Author Archives: Roma Foundation

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Hungary: Teachers Protests

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Katalin Törley, a teacher in the Ferenc-Kölcsey High School is one of five teachers who were recently fired for having circumvented a right to strike that had become impossible to exercise. These firings prompted unprecedented protests in Hungary.

What is less known is that Katalin Törley, on a part time basis is providing school support for young Roma.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

French Chronicle …

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Not many news this week about Roma in France, which is not surprising, as there are more pressing subjects in France right now such as the strike in the oil refineries which are causing real problems …

First a reportage in a Roma camp on Paris’ outskirts and with the people helping the residents. Then, an article about ca. 10’000 children who are not enrolled in schools in France, in spite of the law requiring it. This led some Roma last week to sure mayors of towns who refused to enrol their children. Finally, the announcement of a festival in Toulouse.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria and Roma

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Bad journalism in Bulgaria. A title that says “Furious Roma action in Montana: Father and son killed their son-in-law and…” a picture that has nothing to do with the facts showing Roma with weapons, and finally a text that states:

“After a family scandal, a 47-year-old father and his 20-year-old son from the Roma neighbourhood “Kosharnik” beat up their 27-year-old son-in-law. As a result of the fight, the injured son in law suffered moderate physical damage, with 2 broken ribs, a concussion and a head wound.”

Bad enough, but certainly not dead.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Pologne

Lublin: Contest on Roma Culture

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On October 18, 2022 in Lublin, an educational and cultural event will be held: It is entitled  “Contest of Knowledge about Roma Culture” implemented thanks to a grant awarded by the Minister of the Interior and Administration as part of the “Program of social and civic integration of the Roma in Poland for the years 2021-2030”. The project will be an opportunity to establish mutual contacts between representatives of the Roma and Polish communities of the younger generation, strengthen the already existing ties and learn about the Roma traditions and customs.

As part of the task, a Competition on the Knowledge of Roma Culture will be organized, during which students of Lublin secondary schools will prepare multimedia presentations on the traditions, customs, everyday life of the Roma, their education, culture, cuisine and sports initiatives or prepare artistic performances. It is the first initiative of this type in Lublin.

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Prague – Romano Journalist

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Patrik Banga’s autobiographical book The Real Way Out was published. It tells the story of his life from his childhood in Žižkov in Prague to his journey into the journalistic world. The sometimes unbelievable stories describe in a raw way the discrimination and racism that Banga encounters already as a teenage boy.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Serbie

Serbian Census

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The Roma Centre for Women and Children “Daje” today called on Roma to declare their national origin “without fear or shame” in the current population census. Roma tend not to declare themselves in censuses, resulting in uncertain numbers of Roma.

The representative of the center, Nada Đuričković, said that it is necessary to determine the exact number of Roma and Roma women and added that even before the census, the “Daje” center was conducting a census of Roma settlements. “We targeted the places where these settlements are located, visited them and talked to people… it is important for us that the state knows where these people are and sends enumerators,” she said.

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Roma Short Stories

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An exceptional collections of Roma short stories depict struggles for a dignified life has been published in Prague by the Roma Literature publishing house “Kher”.

The books Samet Blues and Šude sámá krasa present the events of the last century, including the fall of communism, through the lens of Roma men and women. They capture the atmosphere in the Roma minority and the rise of racism in society. They are united by helplessness, existential uncertainty and sadness from social exclusion.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Pologne

Poland and Roma Integration

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As part of the Program of social and civic integration of the Roma in Poland for 2021-2030 adopted by Resolution No. 190/2020 of the Council of Ministers of December 21, 2020, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is starting the procedure related to submitting applications for the implementation of tasks in 2023 year.

According to the “Information on the procedure for granting subsidies from the Social and Civic Integration Program of the Roma in Poland for 2021-2030 for tasks in the fields of: Education, Housing, Innovative Integration Projects in 2023” prepared by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the deadline for submitting applications to voivodes is November 15, 2022.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia and Paramilitaries

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The paramilitaristic group Slovenský branci ends after 10 years of activity. The movement said goodbye to its supporters on Facebook, where its representatives say they have already won their battle.

