Category Archives: Slovakia

Nearly 450 Mio EUR are earmarked as help for the Roma communities in Slovakia, of which nearly 50 Mio is dedicated to kindergartens. The funds are from the EU.
Let’s hope!

– Z eurofondov smeruje na marginalizovaných Rómov 450 miliónov eur. In: SME Romovia. 23.06.2017. https://romovia.sme.sk/c/20566348/z-eurofondov-smeruje-na-marginalizovanych-romov-450-milionov-eur.html#axzz4ku1rbj6T [link-preview url=”https://romovia.sme.sk/c/20566348/z-eurofondov-smeruje-na-marginalizovanych-romov-450-milionov-eur.html#axzz4ku1rbj6T”]

Really???? This article effectively says that Roma are no worse tenants than any others and seems to be astonished at it. Background is that the village of Tachty to the south of Rimavská Sobota built several two rooms flats for Roma at subsidised rents and after two years is making a first review of the project.

Byty pre Rómov sú po pár rokoch od výstavby v dobrom stave. In: Naš Novohrad. 22.06.2017. https://nasnovohrad.sme.sk/c/20565662/byty-pre-romov-su-po-par-rokoch-od-vystavby-v-dobrom-stave.html#axzz4knUvpi5P [link-preview url=”https://nasnovohrad.sme.sk/c/20565662/byty-pre-romov-su-po-par-rokoch-od-vystavby-v-dobrom-stave.html#axzz4knUvpi5P”]

Politicians do not want to deal with the situation of Roma in excluded communities, and they are more likely to make a speech about order and law, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said in his report on the state of the republic.

The government is proposing to move the agenda to a member of the government, and not to the office of the Plenipotentiary for the Roma communities, which is supposed to be only an advisory body. At the same time, politicians urged them to commit themselves to achieving concrete results in this area over the ten-year horizon.

“Let’s concentrate and set fair goals. Let’s stop talking about the “Roma problem” and start working on how to use “Roma potential”, Kiska said in an address to MEPs.

– Kiska chce silnejšieho úradníka pre Rómov, splnomocnenec súhlasí. In: SME Domov. 14.06.2017. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20559084/abel-ravasz-suhlasi-so-silnejsim-uradnikom-pre-romov.html#ixzz4kFIP4UZ7
– Dotáciou podporila vláda vlani 95 projektov na podporu Rómov. In: Dobre Noviny. 14.06.2017. http://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/103289/dotaciou-podporila-vlada-vlani-95-projektov-na-podporu-romov [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20559084/abel-ravasz-suhlasi-so-silnejsim-uradnikom-pre-romov.html#ixzz4kFIP4UZ7 “]

A portrait of a Roma radio editor Igor Dužda. And some interesting facts about the pre and post war situation of Roma in Slovakia as well as the creation of the current slums in the country. These did not really exist prior to the war as Roma were found in every village, and if settlements there were, they were small.

– Prvý redaktor rómskeho rozhlasového vysielania Igor Dužda: Nemám rád nespravodlivosť. In: SME Domov. 09.06.2017. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20552820/prvy-redaktor-romskeho-rozhlasoveho-vysielania-igor-duzda-nemam-rad-nespravodlivost.html#axzz4jlJunxGG [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20552820/prvy-redaktor-romskeho-rozhlasoveho-vysielania-igor-duzda-nemam-rad-nespravodlivost.html#axzz4jlJunxGG”]

The Roma settlements (called Osada) are is so poor conditions that tuberculosis is quite common. And it is difficult to heal (it is often resistant against many antibiotics). Slovakia is trying to tackle the problem, forming staff who will work in the settlement themselves.

– V boji s tuberkulózou v osadách majú pomôcť aj terénni pracovníci. In: Korzar. 09.07.2017. https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20554751/v-boji-s-tuberkulozou-v-osadach-maju-pomoct-aj-terenni-pracovnici.html#axzz4jaOqLf6Z [link-preview url=”https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20554751/v-boji-s-tuberkulozou-v-osadach-maju-pomoct-aj-terenni-pracovnici.html#axzz4jaOqLf6Z”]

A successful dancer openly says she is a Romni. Good but not easy in a country where Roma are continuously discriminated upon.

– Úspešná tanečníčka: Nie je hanbou byť Rómom. In: Aktuality. 08.06.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/494935/uspesna-tanecnicka-nie-je-hanbou-byt-rom/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/494935/uspesna-tanecnicka-nie-je-hanbou-byt-rom/”]

More links on the videos and the facts about the police beating up Roma in the Roma settlement in Zborov in North Eastern Slovakia.

– VIDEO: Policajti bili obuškami Rómov v osade. Zaháňali sa aj na deti. In: TV Noviny. 24.05.2017. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1871387_video-policajti-bili-obuskami-romov-v-osade-zahanali-sa-aj-na-deti
– Video: Policajti bili Rómov na východe obuškami. In: Aktuality. 24.05.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/490877/video-policajti-bili-romov-na-vychode-obuskami/
– Drsný policajný zásah pri konflikte Rómov zachytili kamery: Videom sa bude zaoberať policajná inšpekcia! In: Novy Cas. 24.05.2017. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/552082/drsny-policajny-zasah-pri-konflikte-romov-zachytili-kamery-videom-sa-bude-zaoberat-policajna-inspekcia/
– Ombudsmanka Patakyová preskúma policajný zásah v Zborove. In: Spravy Pravda. 25.05.2017. https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/430586-pollak-policajti-by-mali-mat-bezodkladne-kameru-pripevnenu-na-svojom-odeve/
– Policajti bili obuškami Rómov, Gašpar vidí neprimerané zákroky. In: SME Domov. 24.05.2017. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20541316/policajti-bili-obuskami-romov-gaspar-vidi-neprimerane-zakroky.html#axzz4iTVRm6KC
– Zborov : Video ktoré zachytáva ako policajti bijú Rómov. In: SME Blog. 24.05.2017. https://jozefkmeto.blog.sme.sk/c/455799/zborov-video-ktore-zachytava-ako-policajti-biju-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/490877/video-policajti-bili-romov-na-vychode-obuskami/ “]

