Category Archives: Slovakia

Roma Spirit, now in its tenth year, is a program that aims at presenting successful examples of integration in Slovakia. The Roma Spirit 2018 award is awarded in seven categories – Personality, Culture, Town and City, Society and Employer, NGO, Media and Cinema of the Year.

– Jubilejný Roma Spirit predstaví dobré príklady integrácie Rómov. In: SME 22.08.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20898016/jubilejny-roma-spirit-ma-predstavit-dobre-priklady-integracie-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20898016/jubilejny-roma-spirit-ma-predstavit-dobre-priklady-integracie-romov.html”]

The city of Jelšava, in Central Slovakia has a high proportion of Roma, according to the latest census. But according to the police and residents, the city doesn’t have any real problems with Roma. This is good for a change.

– Mesto Jelšava má najvyšší podiel Rómov, výrazné problémy s nimi nie sú. In: Hlavne Spravy. 18.08.2018. https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/mesto-jelsava-ma-najvyssi-podiel-romov-vyrazne-problemy-s-nimi-nie-su/1495468# [link-preview url=”https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/mesto-jelsava-ma-najvyssi-podiel-romov-vyrazne-problemy-s-nimi-nie-su/1495468#”]

Recent statistics show that employment numbers have improved for Roma in Slovakia but that Roma generally lag behind the rest of the population.

– Štyri grafy o zamestnanosti Rómov. In: Aktuality. 16.08.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/615453/styri-grafy-o-zamestnanosti-romov/
– Zamestnanosť Rómov na Slovensku výrazne zaostáva, analytici hovoria o nízkej úrovni vzdelania. In: Web Noviny. 16.08.2018. https://www.webnoviny.sk/zamestnanost-romov-na-slovensku-vyrazne-zaostava-analytici-hovoria-o-nizkej-urovni-vzdelania/
– Zamestnanosť Rómov na Slovensku. Na tieto čísla sa dobre nepozerá. In: Parlamentnelisty. 16.08.2018. https://www.parlamentnelisty.sk/arena/monitor/Zamestnanost-Romov-na-Slovensku-Na-tieto-cisla-sa-dobre-nepozera-303794 [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/615453/styri-grafy-o-zamestnanosti-romov/ “]

Martin Kotleba, the president of the extremist right wing party “Our Slovakia” has been indicted for using Nazi symbols on a check.
This is not the first indictment, and let’s hope that he will be stopped sometimes.

– Slovakia: Chair of neo-Nazi party indicted for using Nazi symbols on checks. In: Romea. 14.08.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-chair-of-neo-nazi-party-indicted-for-using-nazi-symbols-on-checks-2 [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-chair-of-neo-nazi-party-indicted-for-using-nazi-symbols-on-checks-2″]

As part of the integration plans for the Roma minority in Slovakia, 82 Mio Euros have been spent in 2017, with most of the projects implemented.
Well … The impact is difficult to see at this stage. Let’s hope that the money was well spent.

– Vlani sa realizovala väčšina plánovaných projektov na podporu Rómov. In: SME. 14.08.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20891974/vlani-sa-realizovala-vacsina-planovanych-projektov-na-podporu-romov.html
– Z plánovaných opatrení na integráciu Rómov uviedli väčšinu do praxe. In: Teraz. 15.06.2018. https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/z-planovanych-opatreni-na-integraciu/342644-clanok.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20891974/vlani-sa-realizovala-vacsina-planovanych-projektov-na-podporu-romov.html “]

Following the murder of an of investigative journalist Jana Kuciak and his fiancé, archaeologist Martina Kušnírová, Slovak citizen went immediately into the streets and a movement started resulting in the resignation of the prime minister and interior minister.
It also resulted in a distrust of the police, something where Roma were miles ahead. Roma have been actively participating and in many case at the forefront in the movement against corruption and against police abuse, something which is really positive!