The commander, Peter Švrček, claimed that his movement was trying to protect the nation. In November 2021, the Ján Kuciak Investigative Center drew attention to the fact that members of the group cooperate with Polish extremists, whom they associate with an attack in Ukraine with a pro-Russian background. Some members of the Polish Strelec unit were even part of neo-fascist groups.

In the past, they collaborated with the extreme right-wing Slovak Movement of Revival and together celebrated the establishment of the Slovak state, Aktuality.sk reported. In addition, the portal pointed out that the logo of the conscripts is strikingly reminiscent of the emblem of the paramilitary youth organization Hitlerjugend. We interviewed one of the former members of the SB in an interview, in which he also talked about, for example, how they went to beat the Roma.

Allemagne Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Ukraine

Discrimination?

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At the North Elementary School “Am Reitbahnsee” in Neubrandenburg in North Eastern Germany, two preparatory classes with Ukrainian students are treated differently: While some are taught in the school building, a two-room apartment was rented for around 20 children – three kilometres away from the school. They belong to the Roma minority. This way they have no contact with other students. In addition, the apartment has safety deficiencies. Those responsible deny the allegations of discrimination.

Bad.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Ukraine

The Forgotten Holocaust Victims

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Hardly anyone knows the stories of the Roma who were persecuted by the National Socialists in Ukraine. The survivors still experience discrimination – and suffer particularly from Putin’s war.

Moldavie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Ukraine

Moldova and Ukrainian Roma Refugees

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Ukrainian Roma are taking legal action after an attack of Roma refugees in Chisinau. The Roma refugees were sprayed with tear gas by security personnel. They complained to the EU Council on Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality. A criminal complaint against the assailants has also been initiated ex officio by the public prosecutor. The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) will represent the Romani litigants in both proceedings.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Sofia, Bulgaria: Roma Protests

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There were Roma protests in Sofia following the death of a Roma taxi driver after a fight. The protests ended late last night without serious damage or arrests, the Ministry of the Interior reports. It is known that after the case of the deceased taxi driver, his relatives and friends blocked the capital’s intersections.

Allemagne Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

GianniJovanovic

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The gay German-Roma Gianni Jovanovic, born in Rüsselsheim, tells his life story on October 11th at an event of the Groß-Gerauer district adult education centre.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria – Progress

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Bulgaria has made tangible progress since 2014 in combating intolerance, introducing inclusive education, combating anti-Semitism, promoting Roma integration and helping refugees. However, hatred and prejudice against LGBTI people persist and must be combated and measures for the integration of refugees must be extended. These are the findings of the new report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) which covers the period from June 2014 to the end of March 2022.

Italie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Italy, Meloni, and Roma

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An interview of Dijana Pavlovic spokesperson for the Kethane movement that protects the rights of Roma and Sinti in Italy on her views of  the victory of the far right in Italy. One of the question is typical of so-called “journalism”:

“You believe that there is a security problem in Italy. Often most of the crimes, especially those related to heritage, are committed by Roma and Sinti, how do you judge this data?”. Ms. Pavlovic’s answer is the right one: “What data? From this point of view, the data does not exist, it is just a commonly shared perception.”

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

French Chronicle …

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More news in France on Roma this week. First, a reportage on television about the anti-Roma riots in 2019 that started on rumours that Roma were stealing children. The ones who started the rumours were identified but not condemned. Sad. Near Paris, several Roma families are suing mayors for refusing to enrol Roma children in classes, something that is mandatory and guaranteed by the law. In Bobigny, near Paris, residents who had lobbied to have a camp closed as it was on private land are now defending the new camp on communal grounds. In Lyon, a camp has been growing. In Aubagne, in the South, a camp will be closed, and in Marseilles, neighbours of a squat are fed up.

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