A square in Bucharest, Romania, will be named after the Roma activist Nicolae Gheorghe.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=794295289401259&set=a.456550509842407
Category Archives: News Eastern Europe
Thieves in Poland
The story of thieves who managed to get into a senior citizen house, pretexting to sell them quilts, and while inside stole money. According to the police, these are “most probably” Roma. The fact of saying so even before these people have been arrested is not good.
- Kołdry nie kupili, stracili kilka tysięcy złotych. In: Sucha 24. 27.02.2024. https://sucha24.pl/artykul/koldry-nie-kupili-stracili/1221523
Vodaphone and Roma
Vodafone has joined the scholarship program for Roma students, which is implemented by the ROMEA organization. With this step, Vodafone wants to support equal opportunities and fight against discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic, which has long been criticized by the Council of Europe. Vodafone contributed one hundred thousand crowns to scholarships for Roma students of secondary, higher vocational and university schools, who face many obstacles in achieving a quality education. The scholarship program offers them not only financial support, but also mentoring, mutual meetings, advice, educational activities and internships in organizations or companies, including Vodafone.
Well done!
- Společnost Vodafone podpořila stipendia pro romské studenty a studentky. V rámci partnerství nabízí i možnost pracovních stáží. In: Romea. 01.03.2024. https://romea.cz/cz/domaci/spolecnost-vodafone-podporila-stipendia-pro-romske-studenty-a-studentky-v-ramci-partnerstvi-nabizi-i-moznost-pracovnich-stazi
Roma King in Slovakia
An interview with the Roma King Robert Botoš I. The article (and Robert I) insist that he is the king of all Roma in Slovakia. There is no such thing among all Roma. These leaders are heading their own group in one country, but definitively not all.
- RÓMSKY KRÁĽ Róbert Botoš: Milióny na Rómov idú ľuďom, ktorí ich rozkradnú. In: Pluska. 02.03.2024. https://www1.pluska.sk/regiony/exkluzivny-rozhovor-romskemu-kralovi-je-vracanie-kam-sla-miliarda-cerpana-romov
Slovakia: 20 Years
Another article about the Roma riots 20 years ago in Eastern Slovakia. The police and the army intervened in the Roma settlement of Trebišov, Eastern Slovakia.
The riots were the result of utter poverty and exclusion.
- Po policajných obuškoch ostali jazvy: sociálna reforma pred 20 rokmi skončila rabovačkami. In: Dennik N. 28.02.2024. https://dennikn.sk/3854975/po-policajnych-obuskoch-ostali-jazvy-socialna-reforma-pred-20-rokmi-skoncila-rabovackami/
Czechia: Exhibition
An exhibition in the 400 ASA gallery showcases pictures taken by young Roma from two Roma settlements.
A must see.
- Romské děti ze Šluknovského výběžku vystavují své fotografie v pražské 400 ASA Gallery, profesionální fotografové mezi nimi objevili i talent. In: Radio Žurnal. 29.02.2024. https://radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/romske-deti-ze-sluknovskeho-vybezku-vystavuji-sve-fotografie-v-prazske-400-asa-9184648
Bulgaria, Germany, and an Attack
The facts: a 21 year old Bulgarian-German dual citizen attacked two children in Duisburg with a knife and severely wounded them. The motive is totally unclear at this stage.
The Bulgarian press speaks of a “slaughter” and says that the person is of Roma origins… The fact that the article contradicts itself (the title says the attacker is 17 and the article says he is 21) shows how serious this article is.
Bad.
- ИЗВЪНРЕДНО! 17 годишен немец от български (ромски) произход закла две деца в Германия. In: BNews. 28.02.2024. https://bnews.bg/17-godishen-nemecz-ot-balgarski-romski-proizhod-zakla-dve-decza-v-germaniya/#google_vignette
- Messer-Angriff auf Kinder: Polizei nimmt 21-Jährigen fest. In: Stern. 28.02.2024. https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/nordrhein-westfalen/duisburg–messer-angriff-auf-kinder–polizei-nimmt-21-jaehrigen-fest-34501776.html
Auschwitz Seminar
A program of free seminars for young people devoted to the fate of the Roma and Sinti in the German Auschwitz camp was prepared by the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. The institution announced that they would last from April to December.
