Category Archives: Slovakia

Police in Slovakia and Roma

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The report on the state of the Republic is such that if you are rich, white and educated, Slovakia is a great place to live. If you are a Rom, it is somewhat more difficult. And police brutality is ripe.

– Policajná brutalita Slovákom nevadí. Veď ide o Rómov. In: Ženy v Meste. 25.06.2018. https://www.zenyvmeste.sk/policajna-brutalita-slovakom-nevadi–ved-ide-o-romov-moldava-nad-bodvou [link-preview url=”https://www.zenyvmeste.sk/policajna-brutalita-slovakom-nevadi–ved-ide-o-romov-moldava-nad-bodvou”]

EU and Slovakia

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Thorbjörn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (RE), met Slovakia’s Prime Minister Petar Pellegrinim in Strasbourg and confirmed he will visit Slovakia in the autumn. He was invited to visit last October by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Jagland then expressed his interest to visit the Spišský Hrhov village, known as a successful example of Roma integration.
He will also meet Roma representatives.

– Generálny tajomník Rady Európy chce vidieť slovenských Rómov: Pellegrini už vie, kam ho zavedie. In: Novy Cas. 27.06.2018. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/711553/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-chce-vidiet-slovenskych-romov-pellegrini-uz-vie-kam-ho-zavedie/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/711553/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-chce-vidiet-slovenskych-romov-pellegrini-uz-vie-kam-ho-zavedie/”]

Slovakia and Children’s Day

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A bit of a controversy in the region of Košice following the celebration of an international Children’s day in a nearby town which excluded Roma children …
Excuses, justifications, but the fact remains … Roma children are apparently not quite like other children, at least in Slovakia.

– Na incident vo Veľkej Ide na Deň detí zareagovala aj ombudsmanka. In: Košice Korzar. 14.06.2018. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20850059/na-incident-vo-velkej-ide-na-den-deti-zareagovala-aj-ombudsmanka.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20850059/na-incident-vo-velkej-ide-na-den-deti-zareagovala-aj-ombudsmanka.html”]

Slovakia, EU, and Roma

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Controversy in the European Parliament: Slovak representatives lash back at critique of Slovakia for its Roma policies. According to Monika Beňová, a EU Slovak MP, said “I have tried to explain in a speech that without the co-operation of the Roma themselves, it is not possible to implement even the best strategy” to which a Swedish MP replied that Slovakia is still segregating Roma in school.

– Beňová v ostrej hádke v Európskom parlamente. Za všetko môžu Rómovia. In: Parlementne listy. 14.06.2018. https://www.parlamentnelisty.sk/arena/monitor/Benova-v-ostrej-hadke-v-Europskom-parlamente-Za-vsetko-mozu-Romovia-301588 [link-preview url=”https://www.parlamentnelisty.sk/arena/monitor/Benova-v-ostrej-hadke-v-Europskom-parlamente-Za-vsetko-mozu-Romovia-301588″]

Slovakia and Minorities

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Further confusion and accusation in the case of the funding of minority culture in Slovakia. The commission responsible for distributing the funds is accused of improprieties such as granting money to their own organisations of to their families.
Bad and still continuing, now with political ramifications.

– Kauza Fondu na podporu kultúry národnostných menšín: Pochybné transakcie a rodinkárstvo, OĽaNO viní Most-Híd. In: CAS. 06.06.2018. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/702811/kauza-fondu-na-podporu-kultury-narodnostnych-mensin-pochybne-transakcie-a-rodinkarstvo-olano-vini-most-hid/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/702811/kauza-fondu-na-podporu-kultury-narodnostnych-mensin-pochybne-transakcie-a-rodinkarstvo-olano-vini-most-hid/”]

EU and Slovakia

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On the 7th and 8th of June, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, visited Slovakia. During the visit, she wanted to understand the progress on the investigation of the murder of journalist Jana Kuciak and his wife Martina Kušnířová and to find out what measures Slovakia has taken to better integrate Roma pupils into Slovak schools.