Al Jazeera is continuing its reportages on Roma in Slovakia. And they are good.
Bravo – and please continue.
Where are the other news agencies?
– Slovakia’s Roma: Living on the margins. In: Al Jazeera. 26.05.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2017/05/slovakia-roma-living-margins-170524095312212.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2017/05/slovakia-roma-living-margins-170524095312212.html”]

A video showing random attack of Roma by the police in the small Slovak town of Zborov in the North East of the country has surfaced. The attacks occurred on April 16th but the video was shared only recently with the ERRC.
SHAME

– Police Attack Roma Community in Slovakia: Children and Elderly Injured. In: ERRC. 24.05.2017. http://www.errc.org/article/police-attack-roma-community-in-slovakia-children-and-elderly-injured/4579 [link-preview url=”http://www.errc.org/article/police-attack-roma-community-in-slovakia-children-and-elderly-injured/4579″]

A Slovak reaction to a reportage about Rroma in Slovakia. The Al-Jazeera reportage is considered objective, well informed, and representative, also in its political analysis.

– Týždeň vo svetových médiách: Arabská televízia o Ficovi, Kotlebovi a Rómoch. In: Aktuality. 20.05.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/487788/tyzden-vo-svetovych-mediach-arabska-televizia-o-ficovi-kotlebovi-a-romoch/
– Life in Slovakia’s Roma slums: Poverty and segregation. In: Al-Jazeera. 10.05.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/life-slovakia-roma-slums-poverty-segregation-170425090756677.html [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/487788/tyzden-vo-svetovych-mediach-arabska-televizia-o-ficovi-kotlebovi-a-romoch/ “]

The lawyer of the Rroma who sued the police for abuse following their arrest and abuse and who were acquitted last week, believes that the court will change the decision to free cops. According to the lawyer, it is incomprehensible that the District Court refused to accept the incriminating video as evidence without having to carry out an expert opinion. The prosecution appealed the verdict in any case.

– Advokátka týraných Rómov verí, že súd zmení rozhodnutie o oslobodení policajtov. In: Spravy Pravda. 18.05.2017. https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/429913-advokatka-tyranych-romov-veri-ze-sud-zmeni-rozhodnutie-o-oslobodeni-policajtov/ [link-preview url=”https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/429913-advokatka-tyranych-romov-veri-ze-sud-zmeni-rozhodnutie-o-oslobodeni-policajtov/”]

The Slovak president sharply criticised the lack of results in fighting poverty among Rroma. The Slovak President said he is convinced that the failure to address Rroma issues reflects the country’s inability to manage its public affairs.

– Slovak President sharply criticizes shabby results in combating Romani poverty. In: Romea.cz. 20.05.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovak-president-sharply-criticizes-shabby-results-in-combating-romani-poverty [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovak-president-sharply-criticizes-shabby-results-in-combating-romani-poverty”]

An article in English this time about the policemen in Kosice who abused several children and were freed by the court recently.
SHAME!

– Court again frees policemen charged with bullying Roma boys. In: The Slovak Spectator. 17.05.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20535570/court-again-frees-policemen-charged-with-bullying-roma-boys.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20535570/court-again-frees-policemen-charged-with-bullying-roma-boys.html”]

Ten police officers were freed of all charges for their abuse of Rroma children in Lunik IX, one of the notorious Rroma neighbourhoods of Kosice. The police officers allegedly forced the Rroma under the threat of violence to kiss each other in the corridor of the District Police Department of Košice, they had to strip, were forced with a gun on their head to lick the police officer’s shooes, and so on. The cops recorded the incident on mobile phones, sending shots to other colleagues, a scrawled and scratched record she got to the editor of the SME journal and published the content.
Bad that they went free.

– Súd opäť oslobodil obžalovaných v kaze šikanovania rómskych detí. In: Spravy Pravda. 17.05.2017. https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/429760-sud-opat-oslobodil-obzalovanych-v-kaze-sikanovania-romskych-deti/ [link-preview url=”https://spravy.pravda.sk/domace/clanok/429760-sud-opat-oslobodil-obzalovanych-v-kaze-sikanovania-romskych-deti/”]

The Slovak parliament approved amendments to the land law facilitating land consolidation and also helping settle the topic of land ownership of the Rroma settlements in the country.
Nice, but let’s see how it will be applied.

– Poslanci schválili novelu o vysporiadaní pozemkov pod obydliami Rómov. In: Aktuality. 11.05.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/486917/poslanci-schvalili-novelu-o-vysporiadani-pozemkov-pod-obydliami-romov/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/486917/poslanci-schvalili-novelu-o-vysporiadani-pozemkov-pod-obydliami-romov/”]

A reportage on the life in Slovakia’s Rroma slums.

– Life in Slovakia’s Roma slums: Poverty and segregation. In: Al Jazeera. 10.05.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/life-slovakia-roma-slums-poverty-segregation-170425090756677.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/life-slovakia-roma-slums-poverty-segregation-170425090756677.html”]