Category Archives: Romania

News Eastern Europe Romania

Romania – Conference

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Romania – Conference

The National Agency for Roma, in partnership with the National Center for Roma Culture “Romano Kher”, organized a series of conferences in Dolj County focused on the historical slavery of Roma and the need for reconciliation through recognition and reparative policies.

The event lasted three days and aimed to shed light on this aspect of history.

Additionally, there will be a discussion about the life and work of Lucian Raicu, a Romanian critic and writer of Jewish descent, in the segment “A book…a minority.”

News Eastern Europe Romania

Roma Students and Police …

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Roma Students and Police …

In the Maramureș County for the 2026-2027 school year, there are 3,872 Roma students enrolled, including 306 high school students.

During the computer allocation process on July 16, 40 candidates were assigned to places specifically allocated for Roma students, with four coming from other counties.

The local prefecture is actively disseminating information about admission opportunities to Roma communities, with online registration open until October 4, 2026.

Cristina Moldovan, a representative of the Maramureș County Prefecture, also presented information provided by the Maramureș County Police Inspectorate regarding the allocation of places for Roma candidates in the admission competitions for two educational institutions.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Education in Romania

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Education in Romania

A meeting on September 28 focused on improving access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities for Roma communities in Maramureș, Romania.

Key issues discussed included reserved spots for Roma candidates in police schools and the enrollment of Roma students in local schools, with 3,872 Roma students registered in the 2026-2027 school year.

Access to healthcare was also addressed, revealing that 125 Roma individuals in Baia Mare are not registered with a family doctor, prompting plans for further collaboration to enhance their access to medical services.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Really?

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Really?

According to the article, the Romanian government is offering €50,000 in non-repayable funding to young Roma individuals (ages 18-30) to start businesses, as part of the Start-Up Nation program, amidst a record number of business closures in the country.

Eligibility criteria for the funding rely on self-declaration of Roma ethnicity, raising concerns about potential misuse and the impact on actual Roma individuals seeking support.

The program aims to reduce poverty among the Roma community but may inadvertently inflate the number of declared Roma, affecting future government programs and representation.

Well, the current official number of Roma is really low and far from reality …

News Eastern Europe Romania

Roma Politics

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Roma Politics

An important meeting for the Romani Party of Vrancea, Romania,  took place, focusing on the party’s reorganization following a scandal involving former leader Toader Constantin, accused of rape.

Deputy Nicolae Păun emphasized the need for preparation for the 2028 elections, urging the identification of capable candidates from the Romani community.

The meeting concluded with discussions on political strategy, community involvement, and the need for basic services for Romani families in Vrancea and Buzău.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Housing Discrimination?

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Housing Discrimination?

A young Romni, B.R., raised in child protection, has written an open letter to the mayor of Cluj, Emil Boc, questioning why she and others like her do not receive social housing despite being educated and employed.

B.R. shares her experiences of discrimination and emphasizes that not all Roma should be judged based on the actions of a few, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of her community.

She highlights the need for social housing criteria to be reconsidered, suggesting that those who work and contribute to society should be prioritized over those who perpetuate negative stereotypes.

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Cultural Centre

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Cultural Centre

A new cultural center dedicated to Romani culture, language, and traditions was inaugurated in Belgrade, Serbia, attended by Dorin Cioabă, president of one of the current three International Romani Union.

The Romani Cultural Center aims to serve as a meeting point for the community, promoting education, dialogue, and the preservation of Romani identity.

Cioabă emphasized the importance of collaboration among Romani organizations, public institutions, and civil society to maintain Romani culture and traditions.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Cluj and Roma

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Cluj and Roma

Local NGOs in Cluj, particularly TAC.social, criticize a protest against the relocation of Roma families from Pata Rât, emphasizing the need for discussions based on the realities of the community.

The protest, organized by the Identitarian Community Association of Romania, attracted only about 12 participants and was marked by inflammatory rhetoric against the Roma community.

TAC.social calls for greater awareness and understanding of the living conditions in Pata Rât, inviting people to engage directly with the community rather than relying on prejudiced narratives.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Cluj and Roma

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Cluj and Roma

Local councilor Dragoș Roșianu criticized fellow councilor Daniel Meze for generalizing about relocated Roma families after a fire incident, urging him to verify facts directly with affected families.

The fire, which affected 16 apartments, was attributed to an electrical issue, not the ethnicity of the residents, highlighting the need for responsible administration and fact-based discussions.

Roșianu emphasized the importance of integration and support for Roma families, rejecting stigmatization and calling for constructive dialogue to address any issues within the community.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Arranged Marriages

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Arranged Marriages

Dorin Cioabă, a representative of the Roma community, expressed outrage over a new Romanian law that could imprison parents who arrange marriages for minors.

He argues that the law fails to distinguish between forced marriages and consensual relationships among adolescents, which could lead to unnecessary legal consequences.