– Na Slovensko zavíta eurokomisárka. Zaujímať sa bude o Kuciaka a Rómov. In: Aktualne. 06.06.2018. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/slovensko/spolocnost/na-slovensko-zavita-eurokomisarka-zaujimat-bude-kuciaka-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://aktualne.centrum.sk/slovensko/spolocnost/na-slovensko-zavita-eurokomisarka-zaujimat-bude-kuciaka-romov.html”]

French Chronicle …

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Lots of cultural events this week in France on Roma – and very little negative news. First, a projection of a movie on a Roma camp in Nantes. The movie is presented on the site of that former site, before it is developed. Projection of another movie on Roma in Arles. The exhibition “Mondes Tsiganes” in Paris, with many photographs. That exhibition is not in the right place (in the museum of migration) and is definitively fuelling clichés. Concert of a Slovakian Roma group in the South of France. Then the more usual news: A fire in a camp in Montreuil; a new squat of a empty house near Paris; and, surprise, a positive experiment in Marseilles, where Roma are lodged in apartments …

– Nantes. Miséry de Miséry, tous les chemins mènent aux Roms. In: Ouest France. 31.05.2018. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/nantes-misery-de-misery-tous-les-chemins-menent-aux-roms-5794949
– 8, avenue Lénine. In: Journal Zibeline. http://www.journalzibeline.fr/8-avenue-lenine/
– “Mondes tsiganes” : histoire d’une fascination-répulsion fabriquée par les images. In: France 24. 02.06.2018. http://www.france24.com/fr/20180602-mondes-tsiganes-roms-exposition-photographie-images-stereotype-racisme
– Soirée sous le signe de la Slovaquie au Benefire. In: Midi Libre. 02.06.2018. http://www.midilibre.fr/2018/06/02/soiree-sous-le-signe-de-la-slovaquie-au-benefire,1680419.php
– Un incendie dans un bidonville de Montreuil, une cinquantaine de personnes mises à l’abri. In: France Bleu. 29.05.2018. https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/un-incendie-dans-un-bidonville-de-montreuil-cinquante-personnes-mises-a-l-abri-1527607184
– Montreuil : le bidonville part en fumée, quinze familles à la rue. In: Le Parisien. 29.05.2018. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/montreuil-le-bidonville-part-en-fumee-quinze-familles-a-la-rue-29-05-2018-7742325.php
– Nouveau squat d’une maison inoccupée dans le Val-d’Oise. In: Le Parisien. 29.05.2018. https://fr.news.yahoo.com/nouveau-squat-d-maison-inoccupée-val-d-oise-184324686.html?guccounter=2
– Bouches-du-Rhône: A Gardanne, des camps de Roms à la vie tranquille en appartement. In: 20 Minutes (FR). 29.05.2018. https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/2277007-20180529-bouches-rhone-gardanne-camps-roms-vie-tranquille-appartement [link-preview url=”https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/nantes-44000/nantes-misery-de-misery-tous-les-chemins-menent-aux-roms-5794949 “]

Slovakia and Children

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A depressing article about the prospects of young Roma from the settlements: If a child is born in a Roma settlement, he has no prospects for the future. He or she usually ends as his parents – without an education and under-employed. According to experts, poverty in Slovakia is due because of the persistent prejudice and the inability of schools to adapt to the needs of Roma children.

– Nikdy z teba nič nebude, počujú neraz deti Rómov. In: Slovensko. 28.05.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1752058-nikdy-z-teba-nic-nebude-pocuju-neraz-deti-romov [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1752058-nikdy-z-teba-nic-nebude-pocuju-neraz-deti-romov”]

Slovakia and Schools

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The EU is giving funds for the integration of Roma in the school system and to avoid the de-facto segregation of schooling that is still prevalent in the country.
Let’s hope it helps.