Paweł Sawicki from the press office of the Auschwitz Museum, of which the Education Centre is a part, announced on Tuesday that the participants will visit the former camp with a guide during their stay and will also take part in the “Extermination of Sinti and Roma” workshop, which will take place in the former camp block 13. “Semminars will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April to December, excluding holidays and holidays. The program can be run in Polish, English and German. The museum does not cover travel costs,” Sawicki said.
- Muzeum Auschwitz: młodzież pozna los Sinti i Romów w obozie. In: TVP 3 Krakow. 27.02.2024. https://krakow.tvp.pl/76151102/muzeum-auschwitz-mlodziez-pozna-los-sinti-i-romow-w-obozie
First Grammar?
An article in the Croatian Press about an author who apparently wrote the “first world grammar of the Romani language”.
Well, the journalists are really clueless…
- Prva svjetska gramatika romskog jezika djelo je Katarine Katavić: “Jezik je prelijep, htjela sam ga prikazati što bolje mogu”. In: Dnevnik. 26.02.2024. https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/katarina-katavic-izradila-je-prvu-svjetsku-gramatiku-romskog-jezika—830732.html
Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma
The Volvo car company is interested in employing Slovak Roma in its factory. This was stated by the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Erik Tomáš, on Wednesday after the government meeting in the east of Slovakia. “They put emphasis on it and we will do everything to make it happen,” he added.
They are planning almost five thousand jobs.
- Minister Tomáš o novej automobilke: Volvo má obrovský záujem o Rómov. In: Nový Čas. 29.02.2024. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/2902451/minister-tomas-o-novej-automobilke-volvo-ma-obrovsky-zaujem-o-romov/
- Volvo má veľký záujem zamestnávať vo svojej fabrike slovenských Rómov. In: Sita. 28.09.2024. https://sita.sk/vpriemysle/volvo-ma-velky-zaujem-zamestnavat-vo-svojej-fabrike-slovenskych-romov/
Pilsen, Czechia
The Pilsen Roma Council is a project financed by Norwegian funds. Its aim is to get Roma involved in the events in the region thanks. “The idea of how to ensure the participation of Roma at the city level led me to establish the Pilsen Roma Council. How to bring together a group of people that represents the majority. Pilsen is a city founded on great families,” David Tišer explains the motives behind the founding of the Council.
- Rada Romů města Plzeň chce podpořit participaci Romů v kraji. In: Radio Žurnal. 27.02.2024. https://radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/rada-romu-mesta-plzen-chce-podporit-participaci-romu-v-kraji-9183241
Prague, a School, and Minorities
The story of a school in a district of Prague that has a high percentage of Roma and Ukrainians. The city council considers the school to be segregated (as it has a large number of Roma), and wants to transform the school into a Waldorf system.
The parents disagree…
- Umíme pracovat s žáky s horším sociálním zázemím, říkají učitelky. Radnice přesto školu mění na ‚waldorf‘. In: iRozhlas. 24.02.2024. https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/praha-3-zs-cimburkova-segregace-romove-ucitele-rodice-protest_2402241102_epo
Auschwitz: Commemoration
The 81st anniversary of the first transport to the Roma camp in Auschwitz was commemorated.
- W rocznicę pierwszego transportu Romów do niemieckiego nazistowskiego obozu Auschwitz-Birkenau. Oddali hołd pomordowanym. In: Gazeta Krakowska. 27.02.2024. https://gazetakrakowska.pl/w-rocznice-pierwszego-transportu-romow-do-niemieckiego-nazistowskiego-obozu-auschwitzbirkenau-oddali-hold-pomordowanym/ar/c1-18342809
Poland: Appeal for Roma Refugees
The W Stron Dialogu (Towards Dialogue ) Foundation works for the Roma community in Poland, writes that “Roma and Roma women from Ukraine who found shelter in Poland faced – and still face – discrimination, worse treatment and rejection.” The organization believes that Roma refugees from Ukraine have become “second-class refugees ignored by the current authorities, which turned a blind eye to segregation and the lack of access of Roma women and men to collective accommodation centres, thus allowing discrimination against this weakest group of refugees.”
