Category Archives: Slovakia

Hungary News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Relocation?

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Relocation?

To be verified and followed as this seems highly suspect.

A Hungarian article stating that there are plans to relecate Roma from Košice, Slovakia, to Hungary. The Slovak government office responsible for Roma communities has deemed the relocation of families to Hungary as “extremely unusual” and is seeking clarification on various legal and social issues related to the move.

Local leaders in Szalonna, Hungary, are calling for an extraordinary meeting to address the potential influx of families from Slovakia, with concerns about the legality of restricting entry based on language proficiency.

Allegations have been made regarding the possible economic motivations behind the relocation, with local officials questioning whether it is a strategy to clear land for future development.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Housing in Slovakia

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Housing in Slovakia

The Slovak government has launched a €35.3 million initiative to support the construction, extension, and renovation of social rental housing aimed at increasing housing availability for young families, seniors, people with disabilities, and marginalized Roma communities.

Municipalities are required to maintain the rental nature of these apartments for at least 20 years and offer them at regulated rents, with a minimum percentage of units allocated for Roma communities based on their representation in the municipality.

Additional conditions include reserving 15% of the apartments for people with disabilities and establishing a maintenance fund of at least 0.5% of the acquisition costs to ensure long-term sustainability.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Rudolf Huliak

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Rudolf Huliak

Minister of Tourism and Sports Rudolf Huliak has been advocating for the employment of Roma in Slovakia instead of accepting economic migrants for several months. He argues that Slovakia should focus on utilizing its domestic workforce and creating job opportunities for its own citizens.

Huliak questions the superiority of Indian migrants over Slovak Roma, emphasizing the need to employ local citizens rather than bringing in foreign workers. He also holds derogatody views about Roma and their willingness to work.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Settlements

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Slovak Settlements

Slovakia is working to improve living conditions in marginalized Roma communities, investing nearly one billion euros, yet many still lack basic necessities like drinking water and sanitation.

Local officials report ongoing struggles, with some residents traveling long distances for water, while government representatives claim investments are being made systematically in housing, infrastructure, and education.

A new initiative has been launched to fund local civic and order services, with over 15 million euros allocated to help maintain public order in various municipalities.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Housing in Slovakia

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Housing in Slovakia

The Slovak government has launched a call for proposals aimed at improving housing for marginalized Roma communities, with a budget of 30 million euros from EU funds.

The initiative focuses on socio-economic inclusion, particularly for low-income households and disadvantaged groups, emphasizing the need for accessible housing and services.

New requirements include the necessity of a valid building permit at the time of application and specific benchmarks for technical equipment and accessibility in housing projects.

The latter point will prevent this being implemented in most Roma settlements…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Funding Cuts

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Slovak Funding Cuts

Over 1,600 people may lose their jobs due to insufficient funding for the Slovak Local Civic and Preventive Services (MOaPS) project, which primarily employs Roma individuals.

The project, which has been successful in maintaining order and employment in communities since its inception in 2014, is facing potential termination as current contracts expire.

Critics, including opposition leaders, accuse the government of failing to prioritize funding for essential community services while allocating funds to questionable projects.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Te Prindžaras Amen

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Te Prindžaras Amen

The 22nd edition of the festival “Te prindžaras amen – Let’s Get to Know Each Other” will focus on traditional dance forms of various Roma groups in Slovakia, taking place on July 12 at the Slovak Village Museum in Martin.

Visitors will learn about Roma dance folklore from educators and will have the opportunity to see performances from established Roma dance ensembles and musicians.

The event will also feature a photography exhibition by respected Roma journalist Roman Čonka, showcasing the lives of notable Roma musicians and artists, along with workshops for children.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Hungarian Speakers in Slovakia

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Hungarian Speakers in Slovakia

The Slovak Hungarian Educational Atlas presents statistical data from 2010 to 2024, highlighting demographic changes and the role of Hungarian-speaking Roma children in sustaining Hungarian schools in Southern Slovakia.

The analysis reveals a decline in student numbers in rural areas while urban schools are growing, with significant differences between eastern and western regions, particularly due to the presence of Hungarian-speaking Roma.

Despite a slight increase in preschool enrollment, a notable percentage of children transition to Slovak schools, indicating a complex educational landscape where Hungarian schools face challenges in student performance compared to Slovak institutions.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Communities

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Roma Communities

The Slovak Association of Towns and Villages (ZMOS) discussed new responsibilities for municipalities regarding waste management and the inclusion of Roma communities during a meeting on July 1, 2026.

The meeting focused on the socio-geographic mapping of Roma communities, the Roma map portal, and the evaluation of action plans for the years 2022-2024, emphasizing early childhood care accessibility for marginalized Roma communities.

New data from the Roma atlas indicates an increase in the number of documented Roma communities and their population, highlighting the importance of community perspectives in public policy.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Reporting

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Reporting

The Slovak government has decided that the annual report from the government commissioner for Roma communities will be submitted by the end of September starting in 2027, changing the previous March deadline.

