Montenegro, Justice, and Domestic Violence

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The Roma Council and the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Sistem” strongly condemn the shameful verdict that was pronounced by the decision of the High Court, a prison sentence of 12 years, for the murder of Zumrita Nerda, in January of last year.

The condemned Dalibor Nikolić, according to the indictment, brutally murdered his pregnant wife in front of her other children.

Bujanovac: Elections

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Ibro Idić, president of the United Roma Party Bujanovac, and Adem Salihi, councilor in the Bujanovac Municipal Council, who joined the Justice and Reconciliation Party of Usama Zukorlić with the Roma party Unity, call on the Roma to vote for two parliamentary lists based in Sandžak. Idić says that he agreed to cooperate with the Coalition for Peace and Tolerance, which is led by Jahija Ferhatović, a member of parliament in the previous convocation of the Serbian Parliament. Ferhatović was a guest of Bujanovac Roma, and Idić states that he “did a lot” for the local Roma community. He called on the Roma to vote for the list TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE AND DEVELOPMENT – COALITION FOR PEACE AND TOLERANCE, led by Ferhatović, in the elections on December 17.

Bible in Romanes

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The world’s first complete Bible in the Romani Carpathian dialect was presented on Sunday in Sabinov, Slovakia. Dozens of people worked on the translation for a total of 15 years. TASR was informed about this by Patrik Sýkora from The Word For The World organization.

Austria: 30 Years

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30 years ago, Austria recognised Roma as a national minority. In this context, Music and Minorities Research Center in Vienna featured the 2023 MMRC Lecture “amenca ketane. Histories of Trauma, Music and Romani Empowerment”.

Also, an evening on December 16th.

Slovakia, Health, and Roma

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An article in the Slovak press that says more than it intends: A Romani grandmother saved a new-born in a Roma settlement in Slovakia, even though she has not medical education. Fact is, if you live in a Roma settlement in Slovakia, you can write off health case, and no doctor or ambulance will go there.

Slovakia: Documentary

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Director Peter Záchenský  made a documentary on the small village Bôrka, about 20 km from Rožňava (Slovakia). Similar to elsewhere – Slovaks, Hungarians, Roma together on a small piece of land, mostly out of work. He explores and portrays the situation from several angles.

Slovenia: Kamav Tu(t)

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In the novel Kamav tu [I love you], Rudi Mlinar opens up a problematic topic. Namely, “Shakespearean” love finding itself in the grip of ethnic stereotypes. The feelings that develop between the Roma boy Zoran and the girl of Slovenian roots, Milena, regardless of society’s prejudices, become not only forbidden, but even persecuted. Milena’s parents move to Australia with their daughter, but their escape does not erase the mutual affection between the two young people. This blossoms again when Milena returns to Slovenia to study and meets Zoran again completely by chance. With this, the young couple become unwanted again.

The writer Rudi Mlinar, born in Dolgi Brdy nad Prevalje, was educated in Carinthia, and later worked at the Ravne Ironworks and at the railway station in Ljubljana. He was also culturally involved all the time. For his literary work, he was chosen among the best beginner writers in Slovenia for prose (1981) and drama (1998), and later received several other awards.

Pretty Loud

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Another article about the Romnja ban Pretty loud, this time in the Bulgarian press. The first all-female rap group has a serious mission: to end early marriage for Roma girls. But the Pretty Loud band doesn’t stop there. Well known in the Balkans, the Serbian gang also promotes university education and social integration for members of an ethnic group that has historically been isolated. The young women of Pretty Loud have lived what they rap about. One of the singers – Zlata became a mother at 17. Diana faced discrimination at school, and Samantha was married by her father without her consent.

Czech Survey

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Apparently, the Czech get along best with Slovaks, then with Western Europeans and Americans, and worst towards Arabs and Afghans. What about Roma: No surprise, only 24% of the Czech would want them as neighbours.

Slovakia, the Police, and Roma

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When a Rom complains about police’s actions, the truth is difficult to uncover. In Slovakia, the police need not fear any punishment, according to Amnesty International director Rado Sloboda.

He went to a regular work dinner but ended up in handcuffs at the police station. He claims that they pressed his head against a table, beat him and kicked him. Roma activist Zoltán Sztojka draws attention to an incident at the regional police department in Trnávka, Bratislava, where, according to his own words, he was beaten. He talks about slaps, kicks and racist insults.

Romnja in Poland

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“Being a Roma woman is being a warrior.” Racism is everyday life for Roma. “We are independent, we are strong and we make our dreams come true” – this is how 28-year-old Olena, a lawyer from Ukraine, replied to the question about what Romani women are like. Olena is one of the 6 heroines of the second instalment of the series of portraits of Roma women prepared by the W Torona Dialogu Foundation. The goal of the campaign is clear – it’s time for Roma women to come out of the shadows and talk about themselves on their own terms and in their own words.

Heidelberg: Exhibition

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An exhibition on art by Roma opened in the Heidelberg town hall foyer on December 5th. It was created as part of an art support program for members of the minority. One of the artist is Natalie Tomenko shown here in front of her series of pictures “When the darkness came”.

Sobibor

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The Museum and Memorial Site in Sobibór has been nominated for the prestigious title of European Museum of the Year 2024. The competition is organized by the European Museum Forum – an independent, non-governmental organization operating under the auspices of the Council of Europe, whose mission is to promote innovation in museology. The winners will be announced in early May 2024. The European Museum of the Year Award is considered the most important distinction for European museums.

Bulgaria and Health Care

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More than 200 Roma in Sliven and Tvardishko participated in talks about the benefits of preventive health examinations, the National Patient Organization reported. The campaign was carried out together with the association “Zhadda za život” under the project “Active citizens for local and national reforms in health care”. The target of the explanatory campaign are patients without health insurance and those with limited access to health care, to whom the importance of immunizations, healthy nutrition and raising children was explained.

Kosovo, Schengen, and Roma

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The liberalisation of Schengen visas for Kosovo residents is a huge ray of hope for Roma in that country. However, there are quite a few Roma who have no identity papers in Kosovo.

French Chronicle …

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Not much of the usual camp closure and petty criminality this week, which is good. An article about a new dictionnary on Roma, an exhibition on Roma ghettoes in France, and an article about online racism.

Slovakia, Roma, and Fashion

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The former and fourth president of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Kiska, presented a fashion brand in Bratislava that changes the lives of Roma. The unique ROMADE project was created with the aim of systematically helping people from Roma communities in Slovakia. It provides them with permanent employment, regular income and professional advice. The ROMADE fashion brand is represented by original collections that were created by combining Roma culture, the talent of Slovak designers and the work of Roma.

Barcelona and Roma

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A route through Barcelona is quite different from the ones that take place in the city centre and which aim to show the beautiful side of Barcelona. Organized by EMIC Maridadges Culturals and the Catalan Institute of Anthropology (ICA), in the framework of Anthropology Week, it is called La ciutat dels oblidats. It is led by the historian Montse Solé and wants to show the city that is often not explained. In other words, visit the places where mainly the Roma population settled, and which were on the outskirts of Barcelona.

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