Category Archives: Slovakia

Cases of voter intimidation prior to the municipal elections in Slovakia. Mayors telling Roma that if they don’t vote correctly, they will not get work, or social help, etc…
Now who is the bad one?

– Rómski politici pred voľbami burcujú políciu: Starostovia si majú vymáhať hlasy zastrašovaním. In: Nový Čas. 05.11.2018. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/762041/romski-politici-pred-volbami-burcuju-policiu-starostovia-si-maju-vymahat-hlasy-zastrasovanim/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/762041/romski-politici-pred-volbami-burcuju-policiu-starostovia-si-maju-vymahat-hlasy-zastrasovanim/”]

An article on the influence of politicians’ speeches and violence. Well said – when Kotleba, a far right politician calls Roma “parasites” – he effectively calls for their eradication.
This has to stop – in all countries.

– Verejnosť v novembri 1989 odmietala násilie, ale dnes ho časť verejnosti víta. In: Dennik. 02.11.2018. https://dennikn.sk/1280741/verejnost-v-novembri-1989-odmietala-nasilie-ale-dnes-ho-cast-verejnosti-vita/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/1280741/verejnost-v-novembri-1989-odmietala-nasilie-ale-dnes-ho-cast-verejnosti-vita/”]

A new community centre for Roma will be built in the suburb of Orechov in Nitra. It will replace an older centre that is no longer fit for purposes.

– Pre Rómov v Orechovom dvore mesto postaví nové komunitné centrum. In: Nitra Děn. 31.10.2018. https://nitraden.sk/pre-romov-v-orechovom-dvore-mesto-postavi-nove-komunitne-centrum/ [link-preview url=”https://nitraden.sk/pre-romov-v-orechovom-dvore-mesto-postavi-nove-komunitne-centrum/”]

This highlights the tensions that exist in Slovakia regarding Roma, the general population, and the police. In Pezinok, a Slovak town near Bratislava, Roma celebrating a birthday lit a fire in the street. They were asked by the police to stop it and this generate in an altercation and a fight.
Bad.

– Skupina Rómov založila oheň. Ich napomenutie skončilo útokom na policajtov. In: Noviny. 25.10.2018. https://www.noviny.sk/krimi/382067-skupina-romov-zalozila-ohen-ich-napomenutie-skoncilo-utokom-na-policajtov [link-preview url=”https://www.noviny.sk/krimi/382067-skupina-romov-zalozila-ohen-ich-napomenutie-skoncilo-utokom-na-policajtov”]

A nice analysis of the origins of the views of the general population on Roma, and on how these “sayings” turn into generalisations and prejudices.
Worth a read.

– Predsudky, mýty a generačná chudoba. In: SME. 23.10.2018. https://miroslavpollak.blog.sme.sk/c/494708/predsudky-myty-a-generacna-chudoba.html [link-preview url=”https://miroslavpollak.blog.sme.sk/c/494708/predsudky-myty-a-generacna-chudoba.html”]

Ábel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities said that his office had funded some housing improvements in two localities. It is a drop in the ocean and the question of housing is one that should also be tackled in Slovakia.

– Úrad splnomocnenca podporil bývanie v Dobšinej a Lukove. In: SME. 21.10.2018. https://ekonomika.sme.sk/c/20942579/urad-splnomocnenca-pre-romov-podporil-byvanie-v-dobsinej-a-lukove.html [link-preview url=”https://ekonomika.sme.sk/c/20942579/urad-splnomocnenca-pre-romov-podporil-byvanie-v-dobsinej-a-lukove.html”]

An article on the success story of the village of Spišský Hrhov and on the fact that the methods used there for the integration of the Roma minority should b ereflected in legislation.

– Pracuje len jedna pätina Rómov. In: Finweb. 17.10.2018. https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/1826286-pracuje-len-jedna-patina-romov [link-preview url=”https://finweb.hnonline.sk/ekonomika/1826286-pracuje-len-jedna-patina-romov”]

Vladislav Ledecký, the Mayor of Spišský Hrhov, a village in Eastern Slovakia; Peter Pellegrini, the Slovak Prime Minister; and Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe visited the village Spišské Hrhove, a village known for its successful Roma integration project.
Let’s hope that this PR event brings more than just a photo opportunity.

