentrating on a strategy for the press.

– Roma Join Jews To Turn Budapest Club Into Anti-Government. In: Forward. 27.02.2017. http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/364289/roma-join-jews-to-turn-budapest-club-into-anti-government-hub/ [link-preview url=”http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/364289/roma-join-jews-to-turn-budapest-club-into-anti-government-hub/”]

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