– Schools open to all? Slovakia uses EU funds to include Roma children. In: EURActiv. 25.05.20128. https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/schools-open-to-all-slovakia-uses-eu-funds-to-achieve-inclusive-education/ [link-preview url=”https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/schools-open-to-all-slovakia-uses-eu-funds-to-achieve-inclusive-education/”]

Slovakia and an Anthropologist

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The case of Professor David Scheffel, a Canadian anthropologist and long-time advocate of the Roma now being accused of paedophilia is continuing its course. He is being judged in Slovakia and was found apparently in possession of pornographic materials.
Bad whichever way this comes out.

– SVET O SLOVENSKU: Je to pedofil, alebo ochranca Rómov? In: Dnes 24. 21.05.2018. http://www.dnes24.sk/svet-o-slovensku-je-to-pedofil-alebo-ochranca-romov-299506 [link-preview url=”http://www.dnes24.sk/svet-o-slovensku-je-to-pedofil-alebo-ochranca-romov-299506″]

Contagious

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A study on ethnic hostility has been conducted in Eastern Slovakia. The results (albeit on a small sample of 327 youngsters) showed clearly that people in a group showing hostility towards a minority (in this case Roma) were more inclined to do so themselves.
Not really surprising.

– ETHNIC HOSTILITY CAN BE CONTAGIOUS. In: Pacific Standard. 11.05.2018. https://psmag.com/social-justice/ethnic-hostility-can-be-contagious [link-preview url=”https://psmag.com/social-justice/ethnic-hostility-can-be-contagious”]

Red Skirt

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Not really sure about an exhibition in Slovakia entitled “Red Skirt” and retracing the way Roma have dressed in the country from their arrival in the middle ages to last century. The difficulty here is always the stereotypes and their perpetuation.

– Červenú sukňu mám… Myturiec. 04.05.2018. https://myturiec.sme.sk/c/20816013/cervenu-suknu-mam.html [link-preview url=”https://myturiec.sme.sk/c/20816013/cervenu-suknu-mam.html”]

Slovakia: Subsidies and Roma

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A controversy is brewing in Slovakia on the allocation of subsidies for the culture of minorities. A commission was created to allocate the funds, but its members associations and families were allowed to bid for subsidies. Not good and bad publicity.

– Pred veľkou hostinou mali predjedlo: otec tvoril zákon, syn schválil dotácie. In: Aktuality. 04.05.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/586262/velka-hostina-mala-predjedlo-otec-tvoril-zakon-syn-daval-dotacie/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/586262/velka-hostina-mala-predjedlo-otec-tvoril-zakon-syn-daval-dotacie/”]

We don’t need that

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Again, in typical fashion, bad journalism based on a crime. And all stereotypes are there. We don’t need this and neither do we need these kinds of criminals.

– Roma slave gang who splashed out on champagne parties and lavish holidays with cash stuffed in suitcases after trafficking victims from Slovakia to Newcastle are jailed for a total of 40 years. In: Daily Mail. 04.05.2018. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5692301/Roma-slave-gang-jailed-total-40-years.html
– Victims told they should be ‘eating dogs’ by Roma slave gang who trafficked them from Slovakia to Newcastle reveal years of hell as their tormentors face years in jail. In: Daily Mail. 03.05.2018. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5687831/Victims-told-eating-dogs-Roma-slave-gang.html [link-preview url=”http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5692301/Roma-slave-gang-jailed-total-40-years.html “]

Slovakia, Police, and Roma

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In 2009, several policemen were accused of having abused Roma after their arrest in Košice. The case has been in court ever since. The appeal court effectively cleared the policemen in a controversial judgement staing that the testimonies of the victims were contradictory.
The regional court of Košice cancelled the verdict from the appeal court and referred the case back to the lower court.
Good, let’s hope this continues!

