Author Archives: Roma Foundation

Prague: Concert

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Prague: Concert

Roma music from all over the world in one place at La Fabrika – real Roma cymbalum, authentic flamenco and for the first time ever, Roma artists from Greece. The Traditional Roma Music Concert will feature Lavutari di Praga, Kostas Pavlidis and Ballet Flamenco Sergio González. The concert will take plae on the 29th of May 2025.

Roma and Politics

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Roma and Politics

Roma must be given a chance in politics for elective positions, says Irena Biháriová, MP and the first Roma woman to lead a major political party.

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

For some reason, the Slovenian press published two articles about the international Roma day which happened a while back. In one, a teacher published a book with poems in Romanes and Slovene, unveiled during April 8th celebrations. In the other, Roma children who attend a “regular” kindergarten (to the surprise of the journalist perform for April 8th – with of course lots of stereotypes.

Slovakia and Segregation

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Slovakia and Segregation

Roma children still face entrenched discrimination in education. This is according to a report by Amnesty International and the European Roma Rights Center. The organizations are calling on the government to adopt systemic measures to end segregation in schools as soon as possible. The Ministry of Education responds that it is actively addressing this issue.

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

Another article in the Swiss press about 200 policemen stopping 42 caravans and ca. 150 French Roma on a highway, forcing them to turn back, this in spite of not having done anything illegal.

The police de facto blocked the highway for 7 hours!

Shame.

Slovakia and School Segregation

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Slovakia and School Segregation

Several organisation including Amnesty International Slovakia and the European Roma Rights Center informed at a press conference on Wednesday that segregation of Roma students continues to occur in Slovakia. According to NGOs, the measures that Slovakia is introducing against the segregation of Roma children in schools are incomplete and are not bringing positive results.

The government, on its aside claims it does everything correctly …

Bulgaria: Bulldozed

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Bulgaria: Bulldozed

The Roma neighbourhood of Zaharna Fabrika is currently being destroyed. The houses were deemed illegal. This occurred in spite of a ruling by the European Court of Human Right from April 11th asking for a delay until the ongoing law case is solved.

Shame.

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

The police of the canton of Valais stopped a convoy of 42 caravans and around 150 Roma on the highway. They had no right to do so, as they had not done anything wrong. The Roma had to turn around and go back to the Canton of Nechatel.

Shame.

Marija Aleksandrović

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Marija Aleksandrović

Marija Aleksandrović, a famous Romani activist passed away unexpectedly on April 8th.

Through her pioneering work on the standardization of the Romani language and the introduction of teaching in the Romani language and culture, she enabled young Roma men and women to proudly accept and cherish their language, making it not only academic but also socially important, alive.

May she rest in peace.

Slovenia and April 8th

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Slovenia and April 8th

The Society for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto (DRPD) and the Center for School and Extracurricular Activities (CŠOD) celebrated World Roma Day on April 8 in front of the Brezje Žabjak Community Center with the traditional Veselo diva (Happy day) event.

Both in the largest Roma settlement in Novo Mesto, Brezje, and in Jedinščica, the DRPD and its professional team have been providing support for children and adolescents with learning and homework for more than 20 years, working closely with all primary schools. They also provide quality afternoons with cooking, sports, creative, social, etc. workshops, in which they connect with the Miran Jarca Library, the Novo Mesto Health Center, the Police, Deacon Matic Vidic, etc. »Both centers are open seven hours a day and more than 50 children and more than 20 adolescents come to us voluntarily every day, because they feel accepted here and trust us more and more every year, as do their families. “We are aware that changing values ​​and habits is a truly long-term process, but this is the only way we can now boast of more and more high school students and also jobs,” said Mojca Vegelj, professional manager of the DRPD’s day center for Roma children.

Brno: Scam

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Brno: Scam

A woman in her 40s approached an 80 years old man saying that she was from a Roma association helping seniors and offered to help him withdraw money. He agreed but she then took the envelope with 30,000 crowns from him and left. The police are looking for her.

This is bad for all.

School Segregation in the Czech Republic

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School Segregation in the Czech Republic

The paradox of today’s Czech Republic is that a country that aspired to connect with the liberal West after the fall of communism, tolerates a system of educational segregation that would put to shame even the illiberal regimes it once condemned. According to PAQ Research, there are 130 schools in the Czech Republic that are de facto “only for Roma”, where Roma children make up more than a third of the students. There are still 130 segregated schools in the Czech Republic. A third of Roma children end up in them.

Czechia and Elections

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Czechia and Elections

In the Ušti nad Labem region, in the last parliamentary elections, many Roma preferred Andrej Babiš (ANO). Now, after many years, they have their own candidate, who, thanks to the communists, can get into the Chamber of Deputies. “Kateřina Konečná gives us a historic chance, but Roma voters must help me,” says 44-year-old Marco Cavali and thanks the KSČM chairwoman for the opportunity, who confirmed him as the electoral three on the Stačilo! candidate list in the Ústí nad Labem region. However, Cavali has been insolvent since 2022, but he does not consider financial problems an obstacle to electoral success.

Slovakia and Roma Personalities

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Slovakia and Roma Personalities

The Old Town Library, in cooperation with the Slovak National Museum in Martin – the Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia and the Romano Forum magazine, opened the exhibition Gallery of Roma Personalities.

The exhibition presents 24 prominent personalities of Roma origin who, with their talent, work and legacy, contributed to the development of society in Slovakia.

Mitrovica, Kosovo, and Roma

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Mitrovica, Kosovo, and Roma

Despite efforts, numerous obstacles remain to Roma inclusion in Mitrovica, exacerbated by the divisions between Kosovo and Serbia. At a learning centre, students from the community are bearing the brunt of these ambivalent policies.

Tabloids and Roma

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Tabloids and Roma

Another one of those typical tabloids’ “reports” on Roma in the UK. While they present real people and traditions, these kinds of articles perpetuate stereotypes.

Lausanne and Beggars

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Lausanne and Beggars

The beggars who challenged the law forbidding begging in the canton of Vaud have lost their appeal. The Constitutional Court rejected the petition of nine plaintiffs, including four Roma, a homeless person, and a pastor. Their fundamental rights were not be violated.

Lausanne: No Insertion

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Lausanne: No Insertion

The canton of Vaud will not attempt a pilot experiment for Roma integration, which was supposed to provide housing for a limited period of time to around fifteen families. On Tuesday, members of the Grand Council rejected the proposal to this effect.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Lots of news this week about Roma in the French press. First, a Roma collective addresses the French deputies regarding Antigypsyism. Then the more usual news in France: An expulsion in Marseilles and the consequences of upcoming closure of a large camp near Nantes in Western France.

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