Category Archives: Europe

Slovakia, Osada, and the EU

Published by:

Slovakia, Osada, and the EU

Following a monitoring visit to Slovakia, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty called for an urgent housing solution for the Roma, who often live in unsatisfactory conditions without sewage or access to drinking water.

Following a monitoring visit to Slovakia, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty called for an urgent housing solution for the Roma, who often live in unsatisfactory conditions without sewage or access to drinking water.

Let’s see …

EU, Balkans, and Roma

Published by:

EU, Balkans, and Roma

North Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani, in his role as co-chair of the Berlin Process, delivered the opening speech of the ministerial meeting dedicated to Roma integration hosted in Tirana, Albania. He said that “Roma are an integral part of our societies. Without any excuses, we must take concrete political and legal measures to increase their involvement in all social events. Integration with the EU is a common path and the Roma cannot be left aside. As countries aspiring to EU membership, we must demonstrate an effective regional concept of Roma integration, with visible progress in the areas of education, employment, health and housing for Roma.”

Google Translate Romanes

Published by:

Google Translate Romanes

Nice to see that google translate allows for translations in Romanes. It definitively has a bias towards Vlach Romanes, which is not the most common Romanes, but this is a good start! The choices of words on World, to think, and a few others show this bias, but on the other hand, they still use the old Romanes for “life”, which is not Vlach.

Wonder how this was compiled…

European Elections and Roma

Published by:

European Elections and Roma

The news server Romea.cz provided a detailed analysis of the results of the European Parliament elections from the point of view of the Roma minority through a special podcast. Journalists, political analysts and representatives of the Roma community took part in the discussion.

The results of the EP elections from the point of view of the Roma were evaluated on Wednesday evening by: journalist Jarmila Balážová, political scientist Edita Stejskalová, former social worker Jan Houška and founder of the Be Heard initiative Petr Banda. The podcast was presented by Zdeněk Ryšavý, editor-in-chief of the news server Romea.cz.

EU Parliament: No Roma

Published by:

EU Parliament: No Roma

For the first time since 2004, there are no Roma representatives from Eastern Europe. There were several candidates for the European Parliament from different countries:

Czech Republic: David Beňák for the ANO movement, Ivana Batthyány for the Left and Jaroslav Miko for the Mayors.

Slovakia: Peter Pollák and Dominik Lakatoš for the Volt party.

Hungary: Bogdán Csaba from the Tiszla movement.

Bukgaria: Vanya Grigorová

They all failed to be elected.

Željko Jovanović on European Elections

Published by:

Željko Jovanović on European Elections

The president of the Roma Foundation of Europe is appealing politicians to involve Roma in upcoming European elections. He says there are more Roma in Europe than citizen of several smaller European countries, and that in several places, they make 10% of the population.

Czechia: Debate

Published by:

Czechia: Debate

On Wednesday, June 5, Romani internet television, ROMEA TV, broadcasted a live debate of three Romani candidates running for seats in the European Parliament. All candidates accepted the invitation to the debate: Ivana Batthyány (Left), David Beňák (ANO) and Jaroslav Miko (STAN).

European Elections

Published by:

European Elections

David Beňák, a prominent figure of the Czech Roma community, is a candidate for the European Parliament for the ANO movement, the party of the former prime minister and businessman Babiš.

He wants to effectively fight against discrimination in Brussels. According to him, this applies not only to Roma in the Czech Republic. According to him, the solution could be high fines.

He mentioned that the Roma have a problem with the current coalition of five, and that they sympathize with the ANO movement, under whose government, according to them, “it was better”.

European Elections

Published by:

European Elections

The organization RomanoNet, an umbrella platform of Roma and pro-Roma non-profit organizations and initiatives, in cooperation with one of its member organizations, ROMEA, launched the awareness and motivational campaign Me žav! on May 20. Its goal is, in the form of short videos, to contribute to increasing the participation of Roma voters in the elections to the European Parliament, which will take place on June 7 and 8, 2024.

Roma Week in Brussel

Published by:

Roma Week in Brussel

A video of the  Roma week in Brussel from 9 to 11 April. Organized by the ERGO network, this annual event provides a platform to raise awareness of the reality faced by Roma, Sinti and Travelers across Europe. Representatives of non-profit organizations and civil society, representatives of European institutions and international entities meet on the occasion of International Roma Day.

ODHIR and Roma Vote

Published by:

ODHIR and Roma Vote

With Roma and Sinti political participation still marginal in many places and elections taking place this year in almost half of OSCE countries, it is more important than ever that Roma and Sinti have the opportunity to participate in elections and help shape their societies for the better, stated the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the occasion of International Roma Day.

Roma Week in Brussels

Published by:

Roma Week in Brussels

Politicians, experts, activists and organizations dealing with persistent anti-Gypsyism in Europe gathered in Brussels for the so-called Roma Week. It takes place just after the International Roma Day (April 8) and before the Day of Roma Resistance (May 16) at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the European Committee of the Regions and other EU institutions. The ERGO network organises the Roma Week.

Journalism Award

Published by:

Journalism Prizes

Excellence in Journalism Award is an award for ethical reporting on Roma and the fight against racism and anti-Gypsyism through the media. This award aims to promote a positive image of Roma and marginalized communities in the media, particularly with regard to women and children. It directly contributes to the European objectives of promoting an image without stereotypes and positive examples in order to drive a change in public perception.

 

Conference

Published by:

On April 10th, a conference will be held in the European Parliament commemorating the 80 years of the Holocaust of the Roma.

Two Years

Published by:

Two Years

Two years have passed already since the beginning of the Russian aggression in the Ukraine. Two years of war, two years of mindless killings. Many refugees, and here, as we are a Romani page, let us pause to think about Roma in this war.

They were displaced, especially in the Eastern part of the country. They were killed by Russian troops in several occasions. They were deported by Russian authorities. They also fought on the Ukrainian side, with many Roma in the current army, even the normally not so accepted Roma from Transcarpathian Ukraine.

Roma refugees in Europe were confronted with racist stereotypes and had to fight there too.

Let’s hope we do not need to commemorate another year.

For those who died, may they rest in peace, and for those who live, may they do so for 100 years.

Luxembourg and Roma

Published by:

Luxembourg and Roma

This tiny country doesn’t often make the headlines in terms of Roma. Now Simone Beissel, a member of the municipal executive board of the city of Luxembourg is facing criticisms and demands for resignation after having made what many deem racists comments on Roma in the context of begging.

Luxembourg: New Association

Published by:

Luxembourg: New Association

The Roma sans frontières association was recently created in Luxembourg, to break stereotypes, help the Roma who live in the country and defend their rights and their culture. The president of the non-profit association, Dibran Saljihi, says more about it.

Europe, Roma, and Education

Published by:

Europe, Roma, and Education

Most national governments in Europe, the European Commission and other international organizations agree that Roma are left out by the educational systems. The latest report of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights shows disastrous results in 10 countries, including EU member states Romania and Hungary, as well as North Macedonia and Serbia.

The proportion of Roma who felt discriminated against when addressing school authorities has increased over the past five years, the report said. Ethnic segregation in schools has increased among children aged six to 15. The share of young Roma between the ages of 20 and 24 with at least secondary school education remained mostly at the same low level as in previous years.

rroma.org
de_DEDE