The law, recently passed by the Romanian Parliament, imposes prison sentences of 2 to 7 years for forced marriages involving minors under 16, aiming to protect young individuals from coercion.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Flop

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Flop

A protest in Cluj-Napoca against the relocation of families from the Pata Rât landfill attracted fewer than 20 participants, mostly young people under 35, and was organized by a group known for anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion actions.

Protesters expressed hateful sentiments towards the Roma community and criticized local authorities, claiming that the relocation project unfairly benefits homeless individuals at the expense of hardworking citizens.

The local government clarified that only 50 apartments were purchased for relocation, funded primarily by external grants, and that the project aims to gradually relocate families from Pata Rât by 2030.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Blacksmith

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Blacksmith

La Bârca is home to a vibrant Roma community, with nea Ilie, a blacksmith, being a prominent figure.

Nea Ilie is recognized as the best blacksmith in Oltenia.

The story of the blacksmith from Bârca will be featured on TVR Craiova.

https://youtu.be/yg16-xRlFAA

News Eastern Europe Romania

Romania: Protest

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Romania: Protest

A protest organized by the nationalist group Comunitatea Identitară România is set to take place in Cluj-Napoca against the relocation of Roma families from Pata Rât to social housing, citing concerns over their ability to adapt to new living conditions.

The organization has a history of promoting racist messages and has been monitored for its extremist views, including hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community and antisemitic content.

ADI Zona Metropolitană Cluj, involved in the desegregation efforts, defends the relocation project, highlighting its success in improving living conditions for relocated families and condemning the hate speech surrounding the issue.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Forced Mariage

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Forced Mariage

The Romanian House of Representatives approved a bill to criminalize forced marriage, with specific penalties for cases involving minors and a media campaign to raise awareness.

The Roma community has expressed concerns that the law threatens their traditions and identity, while advocacy groups for Roma women support the initiative as a step towards protecting children from abuse.

The bill aims to shift societal perceptions of forced marriage from a private issue to a public concern, emphasizing that marriage should only occur with free consent.

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Alina Şerban

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Alina Şerban

The Romanian film “Eu contez” [I matter] directed by Alina Șerban won the Audience Award at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, marking a historic achievement for Romanian cinema.

Alina Șerban, a Roma director, is the first Romanian to present a feature film at the Venice Festival, and her film addresses themes of social exclusion and identity through the story of a young Roma woman.

The film has received widespread acclaim for its emotional authenticity and is expected to be a strong contender for international distribution and possibly an Oscar nomination.

Italy News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

I Matter

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I Matter

“I Matter,” the debut feature film by director Alina Șerban, premiered on September 8 at the Venice International Film Festival in the Venice Spotlight section, making her the first Roma female director in the festival’s official selection.

The film follows Rebeca, a young Roma woman preparing to leave her care center, hoping to find stability through her father’s release from prison, but faces challenges in her transition to independent life.

The film, a Romania-Germany-Belgium co-production, will be released in Romanian cinemas in February 2027 and is also competing for the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut and the Audience Award in the Venice Spotlight section.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Sacha Baron Cohen

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Sacha Baron Cohen

The village of Glod in Romania, known for its Roma community, was the setting for Sacha Baron Cohen’s satirical documentary about Kazakhstan in 2006, which received a Golden Globe.

Two decades later, the community still remembers the dubious production methods and betrayals associated with the film, sharing their experiences with a British journalist.

The article reflects on the historical context of the Romani people in Glod, their past as nomads and serfs, and the village’s name, which means ‘mud’ in Romanian.

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Alina Şerban

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Alina Şerban

Alina Șerban, acclaimed for her role in ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’, returns to the Venice Film Festival as a director and screenwriter with her debut feature ‘Eu contez (I Matter)’, premiering on September 8.

The film, a Romanian-German-Belgian co-production, tells the story of a Roma teenager preparing to leave a care center, highlighting underrepresented narratives in cinema.

‘Eu contez’ competes for the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut and the Audience Award, featuring a cast that includes Denisa Farcaș and Sorin Mihai.

News Eastern Europe Romania

School Supplies

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School Supplies

Nice, but a drop in a large Ocean…

101 Roma children from Berchișești received school supplies through a European project implemented by ACDC in partnership with local schools and the municipality.

The project includes warm meals and a program to support children’s education and personal development, with activities like homework help and creative arts.

Local organizations emphasize the importance of collaboration between schools and families to improve educational access and prevent school dropout.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Alina Șerban

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Alina Șerban

Alina Șerban, acclaimed for her role in ‘Housekeeping for Beginners’, returns to the Venice Film Festival as a director and screenwriter with her debut feature ‘I Matter’, premiering on September 8.

‘I Matter’, a co-production between Romania, Germany, and Belgium, is one of eight films selected for the Spotlight section at the festival, competing for the Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut and the Audience Award.

The film tells the story of Rebeca, a Roma teenager preparing to leave a care center, highlighting underrepresented narratives in cinema about the complexities of Roma experiences and adolescence.

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