– Kauza policajnej šikany Rómov sa vracia na súd. In: Trend. 04.05.2018. https://www.etrend.sk/ekonomika/kauza-policajnej-sikany-romov-sa-vracia-na-sud.html [link-preview url=”https://www.etrend.sk/ekonomika/kauza-policajnej-sikany-romov-sa-vracia-na-sud.html”]

Slovakia: Controversy

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A controversy erupted in Slovakia about subsidies for culture. The Slovak Fund for the Promotion of the Culture of National Minorities set money aside for the Roma. It now turns out that the organisations whose members sat on the committee for the attribution of these funds received a large part of them.
Young Roma signed a petition and pointed out that several of these organisations did not have their headquarters clearly identified and did not really engage in the activities for which they received funds.

– Dostali dotácie, o ktorých mali sami rozhodovať. SNS zvoláva výbor. In: SME Domov. 30.04.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20815692/romovia-parlamentny-vybor-sns-dotacie-romska-kultura-fpknm.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20815692/romovia-parlamentny-vybor-sns-dotacie-romska-kultura-fpknm.html”]

Slovakia: Work

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The rapid fall of unemployment in Slovakia is helping Roma: They are increasingly being hired. Currently, one estimates that there are around 100’000 unemployed Roma in the country.

– Pracovný boom nahráva aj Rómom. No k práci sa dostávajú ako poslední. In: HN Slovensko. 27.04.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1735402-pracovny-boom-nahrava-aj-romom-no-k-praci-sa-dostavaju-ako-posledni [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1735402-pracovny-boom-nahrava-aj-romom-no-k-praci-sa-dostavaju-ako-posledni”]

Slovakia: Segregation

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The Roma Monitoring Report, prepared for the European Commission notes several cases of blatant segregation in the Slovak school system. Children are put in special school (nothing new), and teachers of such schools were even documented offering bribes to the parents to get the children in their schools. In many cases, the children were almost automatically “diagnosed” with mental illness, boosting the revenue of the school.
Clearly, these schools do not do much in matters of education.
SHAME!

– Segregácia Rómov sa presúva zo základných škôl už aj na stredné. In: Slovensko Honline. 25.04.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1734001-segregacia-romov-sa-presuva-zo-zakladnych-skol-uz-aj-na-stredne [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1734001-segregacia-romov-sa-presuva-zo-zakladnych-skol-uz-aj-na-stredne”]

Slovakia, Roma, and the Press

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In the media, Roma are mostly depicted as a problem and as criminals. They are the most negatively represented group in Slovakia. Majority views sees them as a threat. These are just a few conclusions resulting from the Strategy for Mitigating Stereotypes and Prejudices against the Roma Population, prepared for the Interior Ministry.
This is also shown, by the research carried out by Romano Kher – the Roma House and the Institute for Well-Managed Society. Most media reports on Roma in which respondents’ residence was identifiable were talking about Roma in settlements. However, according to the latest Atlas of Roma Communities in 2013, the majority of Roma live scattered among the majority. Only about 18% of the Roma live in segregated settlements outside the municipality. In absolute figures this translates to about 74-thousand people.

– Médiá Rómov často vykresľujú ako špinavých a žijúcich v osade. Aké to má dopady? In: Slovensko.honline. 22.04.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1732327-media-romov-casto-vykresluju-ako-spinavych-a-zijucich-v-osade-ake-to-ma-dopady [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1732327-media-romov-casto-vykresluju-ako-spinavych-a-zijucich-v-osade-ake-to-ma-dopady”]

Slovakia: Education and Inclusion

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NGOs in Slovakia have criticised the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (MŠVVaŠ) of the Slovak Republic on their implementation of inclusive education of pupils from socially disadvantaged environment based on the approved Strategy of the Roma Integration for 2020.
The criticism is based on the NGOs monitoring report on the implementation of measures of the national Roma integration strategy in Slovakia that was delivered to the EU.

– Inkluzívne vzdelávanie má zlepšiť stratégiu začlenenia Rómov. In: Dobre Noviny. 25.04.2018. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/130454/inkluzivne-vzdelavanie-ma-zlepsit-strategiu-zaclenenia-romov [link-preview url=”https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/130454/inkluzivne-vzdelavanie-ma-zlepsit-strategiu-zaclenenia-romov”]

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