– Stano Daniel: “Co se děje na Slovensku?” In: ROmea. 13.08.2018. http://www.romea.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/zahranicni/stano-daniel-co-se-deje-na-slovensku [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/cz/zpravodajstvi/zahranicni/stano-daniel-co-se-deje-na-slovensku”]

In connection with the preparation of the new Atlas of Romani communities, Ábel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Roma Communities, to be released soon, he said that the atlas should give an up-to-date overview of the status of the Roma minority in the Slovak Republic at the beginning of next year.

– Ravasz: Zistenia nového Atlasu rómskych komunít očakávame v roku 2019. In: Teraz. 04.08.2018. https://www.teraz.sk/najnovsie/a-ravasz-zistenia-noveho-atlasu-romskych/340781-clanok.html [link-preview url=”https://www.teraz.sk/najnovsie/a-ravasz-zistenia-noveho-atlasu-romskych/340781-clanok.html”]

An interview of a worker in a poor Roma neighbourhood where she teaches women to sew and start small businesses as a way out of poverty.

– Ako sa dá podnikať v chudobnom slume? Rozhovor so Slovenkou v Keni. In: Aktuality. 06.08.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/611440/ako-sa-da-podnikat-v-chudobnom-slume-slovaci-prispievaju-zenam-v-keni/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/611440/ako-sa-da-podnikat-v-chudobnom-slume-slovaci-prispievaju-zenam-v-keni/”]

The State television of Slovakia has launched courses for journalism, and conducted a few specifically for Roma.

– RTVS robí kurzy pre rómskych novinárov, začnú aj s Maďarmi. In: Aktuality. 03.08.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/608335/rtvs-robi-kurzy-pre-romskych-novinarov-zacnu-aj-s-madarmi/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/608335/rtvs-robi-kurzy-pre-romskych-novinarov-zacnu-aj-s-madarmi/”]

A report of a project in Rankovce, a small village in Eastern Slovakia. The Roma there have been building their own houses, buying the land from the commune, and to the “astonishment” of the people, they keep their houses in good order.
This project should definitively be extended!

– V Rankovciach svojpomocná výstavba domov pre Rómov funguje. In: Kosice 24. 01.08.2018. https://kosice.dnes24.sk/v-rankovciach-svojpomocna-vystavba-domov-pre-romov-funguje-305382 [link-preview url=”https://kosice.dnes24.sk/v-rankovciach-svojpomocna-vystavba-domov-pre-romov-funguje-305382″]

Several people attacked a small group or Roma in the Slovak own of Žilina. One has a brain haemorrhage and another a broken leg. “They started behind us, shouting – gypsies, we will kill you. They were throwing stones on us, bottles, screaming”.
The attackers fled when the police arrived.

– Rómov v Žiline dobila skupina mužov, jeden skončil v nemocnici s krvácaním do mozgu. In: Dennik. 23.07.2018. https://dennikn.sk/1186559/romov-v-ziline-dobila-skupina-muzov-jeden-skoncil-v-nemocnici-s-krvacanim-do-mozgu/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/1186559/romov-v-ziline-dobila-skupina-muzov-jeden-skoncil-v-nemocnici-s-krvacanim-do-mozgu/”]

A flurry of articles in the Slovak press about a gathering of Roma in Piešťany, a spa town in the West of the country. They are apparently gathered because of a healer who has seen the Virgin Mary in a park there.

