Category Archives: News Switzerland

News Switzerland

Travellers

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Travellers

In Graubünden, there is a shortage of designated parking spaces for the Jenische and Sinti communities, despite legal obligations for authorities to provide them. The lack of spaces is exacerbated by prejudices against these groups, which hinders the establishment of necessary facilities.

The article highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the traveling communities in securing adequate accommodations in the region.

News Switzerland

Jenische in Switzerland

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Jenische in Switzerland

The Swiss government acknowledges the historical persecution of Jenische and Sinti communities, recognizing it as a crime against humanity and plans to investigate these injustices through an independent commission.

Jenische writer Isabella Huser emphasizes the importance of understanding this dark chapter in Swiss history for the benefit of all Swiss citizens and advocates for immediate action to address ongoing discrimination against these communities.

The government has previously provided financial support to Sinti and Jenische organizations, but there is a call for more substantial changes to improve their living conditions and end discrimination.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

A group of travelers from France camped illegally in a protected area in Switzerland, highlighting the ongoing issue of finding suitable stopping places for travelers in the region.

Currently, there are only two designated temporary stopping places in the Rheintal area, both with strict limitations on duration and prior approval required.

Despite a legal obligation established in 2003 for adequate stopping places, progress has been slow, with only 40% of the needed sites realized, and ongoing resistance from local communities complicating new developments.

Switzerland lacks nearly 80 designated stopping and transit sites for Jenische and Sinti communities, particularly in the western regions. Although ten new sites have been created since 2021, the demand for additional spaces remains high, with calls for more political will from local governments.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

The report from the foundation “Future for Swiss Travelers” indicates a slight improvement in the availability of stopping places for travelers in Switzerland over the past five years, but significant needs remain.

The traveling lifestyle is a key part of the identity of Jenische,  and of some Sinti, and Roma communities, who require designated stopping and transit areas for their way of life.

While some regions, like Schaffhausen, serve as positive examples, many politicians are still reluctant to support the establishment of more stopping places, despite the acknowledgment of historical injustices against these communities.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe News Switzerland

Switzerland and Bulgaria

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Switzerland and Bulgaria

The Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation H.E. Pierre Hagmann visited the office of the Amalipe Center and two of the institutions with which the Center works in close partnership – Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” – the village of Kamen and the Municipality of Strazhitsa, to get acquainted with the organization’s activities. The conversations were about the Roma community and the challenges facing it, education, the contribution of the Swiss-Bulgarian Development Program, the role of NGOs and the support of the Swiss Embassy and the Ambassadorial Group on Roma Issues. The subsequent visit to the village of Kamen and the town of Strazhitsa continued and detailed these conversations.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

Camping space for Yenish, Sinti, and Roma in Graubünden is becoming increasingly scarce. A regional event sparked a heated discussion about their needs, rights, and respect.

It doesn’t help that some spots are reserved for “Swiss Travellers”, and not for Roma.

News Switzerland

Z-Salad

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Z-Salad

A bakery from the Canton Zurich sells a saussage and cheese salad as “AZ’-Salad. They were asked by the young socialists from the region to drop the name, as this is insulting.

Well, in Switzerland, it is still acceptable, it seems …

News Switzerland

“Z-Word”

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“Z-Word”

A bakery in Zurich is being asked to rename a salad. They are selling a “Z”-Salad. The well-known bakery say no customer complained…
Well the Swiss are a bit behind in that respect. Up until the 1990’s, the canned meatloaf in the Swiss army was called “pressed jew” – seriously!

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Racist Police

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Switzerland: Racist Police

The RTS, the French speaking Swiss television channel published the content of some 2,500 pages of internal WhatsApp conversations within the Lausanne police force. The analysis reveals a shocking extent of discriminatory and extremist remarks.

Blacks, Roma, Moslems, Jews, all is included in these racist statements, going as far as mentioning the Nazis of the KKK. And this is a municipal police force in Switzerland.

Sad.

News Switzerland

Swiss Media and Roma

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Swiss Media and Roma

The Swiss Press Council decided in two cases we brought to their attention that Journalists of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung and on 20 Minuten.

The «Neue Zürcher Zeitung» violated points 3 (sources) and 8 (prohibition of discrimination) of the «Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists» with the article «North Africans have little to fear» and the corresponding online article. In that article, the journalist said about North African criminals: “contrary to Roma, they are not organised in criminal clans”.

With its article “Protection status S: Resentment over abuse by Roma grows” of February 12, 2024, «20 Minuten» violated points 1 (truth), 3 (withholding important information) and 8 (discrimination) of the «Declaration of the Duties and Rights of Journalists».  This article pretty much was stating that Roma refugees from the Ukraine abused the Swiss Asylum, and that many were not even Ukraininas or had false papers.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Roma Travellers

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Switzerland and Roma Travellers

A reportage in Swiss television on Roma Travellers and how they are delt with. Recently, the police in the canton of Valais stopped many caravans and blocked a highway to stop them and turn them around.

News Eastern Europe News Switzerland Ukraine

Switzerland and Ukrainian Refugees

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Switzerland and Ukrainian Refugees

The Swiss government has decided that a large part of Western Ukraine, including Lviv, are safe and that Ukrainian refugees from those regions can safely return home… It was announced right after Lviv was bombed.

This will affect quite a few refugees, and many Roma from Transcarpathian Ukraine.

Bad.

News Switzerland

“Zigeuner”

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“Zigeuner”

The Zurich Anti-Racism Office removed the book title “Zigeuner” from an event. Isabella Huser, a Yenish author speaks of absurd censorship. The issue there is that Yenish, a traveller minority in German speaking lands (mostly Switzerland and Rhine valley) often denote themselves as “Zigenuer”. But for Sinti and Roma, the use of this term is akin to the N-word.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

Schooling for Roma children in Valais is still lacking. However, a year ago, State Councilor for Education Christophe Darbellay expressed his desire to find an “ad hoc” solution for these traveling children.

Well, they are doing something: Trying to prevent them entering the canton…

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

An article about the police action in the French speaking cantons of Switzerland that attempts to prevent Roma travellers from coming to Switzerland. The Police in Valais even illegally blocked a highway to prevent Roma from passing. They issue fines, but also summons.

This is clearly racist.

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