Author Archives: Roma Foundation

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Tiso, and Holocaust

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Slovakia, Tiso, and Holocaust

In the Northern Slovakian Town of Varin, there was still a street named after Dr. Josef Tiso. A catholic priest, he served as president of the Nazi client state of Slovakia and was executed in 1947. Under his presidency, Jews but also Roma were deported and executed.

Now that the street is being renamed, locals object. Maybe some history lesson would be appropriate here?

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Restaurants, and Discrimination

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Slovakia, Restaurants, and Discrimination

Another article about the survey of discrimination of Roma in restaurants in Slovakia. The survey came out last year, with a flurry of articles, but it is still “news” in Slovakia. Here, more on the fact that this could happen nowadays.

Well, it does.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Pologne

Poznan: Closure?

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Poznan: Closure?

The Roma settlement, located on the former 23 Lutego Family Allotment Gardens at Umultowska and Lechicka streets in Poznań lies on private land. Currently, court proceedings are underway regarding the city’s adverse possession of this land from 1 September 1990.

This story has been going on for years now…

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Monitoring the Inclusion Plan

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Slovakia: Monitoring the Inclusion Plan

The results and conclusions of the monitoring process of the Action Plans for 2023 at the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities, which are part of the Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of Roma until 2030, were discussed by more than sixty representatives of various departments and civil society, including representatives of the ZMOS.

We wonder what the conclusions are … The situation has definitively deteriorated lately.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia on the Genocide

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Slovenia on the Genocide

An article in the Slovene press about German historian Karola Fings from Heidelberg University mwho  is working on the first encyclopedia on the genocide of the Roma during World War II. In an interview with the French news agency AFP, she said that in many countries the full extent of the persecution of the Roma during World War II is still unknown.

However, Fings cited the example of Estonia, where the Roma community was virtually wiped out, so that its dialect does not even exist. She added that some countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Croatia, were particularly affected.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia, Roma, and India

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Slovenia, Roma, and India

The Roma Association of Slovenia, in cooperation with the Embassy of India, organized a unique event, where they explored the connections between the Hindi and Romani languages.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia and Minority Languages

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Slovakia and Minority Languages

The Slovak Act on the Use of Languages ​​of National Minorities permits the use of the minority language in official relations and at council meetings. In practise, this is not the case.

One example is the meeting of the city council in Veľké Kapušany, a town which, according to the 2021 census,  has 8,799 inhabitants, of which 32.9% of Slovaks, 53% of Hungarians, and 4.4% of Roma. There are probably more Roma, but they often declare themselves as Hungarians.

Last December the council decided to increase kindergarten fees. The debate was partly in Slovak, and partly in Hungarian. No translations provided…

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Pologne

Poland, Justice, and Roma

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Poland, Justice, and Roma

The Polish Minister of Justice, Adam Bodnar, has initiated the procedure for the dismissal of Adam Kanafek from the position of president of the District Court in Bielsko-Biała.

Adam Kanafek, signed letters of support for the neo-KRS, and attacked the Roma community in Poland. Years ago, he dismissed a case involving a racist post on the Internet about them. In the justification for the dismissal, he wrote, among other things, “It is no secret that the way of life of the Roma is controversial and often meets with social disapproval. The accused criticized inappropriate behaviour, in particular concerning evading the accepted rules of earning a living.”

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Czechia and Education

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Czechia and Education

Czech Education Minister Mikuláš Bek has presented the new Framework Education Programs (RVPs) for nursery and primary schools which are supposed to strengthen the connection between knowledge and skills and focus on reducing inequality in the Czech education system. For the first time ever, institutions focused on supporting the Romani minority have significantly contributed to the design of the programs.

Let’s see what this brings. Schools are still segregated…

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Charter 77

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Charter 77

The human rights movement Charter 77 published a significant document, “The Status of Gypsies and Roma in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic”, which is presented by Charter 77 signatory, former chairwoman of the Helsinki Committee and former public defender of human rights Anna Šabatová.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia and Minorities

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Slovakia and Minorities

A blog entry saying that politicians who would like to unseat the current prime minister Fico should reach out to the Hungarian and Roma minorities of the country, as they make up to one million people. And reach out to them not just two weeks prior to the elections…

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Settlements, and Water

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Slovakia, Settlements, and Water

A reportage on a Roma settlement in Slovakia with 3’000 residents, and only one well. Apparently, 6 water points were built with EU funds, but none of them work. Here, they say they are repeatedly damaged by vandals.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia: Bad Reporting

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Slovenia: Bad Reporting

A story which is symptomatic of what is going on in Slovenia right now. A Slovenian social worker’s car was pelted with stones while passing a Roma settlement in the Doljenska region. They reported it to the police. In the end, he got a fine for violating public order.

Why? Because during the altercation, he told one of the children to go f•ck yourself, you monkey.

What really happened will never come out, but the article says that Roma can do whatever they want, and ethnic Slovenes get punished…

Grèce Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Greece: Trump and Roma

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Greece: Trump and Roma

What does Trump have to do with Roma? Well, according to this Greek article, American Presidential Inaugurations are very much like Roma weddings. Actually not like Roma weddings, but what the journalist thinks Roma wedding are like.

Bad, as it perpetuates stereotypes.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Very little this week. Only three articles, all on the same topic, terh genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust. At least they speak about it. This is new.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Brawl

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Slovakia: Brawl

A massive brawl involving roughly 60 people occurred in Krompachy, Slovakia last weekend. A dozen people were hospitalised, as they fought with sticks, shovels, and baseball bats.

Bad.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria, Bango Vasil, and Politics

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Bulgaria, Bango Vasil, and Politics

The leader of the MRF and the PG of “DPS – New Beginning” Delyan Peevski congratulated Roma for the Bango Vasil (or Vasilica), the old New Year according to the orthodox calendar, which is celebrated by all Roma in Bulgaria. He said: “I congratulate all Roma on the biggest Roma holiday Bango Vasil or also called Vasilitsa”. And he added: “Be healthy, be worthy Bulgarian citizens and know that you are not second-class people and I will continue to fight for a decent life for all people in Bulgaria. Believe in the new beginning and be confident that the best is yet to come! Happy Bango Vasil!”

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