An interview with the German Author Norbert Mappes-Niediek.. To listen to.
Several French speaking newspapers in Switzerland published a common article on the open letter of Rroma, Sinti, and Jenische organisations to Ms. Sommaruga, the president of the Swiss confederation, appealing for recognition as a minority in that country.
While we greet the fact that these papers who normally only publish news of stealing, begging, or whoring Rroma, effectively stated that there are 80 to 100 thousand integrated Rroma in the country, we find it less amusing that none of the organisations they cited as co-signatories of the open letter are Rroma NGOs, and indeed they signed. In addition, several of the papers still resorted to the good old clichés of caravans, poverty, and other stereotypes when setting the picture.
Amnesty International launched an appeal on the international Rroma day on April 8th, denouncing prejudices against Rroma that still prevail in Europe and give rise to violence and exclusion. They specifically cite the Czech Republic, France, and Greece in this appeal.
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung reports on an action of Rroma, Sinti and Jenische representatives who wrote a letter to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms. Sommaruga asking for formal recognition of the Rroma as a minority in Switzerland. The paper notes that the up to 100 thousand Rroma living in that country are well integrated, but are not represented in several state organisation, for example in the Swiss Federal Commission against Racism.
20 Minutes reports on the fact that Rroma, Sinti, and Jenische, on the occasion of the International Rroma Day on April 8th, have written a letter to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms. Sommaruga, asking for an explicit recognition of the minority in Switzerland. The article stresses that the 80 to 100 thousand Rroma living in Switzerland are well integrated and mostly Swiss.
US President Obama honoured the international Roma day today and re-iterated his commitment to integration and equal treatment.
Thanks!
While many countries mark the international Rroma day on April 8th, discrimination, exclusion, and ongoing issues are still the norm for many Rroma in Europe. Europe should mark the day and remember its largest transnational European minority.
Bulgaria issued a statement on the International Roma Day today. While we greet the fact that the country acknowledges its minority (about 10% of the population for the last thousand years), the situation in Bulgaria has gotten much worse for Rroma in the last few years. Segregation, racism, and discrimination are on the rise. Let’s stop this in a country where Rroma have been integrated for so long!
A propos Bulgaria. In Vidin, in the North Western part of the country, the Rroma settlement, the Mahala, is hidden behind a wall. This is new, for a few years back, the wall and this segregation was not there. Yes, there was a Rroma Mahala – neighbourhood – as in the entire Balkan, exactly like there were Turkish, Armenian, Jewish, Bulgarian neighbourhoods in all Balkan cities. But not a wall. And not segregation. And certainly not for “security” as is being claimed by the municipality.
This has to stop!!!!
Slovenia observes the international Roma day with the presence of the Culture minister. This country has a tiny Rroma minority. Unfortunate choice of picture on the article which furthers standard stereotypes… But discussion is always welcomed.
An important part of the fight against prejudices towards Rroma is learning about their history and previous persecutions, such as the Holocaust. This is key, for only when one deals with one’s past can one actually shape one’s future.
The article assess that there have not been sufficient efforts to change the perceptions towards Rroma in the general population and only when this occurs, can one hope for a better future.
Turkish opposition Republican’s People party fielded a Rrom candidate in one of the Western Turkish provinces in Izmir. The Rrom candidate in on fifth position in the party’s list for that circumscription. We wish him all the luck!
In the centre of Jodhpur, a Flamenco and Gypsy music festival brings Rroma back to their original roots in North Western India…
To be seen!
Rroma in Rome’s outskirts are denouncing what they qualify as a savage attack against hem by the police which left a young girl injured after the police used pepper spray and guns against Rroma who had been displaced the night before due to fire in their immigrant reception centre the night before.
CBC News report that Rroma refugees in Canada, mostly from Hungary, have been facing massive bias and discrimination in their cases. The report making this claim, authored by Sean Rehaag, a law professor, is damning for the immigration authorities in Canada. He speaks of “luck”, of little hope at appeals, and at denials at the actual situation of Rroma, especially in Hungary.
Yet another photographer who “arrives” at Rroma through the bias of poor, abandoned, or bi-racial children. The list is alas long, and tends to portray Rroma through those themes, rather than as a minority. While the pictures are beautiful, the message is unfortunately the same: Poor, non integrable Rroma…
Belgium’s federal centre for equality of chances is organising meetings between the media and Rroma representatives to combat negative stereotypes in the press and to further a Rroma voice in the articles. They note that only two out 74 articles allowed Rroma to present their point of view.
About time…
Rroma camps still make the headlines in France. As if a small minority of 15 thousand Rroma was representative and was news. News is that they are being used, misused, and are becoming victims of French politics.
In Marseilles, a camp was closed; while in Antibes, the expulsion will have to wait a little; and in the North, around Roubaix, volunteers and Rroma are still mobilising to further integration and to prevent further expulsions; and in the South West of France, an expulsion of Bulgarian Rroma is reported while in Antibes, they are getting a short respite. Finally, In Nantes, a judge granted a permanent address to Rroma currently living in a camp, are-requisite to any integration in France.
The real pity is not the fate of these migrants, it is the fact that the French Press can’t seem to get over their short sighted stereotypes…
As more than 5% of the Prague population is officially a member of one of the recognised minorities, the city is mandated by law to establish a minority council. Besides Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Jews and Rroma are also represented.
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