– Rómovia okupujú Piešťany, láka ich záhadný muž: Tajná minulosť „Spasiteľa“! In: Novy Čas. 19.07.2018. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/719115/romovia-okupuju-piestany-laka-ich-zahadny-muz-tajna-minulost-spasitela/
– Piešťanský park zaplavili ľudské výkaly. Zanechávajú ich stovky Rómov, ktorí prišli za pochybným liečiteľom. In: Refresher. 18.07.2018. https://refresher.sk/56358-Piestansky-park-zaplavili-ludske-vykaly-Zanechavaju-ich-stovky-Romov-ktori-prisli-za-pochybnym-liecitelom
– Rómovia z celého sveta prúdili do Piešťan: Čakali na liečiteľa, ktorý je vraj prevtelený Ježiš. In: Topky. 20.08.2018. https://www.topky.sk/cl/10/1724801/Romovia-z-celeho-sveta-prudili-do-Piestan–Cakali-na-liecitela–ktory-je-vraj-prevteleny-Jezis
– AKTUALIZOVANÉ: Rómovia uverili liečiteľovi z Piešťan, jeho povesť sa rýchlo šíri. In: Zpieštan. 18.07.2018. https://www.zpiestan.sk/spravy/romovia-uverili-liecitelovi-z-piestan-jeho-povest-sa-rychlo-siri/
– Stovky Rómov sa valia do Piešťan: Naozaj veria, že tam ZÁZRAČNOU liečbou vyzdravejú?! In: Pluska. 17.07.2018. https://www1.pluska.sk/Regiony/Zapadne-Slovensko/Stovky-Romov-valia-Piestan-Naozaj-veria-tam-ZAZRACNOU-liecbou-vyzdraveju
– Stovky Rómov prišli do Piešťan za “zázračným liečiteľom”. In: TV Noviny. 18.07.2018. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1927549_stovky-romov-prisli-do-piestan-za-zazracnym-liecitelom [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/719115/romovia-okupuju-piestany-laka-ich-zahadny-muz-tajna-minulost-spasitela/ “]

Roma from several countries are gathered and camp in a park in the Western Slovak spa town of Piešťany. It is apparently due to a vision of the Virgin Mary that a healer had on that spot. Many Roma – from the evangelical churches have been bringing their ill relatives are on the site.

– Rómovia z celého sveta kempujú v parku kúpeľného mesta: Do Piešťan ich láka veľká záhada! In: Novy Čas. 18.07.2018. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/718679/romovia-z-celeho-sveta-kempuju-v-parku-kupelneho-mesta-do-piestan-ich-laka-velka-zahada/
– Rómovia už niekoľko dní okupujú parčík v Piešťanoch. In: MY Trnava. 17.06.2018. https://mytrnava.sme.sk/c/20871828/romovia-uz-niekolko-dni-okupuju-parcik-v-piestanoch.html [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/718679/romovia-z-celeho-sveta-kempuju-v-parku-kupelneho-mesta-do-piestan-ich-laka-velka-zahada/”]

The Canadian university professor David Scheffel (63) has been in custody since last November for allegedly sexual offenses with children. He claims the photographs of naked children are related to his research on Roma. He also said he was studying the sexual practices among Roma.
REALLY????

– Obvinený kanadský profesor: Pred súdom opisoval sexuálne praktiky Rómov! In: Pluska. 11.07.2018. https://www1.pluska.sk/Krimi/Obvineny-kanadsky-profesor-Pred-sudom-opisoval-sexualne-praktiky-Romov [link-preview url=”https://www1.pluska.sk/Krimi/Obvineny-kanadsky-profesor-Pred-sudom-opisoval-sexualne-praktiky-Romov”]

The Regional Court in Prešov definitively decided that the town of Sabinov and the Ministry of Construction acted in a discriminatory manner in the way they handled Roma and non-Roma inhabitants when moving homes in the city centre. They had decided to move the Rom out of the town’s centre.

– Sabinov a ministerstvo podľa súdu pri vysťahovaní Rómov diskriminovalo. In: Korzar. 12.07.2018. https://presov.korzar.sme.sk/c/20868844/mesto-sabinov-a-rezort-vystavby-podla-sudu-konali-diskriminacne-pri-vystahovani-romov.html
– Sabinovských Rómov presťahovali diskriminačne, rozhodol o tom súd. In: TA3. 12.07.2018. https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1131767/sabinovskych-romov-prestahovali-diskriminacne-rozhodol-o-tom-sud.html [link-preview url=”https://presov.korzar.sme.sk/c/20868844/mesto-sabinov-a-rezort-vystavby-podla-sudu-konali-diskriminacne-pri-vystahovani-romov.html “]