Author Archives: Roma Foundation

News Westeuropa

Left-Right coalition in Austria’s Burgenland

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Left-Right coalition in Austria’s Burgenland

A coalition between the Social democratic party (SPÖ) and the extreme rightist Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is being seen sceptically by Rroma in that region and by the head of the Cultural Association of Rroma in Austria, Rudolf Sarközi. The Freedom Party is well known for its extreme positions against foreigner and generally any minorities and Burgenland is still scarred by the events of 20 years ago where there were attacks against Rroma in Oberwarth.

Ungarn News Osteuropa

Propaganda on Work in Hungary

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Propaganda on Work in Hungary

According to Hungary today, more and more Rroma have now a job in Hungary. The spokesman of human resource ministry stated that “the rate of Roma living in households categorised as “low work intensity” dropped from 48% in 2009 to 26% by 2014”

Well, never believe in statistics. This at best the result of forcing people into the so-called “Közmunka” – communal work, which is not really paid at all and which certainly doesn’t allow people a decent living. True unemployment in the countryside is unfortunately almost close to affecting all, be they Rroma or Hungarians.

Frankreich News Westeuropa

France and Camps

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France and Camps

Meanwhile, not much changes in France. Same articles on illegal Rroma camps or squats, on potential expulsions such as in Ivry, where Rroma invited to a party; in the North, in Hellemmes; in St. Etienne in the Loire Region; in the Centre, in St Fargeau; or in the South West.

Meanwhile, L’obs asks the question as to whether the policies of Valls and Hollande regarding the Rroma are not actually rightist ones, and Breizh Info asks itself whether cohabitation with Rroma is possible.

In all, the French Press continues to convey a totally one-sided image of Rroma – of a minority of max. 20 thousands out of the half million Rroma living in France.

Ungarn News Osteuropa

Die Zeit: Time that the EU does something against the Orban Regime

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Die Zeit: Time that the EU does something against the Orban Regime

Die Zeit asks why the EU and the European Commission tolerate that Hungary openly discriminates against its Rroma minority, tolerates a mayor who is a little dictator, and openly flouts all European principles.

Well said!

Ungarn News Osteuropa

Közmunka: A form of slavery?

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Közmunka: A form of slavery?

Közmunka, a form of de-facto forced labour is currently being widely used in Hungary to replace public services. Officially, this is to be a community work program meant to get people off social help, but it has turned into a pool of cheap workers, even on some road projects funded by the EU… What is being paid is far below what one needs to survive.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czech Social Inclusion Agency: For Rroma but without Rroma

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Czech Social Inclusion Agency: For Rroma but without Rroma

A controversy has started about the Czech government agency on social inclusion meant to favour the Rroma inclusion, but which has no Rroma members. Rroma activists such as Karel Holomek and Gyulla Banga and many others are protesting against this and have led a dozen Rroma to issue a declaration citing their ambition to become the representative of the Rroma community.

Bulgarien News Osteuropa

Bulgaria: Ethnic unrest in Garmen

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Bulgaria: Ethnic unrest in Garmen

In Garmen, a village in Bulgaria, ethnic tensions have flared. Following fight between Rroma teenagers and ethnic Bulgarians, there have been appeals to peace by the Rroma population and appeals for an anti Rroma manifestation on June 2nd. A probable background of the fight may be the “illegal” nature of the Rroma settlement, i.e. the fact that many buildings were built without the necessary authorisations and the non-Rroma citizen protesting against theft and criminality in the village. Meanwhile, even the deputy mayor of the village has been apparently beaten up by Rroma teenagers, showing that the tensions are far from ebbing.

Irland News Westeuropa

Ireland: Garda members arrested over role in Rroma children case

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Ireland: Garda members arrested over role in Rroma children case

In 2013, Garda members took away children from Rroma families based solely on their appearance (i.e. they were not dark), as there was deemed to be a fair incertitude as to whether the children were really with their parents. A senior Garda member is now in custody following leaks to the press regarding this case. Highly unusual!

  • Garda arrested over alleged media role in Roma children case. In: The Irish Times. 31.05.2015. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-arrested-over-alleged-media-role-in-roma-children-case-1.2229928
  • Garda arrest over alleged Roma case leaks. In: The Irish Examiner. 28.05.2015. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-arrest-over-alleged-roma-case-leaks-333279.html
News Osteuropa Slowakei

European Commission against Slovakia

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European Commission against Slovakia

The European Commission (EC) has started a legal action against Slovakia on the basis of the ongoing discrimination against Rroma children in that country. The EC says that a unusually high number of Rroma are placed in schools for mentally disabled children, a practice that is ongoing since the 1950’s in that country. Well Done for the EC, Shame on Slovakia. Especially since the government states that this high number is due to Rroma incest .

Ungarn News Osteuropa

Hungarian Justice Minister had to apologise

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Hungarian Justice Minister had to apologise

Following his remarks on refugees and Rroma, the Hungarian Justice Minister, László Trócsányi had to apologise. Well, kind of, as he denies his statements could be deemed racist, and that he just wanted to highlight the priority for Rroma inclusion.

Tschechische Republik News Osteuropa

Czech Police trains Rroma experts

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Forty Czech police officers, 4 of them Rroma, have been selected as Rroma experts to deal with Rroma in ghettoes. Let’s see what this brings, the Czech police has a track record that is far from clean when dealing with Rroma.

News Americas News Osteuropa News Westeuropa

Hungarian Rroma refugees in Canada granted a reprieve

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Hungarian Rroma refugees in Canada granted a reprieve

Following the condemnation of a Canadian lawyer for having mishandled the cases of Rroma refugees, a couple of Hungarian Rroma are getting a second chance and the court is now re-considering the refugee status.

News Americas News Osteuropa

Rroma offer guided tours of Budapest 8th District

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Rroma offer guided tours of Budapest 8th District

Budapest’s 8th district seldom features in guidebooks. While the buildings were once grand and beautiful, they are now dilapidated and gritty. The neighbourhood is mostly Rroma, with a high level of unemployment, and is reputed for crime and prostitution.

Rroma are now offering guided tours through the neighbourhood to show the other facets of this part of town, including sights such as the Jewish cemetery, but also much more simply, the fairly normal if often poor normality of this part of town.

News Westeuropa

Norway: Children at risk of foster care

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Norway: Children at risk of foster care

A report by the Council of Europe Human Right Commissioner, Nils Muižnieks, claims that a quarter of Norwegian Rroma children in Olso are in or at risk of being put in foster care. Upon more careful reading, one finds that 60 children are in, and another 60 are at risk of being put in foster care. So all in all 120 children, which, if this is true, means there are 460 Rroma children in Oslo. Who knows … It would be better to say the exact numbers instead of clamouring some phony eye catching headline which is obviously not correct.

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