They launched an appeal to the Polish Government.
- Zauważcie Romów wśród uchodźców z Ukrainy. Apel fundacji W Stronę Dialogu. In: Oko Press. 26.02.2024. https://oko.press/zauwazcie-romow-wsrod-uchodzcow-z-ukrainy-apel-fundacji-w-strone-dialogu
- “Przestańcie traktować Romów z Ukrainy jak uchodźców drugiej kategorii”. In: Noizz. 24.02.2024. https://noizz.pl/spoleczenstwo/apel-fundacji-w-strone-dialogu-do-rzadu-chodzi-o-romskich-uchodzcow-z-ukrainy/qplb0ms
Slovakia: Exhibition on Roma
In the castle of Modrý Kameň, Slovakia, they are preparing a rerun of the exhibition called “The Story of the Children of the Wind”. The exhibition retraces the story of Roma in Slovakia from the 13th century to 1990. The exhibition will open on March 1st and stay until May 15th.
- Na hrade Modrý Kameň pripravujú výstavu o osudoch Rómov na Slovensku. In: Teraz. 26.02.2024. https://www.teraz.sk/kultura/na-hrade-modry-kamen-pripravuju-vyst/777337-clanok.html
Lunik IX
A reportage on the Housing Estate of Lunik IX, a derelict place housing a large Roma community.
- So lebt es sich im verrufensten Roma-Viertel der Slowakei. In: SRF. 20.02.2024.https://www.srf.ch/news/international/plattenbausiedlung-lunik-ix-so-lebt-es-sich-im-verrufensten-roma-viertel-der-slowakei
Jan Bendig
The romano singer Jan Bendig has spoken out after four days of silence since the police said the attack in Český slavík, where he was pelted with flour by an alleged racist, was staged. He posted a lengthy statement on his Facebook profile in which he apologizes for his silence, denies that the attack was premeditated and explains what he believes happened. However, his words contradict what the police investigation found.
- Zpěvák Jan Bendig v rozsáhlém vyjádření odmítl závěry policejního vyšetřování a dále tvrdí, že incident na slavíku se svým manažerem nezorganizoval.In: Romea. 25.02.2024. https://romea.cz/cz/domaci/zpevak-jan-bendig-v-rozsahlem-vyjadreni-odmitl-zavery-policejniho-vysetrovani-a-dale-tvrdi-ze-incident-na-slaviku-se-svym-manazerem-nezorganizoval
20 Years …
Twenty years ago, Roma rioted in Trebišov, and the police intervened in the Roma settlement. The view of the article is very much tilted towards the police and maintaining order, and insists on the looting that took place in the eastern part of the country.
On the background of this riot, no words … A missed opportunity.
- Palko o rómskych rabovačkách pred 20 rokmi: Keď sa začne páchať trestná činnosť verejne a bez ostychu, štát musí ukázať silu. In: Štandart. 24.02.2024. https://standard.sk/577398/palko-o-romskych-rabovackach-pred-20-rokmi-ked-sa-zacne-pachat-trestna-cinnost-verejne-a-bez-ostychu-stat-musi-ukazat-silu
Bulgaria: Hate Speech
Roma, together with the LGBT+ community are the main victims of hate speech and racism. Even politicians make racists comments about the country’s largest minority.
- BULGARIE : SUR LES RÉSEAUX SOCIAUX, LA HAINE DES ROMS. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 22.02.2024.https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Bulgarie-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux-la-haine-des-Roms
Brutality against Roma in Serbia
A few days ago, a police raid on a Roma camp in Belgrade turned into a pogrom. Violence and racism against the minority are increasing, to the indifference of the authorities and almost the entire political class.
This is bad.
- SERBIE : L’INQUIÉTANTE BANALISATION DE LA VIOLENCE CONTRE LES ROMS. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 23.02.2024. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Serbie-l-inquietante-banalisation-de-la-violence-contre-les-Roms
EN 
DE 
FR