– Generálny tajomník Rady Európy navštívil Rómov v Spišskom Hrhove. In: Korzar. 16.10.2018. https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20939068/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-navstivil-romov-v-spisskom-hrhove.html [link-preview url=”https://spis.korzar.sme.sk/c/20939068/generalny-tajomnik-rady-europy-navstivil-romov-v-spisskom-hrhove.html”]

The Municipal Office in Nitra and its the Social Affairs Department, organized a seminar on Vlax (Olaš) Roma in Nitra and on the possibility of working with it. The main lecturer was Mgr. Ivana Šustrová from the Regional Office of the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities.

– V meste pod Zoborom sa konal seminár na tému olašskí Rómovia v Nitre. In: Hlavne Spravy. 12.10.2018. https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/meste-zoborom-sa-konal-seminar-temu-olasski-romovia-nitre/1548210 [link-preview url=”https://www.hlavnespravy.sk/meste-zoborom-sa-konal-seminar-temu-olasski-romovia-nitre/1548210″]

A local initiative in a village to better the local library and make it accessible to the local Roma population.

– Aj Rómovia sú naši. In: SME. 12.10.2018. https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20936291/aj-romovia-su-nasi.html [link-preview url=”https://komentare.sme.sk/c/20936291/aj-romovia-su-nasi.html”]

A project in Zvolen, Slovakia, funded by the EU integrated Roma to neighbourhood patrols to improve relations and to help prevent petty crimes.

– Muži v čiernom prehovorili, ako sa im v uliciach darí.In: SME. 15.10.2018. https://myzvolen.sme.sk/c/20938110/muzi-v-ciernom-prehovorili-o-tom-ako-sa-im-v-uliciach-dari.html [link-preview url=”https://myzvolen.sme.sk/c/20938110/muzi-v-ciernom-prehovorili-o-tom-ako-sa-im-v-uliciach-dari.html”]

Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said last week after the government’s outgoing meeting that the government wants to support Roma pastoralisation: Basically, the prime minister told the churches that if they are increasing the number of priests in Roma settlements, the government will increase its support.
Really???? What do churches have to do with Roma integration ????

– Keby som nevidel, ako viera mení životy Rómov, sám pochybujem. In: Dennik. 11.10.2018. https://www.postoj.sk/37119/keby-som-nevidel-ako-viera-meni-zivoty-romov-sam-pochybujem [link-preview url=”https://www.postoj.sk/37119/keby-som-nevidel-ako-viera-meni-zivoty-romov-sam-pochybujem”]

The Plenipotentiary of the Government for Roma Communities Ábel Ravasz has announced a study of the real living condition of the Roma settlements in Slovakia. More precise statistics have been requested by the European Commission.

– Budú sa zaujímať o životné podmienky Rómov. In: SME. 10.10.2018. https://mynitra.sme.sk/c/20932183/budu-sa-zaujimat-o-zivotne-podmienky-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://mynitra.sme.sk/c/20932183/budu-sa-zaujimat-o-zivotne-podmienky-romov.html”]

Marián Mišún, a member of the extreme right party of Kotleba is an admirer of National Socialism and has published articles such as one entitled “Final solution to the Gypsy problem” …
This in Europe in 2018 …

– Kotlebov nádejný primátor obdivuje národný socializmus a v roku 2014 kandidoval spolu so zločincom. In: Dennik. 08.10.2018. https://dennikn.sk/blog/1225898/kotlebov-nadejny-primator-obdivuje-narodny-socializmus-a-v-roku-2014-kandidoval-spolu-so-zlocincom/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/blog/1225898/kotlebov-nadejny-primator-obdivuje-narodny-socializmus-a-v-roku-2014-kandidoval-spolu-so-zlocincom/”]