Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Forced Sterilisation

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More than 500 Czech Romnja are still waiting for authorities to rule on their claims for compensation for having undergone forced sterilization over a period of decades, according to reports from Czech public television. A bill to compensate women who have been sterilized without legal consent in the past was approved by parliament in 2021, but the compensation process is complicated by the lack of medical documentation in many cases.

A court recently ruled that authorities should accept other types of evidence, such as testimonies, but progress on this has been slow. The department received over 1,100 applications, of which approximately 600 were processed and over 400 approved.

Patrik Banga Interview

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An interview with Patrik Banga, writer and journalist and recent laureate of the Magnesia Litera competition.Patrik Banga became famous as a military correspondent in the former Yugoslavia, but also as the leader of the hip hop band Gipsy.cz. He grew up in Prague’s Žižkov, which he decided to address in his book. According to him, it was a beautiful but harsh place known for its crime and excluded communities.

Ukraine and IDPs

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The Uzhhorod City Council violates the right of internally displaced Roma to housing and social protection. The resettled Roma sent an appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, claiming discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. In the appeal, representatives of the national minority complain that the Uzhhorod City Council violates their rights to housing and social protection.

The applicants with their families and minor children are internally displaced citizens, so they currently live in the premises of the local multidisciplinary lyceum in Uzhgorod, in the Zakarpattia region. One of the displaced women has a newborn baby.

Romani Design

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Romani Design is the first Roma fashion studio, established in 2010 with the aim of helping the social and cultural integration of Roma communities. Erika and Helena Varga, the founders, and designers of the brand, create quality, handcrafted design products: Romani Design is the first, widely known brand that proudly represents Roma culture and its connections to Hungarian culture.

Festival dedicated to Šaban Bajramović

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Šaban Bajramović (1936–2008), inspired many with his songs and rich creativity. The artist, who composed more than 700 songs, 20 albums and about fifty singles during his lifetime, is an inspiration to many musicians. In order to revive the memory of the legendary singer, the Association “Veseli Romi” from Niš organized, apart from that city, which is Bajramović’s birthplace, the first festival dedicated to Šaban in Belgrade as well.

Maja Jovanović

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Maja Jovanović is a poet and ambassador of Roma culture and literature: “I find inspiration in children”

She says that it sometimes is very difficult to bare your soul through a song. Sometimes it’s easy to write a poem, but it’s a shame if it doesn’t get into the hands of readers, especially the youngest generations.

Romsky Bašavel

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The Prague 4 district is organizing the fourth annual music event called Romský Bašavel. Roma Bashavel will take place on Friday, August 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Novodvorská Cultural Center. The event is moderated by Czech Radio editor Iveta Demeterová and well-known musician and publicist Vojta Lavička.

Kamila Kamala Galjuš

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Kamila comes from Prešov from a well-known family of Roma ethno-emancipation activists and intellectuals (František Godla and Erika Godlová). Kamila is a linguist, translator and interpreter. She studies Slovak and English at the University of Prešov, cooperates with the national radio broadcasting RTVS, loves literature and writing.

Slovenia and the Roma “Problem”

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An article about the Roma “problem” in Slovenia. Alone the title says it all: “Burning Roma issue – Will Ljubljana ever understand what it’s like to be bullied by a rabid horde?” In Brief, residents complain about more and more thefts, mischief, violations of public order and crime, and citizens no longer feel safe and slowly have enough of everything. They just want to work and live in peace, they demand security.

Bulgaria: Again

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Another big fight with over 100 people took place in the Roma settlement in Kazanlak. According to initial information, two are in hospital, Nova TV reported. Such fights are increasingly common, unfortunately.

Netflix and Roma

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A new Netflix series focuses on Polish Roma. According to the article “After years of living in Great Britain, teenage Romni Gita and her family return to Poland. After returning, the girl tries to find herself and discovers her passions, while leading the life of a typical seventeen-year-old. However, when she falls in love, she has to balance between the modern world of teenagers and traditional family rules.”

Let’s hope there are not too many stereotypes.

Roma in Lithuania

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Roma in Lithuania are a community that still faces discrimination from ordinary people, but also from state institutions.

Roma we spoke to admit that they hear almost every day that a “Gypsy is a thief”, that they cannot be trusted, that they are liars and a cheats.

A Romni tells “Kurier Wileński” that “Roma’s life is very hard. Many of us would like to live like people of other nationalities: go to work, have friends not only among the Roma, not feel inferior. I’d love to get a job. I have looked for her many times, but as soon as I say that I am a gypsy, there are a thousand reasons to refuse me a job. I am over 50 years old and have never been to a doctor. Not because I don’t get sick, but because I don’t have insurance because I don’t work. A closed circle.”

Slovenia, youth, and work

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On the occasion of International Youth Day, which was declared by the United Nations on August 12 in 1999, Združenje Epeka, a social enterprise from Maribor, on the island of Maribor prepared, as they called it, an event entitled Green knowledge for young people: on the way to sustainable world.

The event was attended by around thirty people, including Roma and refugee teenagers from Syria.

Serbia and Roma

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The event “Roma to your city” was held for the first time in 2011. “This is the eleventh presentation of Romani culture in front of the people of Piroć in this way,” says Silvija Nešić from UG “Ternipe” and adds that the event represents a platform for the promotion and respect of Romani culture, gathering talented young Romani men and women. “Over the years, the conditions for the promotion and development of Roma culture have been created, and soon, with this goal, a Roma cultural centre will be opened in Pirot,” says Nešićeva.

Poland: It was not them …

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Again, rumours. A person drew attention to the behaviour of Roma living in the area of the allotment gardens at Lechicka Street in Poznan, Poland. He said that Roma are cutting trees and attached a photo in which people of probably Roma can be seen working on a cut tree.

It turns out, however, that it was not Roma who cut down the tree. The tree fell over in a strong wind, but not completely – the crown of the tree was above the road and was trimmed by the city services – explains Przemysław Piwecki from the city guard. The cut off boughs and branches were left on the side of the road, and Roma took that wood.

Ukraine: Stereotypes

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Unfortunately, again the type of articles on should not call journalism.

Law enforcement officers and social service workers visited Roma who settled near Ternopil. Ukraine.

The article states: “They do not care about the hygiene and health of children.”

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