This change aims to align the submission date of the annual report with the Monitoring Report on the implementation of action plans for the Strategy for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation of Roma until 2030. The government states that this adjustment will eliminate duplicate data collection and reduce administrative burdens for the relevant ministries.

It also undermines transpareny by postponing the reporting by nearly 6 months…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Brawl in Sered

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Brawl in Sered

A recent incident involving Roma armed with weapons has raised concerns about public safety in the town of Sereď, Slovakia, prompting discussions about the security situation.

The article highlights a perceived return to previous safety issues in the area, with increasing conflicts among Roma community members being documented.

Local authorities are urged to engage with government representatives to address minority issues and improve safety in the community.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Rom and Doctor

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Rom and Doctor

Ján Deme, an eye doctor from Slovakia, discusses the challenges and successes of being a Roma in the medical field, emphasizing the importance of role models and community support for aspiring Roma professionals.

He highlights the need for systemic changes in the Roma community to foster more doctors, advocating for sustainable and effective solutions rather than just financial aid.

Deme shares his experiences in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic, noting the differences in healthcare systems and expressing a desire to contribute positively to his community while maintaining his professional identity.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Education in Slovakia

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Education in Slovakia

Milan Dulina, the director of a school in the Luník IX district, emphasizes the need for systemic changes to improve education for Roma children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He highlights the importance of community involvement in schools, noting that hiring local staff has led to better discipline and respect among students.

The school has achieved notable successes, including sports achievements and a reduction in absenteeism, by fostering a positive environment and engaging students in their education.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Housing in Slovakia

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Housing in Slovakia

The city of Rožňava, Slovakia, has received 3.1 million euros for a transitional housing project that is intended to improve the conditions of the marginalized Roma community (MRK). As part of the plan, the municipality will reconstruct rental apartments in the Rožňavská Baňa district and build a new apartment building with ten apartments on Krátká Street. TASR was informed about this by the city’s PR manager Martina Beshirová.

There are currently 26 rental apartments in Rožňavská Bana, of which more than 20 do not have their own sanitary facilities. The residents of the apartment building, a total of 19 Roma families, use shared toilets and showers, which are located at the end of the corridor.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Michalovce, Slovakia

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Michalovce, Slovakia

In Michalovce, there is a significant Roma community facing several issues, with housing being the most serious problem.

The city plans to build rental apartments in the settlement, offering hope for change.

Many Roma students choose the Alexander Dubček Secondary Vocational School in Vranov nad Topľou for better opportunities, but not all manage to complete their education; a new scholarship program could help improve this situation.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Education in Slovakia

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Education in Slovakia

Education for children from marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia faces significant challenges, particularly regarding language barriers, as many children arrive at school speaking Romani or a Romani-influenced Slovak. Teachers report that the school system often fails to accommodate these language differences, leading to misinterpretations of children’s abilities and creating additional stress for both students and educators.

There is a call for systemic support, including the return of Roma language assistants and a shift in perspective to view Romani as a valuable part of children’s identity rather than a hindrance to learning.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and the Genocide

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Slovakia and the Genocide

Martina Znamenáčková, a Slovak actress, discusses her role in the series “Dunaj” and her experiences as an actress. She reflects on the tragic historical context of her character’s storyline, which relates to the Roma Genocide during the Holocaust, emphasizing the importance of remembering such events to prevent future atrocities.

Znamenáčková also addresses issues of racial stereotyping in casting and the need for sensitivity in how questions about her ethnicity are posed, while sharing her ongoing projects in theater and television.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and Hate Speech

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Slovakia and Hate Speech

ECRI’s report praises Slovakia’s new National Framework to combat radicalization, focusing on hate speech online and support for Romani children in schools and healthcare.

Despite improvements, the report highlights ongoing issues such as hate speech against LGBTI individuals and Roma, and the need for better police resources and education for Romani children.

ECRI calls for stronger police structures to address hate crimes, better healthcare access for marginalized groups, and legal recognition of gender identity without unreasonable requirements.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Milena Hübschmanova

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Milena Hübschmanova

An article in the Slovak press about Milena Hübschmannová, born on June 10, 1933. She significantly influenced the lives of several generations of Roma, instilling pride in their identity and leaving a lasting impact on Czech and global culture.

She began working with Roma communities in the 1950s, encouraging written expression and supporting Roma literature through editing, translating, and publishing efforts.

Hübschmannová was instrumental in establishing Romani studies at Charles University in Prague, elevating the Romani language and culture to an academic discipline and fostering close relationships with Roma personalities.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Racism in Slovakia

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Racism in Slovakia

According to the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), which is a body of the Council of Europe (CoE), further measures are needed in the field of combating hate speech and hate crimes, in promoting equality and access to rights, as well as the integration of Roma and LGBTI communities.

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