Category Archives: Serbia

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia, Schools, and Roma

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The Opre Roma Srbija movement announced today that the decision of the “Klet” publishing house to replace the reading question for the third grade of primary school in which a historically offensive word for Roma was used does not change the essence of the relationship towards the Roma community, but that it is a step in the right direction, because represents the continuity of their historical struggle against inequality.

The controversy surrounding the third-grade reading book that was supported by the education ministry has been ongoing for a while. The government has denied any involvement but initially let the material through.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Leskovac and the Church

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Hundreds of Roma have been gathering in a large church in Leskovac (Serbia) to pray in a evangelical church. This is a new phenomenon in Serbia. It used to e housed iin a tent, and now has been replaced by a brand new church.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Evangelical Churches

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Evangelical churches are making inroads among Roma in Serbia. Here a reportage on the church in Levkovac. The article is more on the positive side, saying these churches insist on education, on self-reliance etc., but does not dwell on the fact that generally Roma cultures is often lost.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia, Roma, and Education

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Another article on the third grade reading book with stereotypes on Roma published in Serbia. The Education ministry declines all responsibility although they were involved. The text uses the term “Cigan” and, as an example says: “A gypsy asked her mother: What is the longest day of the year? Those when wait for dinner without lunch”.

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News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Census

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Serbia will be conducting a census from October 1st to 31st. Many Roma do not choose to declare themselves as such in the census. Some however do. Joca Nikolić is from Sombor, he is a musician and he is 61 years old. As long as he can remember, he declares himself as Rom. His family roots are like that, he says, that’s how he feels. And he does not condemn those Roma who will not declare themselves in the upcoming census: “It is a personal matter, you can freely declare yourself as a Hungarian,” says Nikolić.

There are various reasons why some people do not want to declare themselves as Roma, the president of the Roma National Council, Dalibor Nakić, told DW. “Some of them are afraid that they will be exposed to discrimination, and some of them have reached full social integration over time, so they think that they will be more appreciated, respected and successful in society if they do not declare themselves as Roma. Mimicry reaction is for some people, according to their logic, a way to achieve a better position in society,” says Nakić.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia, Roma, and Schools

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Reading material for third grade children, ” Narodne umotvorine lake za đake trećake”, published by the “Klet” publishing house, which, contains controversial content according to the Roma organisation Opre Roma. It uses the term “Cigan” and, as an example says: “A gypsy asked her mother: What is the longest day of the year? Those when wait for dinner without lunch”.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development announced that it does not encourage racism, nor does it show irresponsibility towards anyone, especially not towards members of the Roma community and added that it does not prescribe nor approve the contents of the reading material.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma

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In a town near Leskovac, Serbia, Roma mostly speak Serbian, and they have a humorous explanation for that in a video.

This is to be contracted to the general situation in Serbia where, according to a UNESCO report, almost 60 percent of Roma children in the Balkans do not attend secondary school, and many do not know any other language than Romanes.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Bajram Haliti

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Bajram Haliti

Bajram Haliti, a Roma-Serbian politician, journalist, publicist and writer passed away. He was born in Gnjilan, Kosovo, in 1955. He was a prolific writer and journalist.

May he rest in peace.

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News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Weddings

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Roma Weddings

The Serbian folk singer Nadica Ademov who here admits playing at Roma wedding and states that a large part of her revenues come from those sometimes lavish events.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Vučić and Roma

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Vučić and Roma

Several articles on the Serbian president Vučić recognised the first generation of participants in the Barvalipe program, for young Roma  to work in the Serbian Public administration.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Šaban

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Šaban

The promotion of the documentary called a “Musical Biography of Shaban Bajramovic” produced by the Association FROS, began with the sounds of one of the most famous Shaban songs “Sajbija”, performed by famous trumpeter Nebojsa Sejdic.

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Erdelezi

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Erdelezi

A few articles in the Balkan press on the celebrations of Erdelezi or Đurđevdan – simply Saint Georges day in the orthodox calendar – which fell on May 6th, and is celebrated by all Roma in the Balkans.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

Roma in Serbia are being courted by all parties, as usual, and being promised a lot or bought outright. The electoral list “Roma Patria – Srdjan Šajn” called on the citizens today to take whatever is being offered to in exchange for votes, but to vote according to their conscience, noting that “buying votes is a collapse of democracy”.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Pretty Loud

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Pretty Loud

“Revolutionaries” on the one hand, “pioneers” of the fight against discrimination against Roma on the modern music scene, girls who stand not only for the rights of Roma women, but for all women – Silvia Sinani, Zlata Ristic, Diana and Zivka Iva Ferhatovic, Selma and Elma Dalipi , make up the band Pretty Loud.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Belgrade and Roma

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Belgrade and Roma

Many Roma children and adolescents in Belgrade are forced to work. They do not go to school regularly, and cultural practices and sports activities are often beyond their reach. The (per)Spective project wants to open the doors of cinemas and museums to them.

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