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”]
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/”]
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 “]
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”]
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”]
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”]
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”]
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”]
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”]
According to the US Government, following an assessment of the US Department of State in their annual report on Human Rights, the main problems of Slovakia are corruption and discrimination against Roma. The report was published last Friday.
– USA kritizujú Slovensko za korupciu a diskrimináciu Rómov. In: Aktualny. 21.04.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/583139/usa-kritizuju-slovensko-za-korupciu-a-diskriminaciu-romov/
– USA kritizujú Slovensko za korupciu, diskrimináciu Rómov a špeciálneho prokurátora Kováčika. In: TV Noviny. 21.04.2018. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/zahranicne/1916181_usa-kritizuju-slovensko-za-korupciu-diskriminaciu-romov-a-specialneho-prokuratora-kovacika
– Korupcia či diskriminácia Rómov. USA v správe o ľudských právach kritizujú Slovensko. In: Aktualne Centrum. 21.04.2018. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/slovensko/spolocnost/korupcia-ci-diskriminacia-romov-usa-sprave-ludskych-pravach-kritizuju-slovensko.html
– USA nás kritizujú za korupciu a diskrimináciu Rómov. In: Trend. 21.04.2018. https://www.etrend.sk/ekonomika/usa-nas-kritizuju-za-korupciu-a-diskriminaciu-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/583139/usa-kritizuju-slovensko-za-korupciu-a-diskriminaciu-romov/ “]
Ukrainian neo Nazi vigilantes burnt down a Roma camp and drove away the Roma in Kiev. These Roma are from Transcarpathia – the Western part of the Ukraine that lies on the Western flank of the Ukraine towards Hungary and Slovakia. The region has many Carpathian Roma who are extremely poor.
– Ukrainian neo-Nazi C14 vigilantes drive out Roma families, burn their camp. In: KHPG. 23.04.2018. http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1524441220 [link-preview url=”http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1524441220″]
The Prešov region will have a new counsellor for “socially excluded” communities – i.e. for Roma. The Role was given to Róbert Neupauer, who has field experience, mainly from a Roma settlement in the village of Križova Ves (Kežmarok district), where he worked in a mission-community centre.
The role is supposed to look for concrete solutions to the problems faced by Roma in the region.
– Prešovský kraj bude mať poradcu pre sociálne vylúčené komunity. In: Korzar. 19.04.2018. https://presov.korzar.sme.sk/c/20807491/presovsky-kraj-bude-mat-poradcu-pre-socialne-vylucene-komunity.html [link-preview url=”https://presov.korzar.sme.sk/c/20807491/presovsky-kraj-bude-mat-poradcu-pre-socialne-vylucene-komunity.html”]
A project in Slovakia is helping Roma families to build their own houses. For that they need to save some money – 50 Euros per month for a year at least. Some of the houses will be built on the Lunik IX site in Košice.
Good!
– Rok si odkladá 50 eur, aby mohla preč z osady. In: Aktuality. 20.04.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/582410/rok-si-odklada-50-eur-aby-mohla-prec-z-osady/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/582410/rok-si-odklada-50-eur-aby-mohla-prec-z-osady/”]
A Slovak teacher simply refused to grade racist essays. Good! Read the interview.
– Slovakia: Meet the Romani teacher who refused to grade racist essays. In: Romea. 14.04.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-meet-the-romani-teacher-who-refused-to-grade-racist-essays# [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/slovakia-meet-the-romani-teacher-who-refused-to-grade-racist-essays#”]
Again an article about poor dogs and pets being saved from their plight and being removed from a Roma ghetto – this time in Slovakia.
Did they check the conditions in which the Roma live?
This kind of journalism is not acceptable.
– Große Tierrettung aus Müll und Elend. In: Frankenpost. 18.04.2018. https://www.frankenpost.de/region/muenchberg/Grosse-Tierrettung-aus-Muell-und-Elend;art2441,6086226 [link-preview url=”https://www.frankenpost.de/region/muenchberg/Grosse-Tierrettung-aus-Muell-und-Elend;art2441,6086226″]
A survey of the situation of Roma settlements in Slovakia. There are 2’927 municipalities and towns in Slovakia and there are Roma settlements in 1’170 of them. The general situation seems to be improving but really slowly.
– Zaplavia Slovensko chudobné osady? Črtá sa iný trend. In: Aktuality. 17.04.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/580532/zaplavia-slovensko-chudobne-osady-crta-sa-iny-trend/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/580532/zaplavia-slovensko-chudobne-osady-crta-sa-iny-trend/”]
Milan Mazurek, a MP from the far right party Kotelba’s People Party was condemned to a fine of 5’000 Euros for his racist statements on a radio in 2016. He is appealing the verdict. Let’s hope he looses again!
– Far-right MP Ordered to Pay Fine by Court for Statements on Roma. In: New Now. 16.04.2018. http://newsnow.tasr.sk/policy/far-right-mp-ordered-to-pay-fine-by-court-for-statements-on-roma/
– Mazurek si na súde vypočul trest za výroky v rádiu na adresu Rómov. In: TV Noviny. 16.04.2018. http://www.tvnoviny.sk/domace/1915412_mazurek-si-na-sude-vypocul-trest-za-vyroky-v-radiu-na-adresu-romov [link-preview url=”http://newsnow.tasr.sk/policy/far-right-mp-ordered-to-pay-fine-by-court-for-statements-on-roma/ “]
An interview of the Slovak journalist Stanislava Harkotova on Roma, stereotypes, and how they are presented in the press in that country. Her comments are not devoid of some stereotypes, but she did make the step and went to see for herself.
– Myslela som si, že Rómov sa treba báť. Až kým sa o mňa nestarali rómski učňovkári. In: HN Slovensko. 13.04.2018. https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1727343-myslela-som-si-ze-romov-sa-treba-bat-az-kym-sa-o-mna-nestarali-romski-ucnovkari [link-preview url=”https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1727343-myslela-som-si-ze-romov-sa-treba-bat-az-kym-sa-o-mna-nestarali-romski-ucnovkari”]
The Lunik IX housing estate in Košice has a very bad reputation: It is a rundown neighbourhood of decaying buildings mostly if not entirely inhabited by Roma. There are now plans to destroy some of the worst buildings and to beautify the neighbourhood hoping to create a mixed society.
Let’s not hope it turns out like most gentrification projects, simply evicting Roma.
– Obroda Lunika IX: Môže byť atraktívny nielen pre Rómov. In: Korzar. 10.04.2018. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20799565/obroda-lunika-ix-moze-byt-atraktivny-nielen-pre-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20799565/obroda-lunika-ix-moze-byt-atraktivny-nielen-pre-romov.html”]
The Roma flag hangs on the US Embassy and on the Czech Foreign Ministry (yes – not the interior). And a report from Slovakia on the events in Prague.
– Czech Foreign Ministry flies Romani flag, outgoing Foreign Minister and Justice Minister meet with Roma. In: Romea. 10.04.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/zech-foreign-ministry-flies-romani-flag-outgoing-foreign-minister-and-justice-minister-meet-with-roma
– US Ambassador hangs the Romani flag at the US Embassy in Prague. In: Romea. 10.04.2018. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/us-ambassador-hangs-the-romani-flag-at-the-us-embassy-in-prague
– V Prahe sa začínajú oslavy Medzinárodného dňa Rómov. In: Dobre Noviny. 06.04.2018. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/128884/v-prahe-sa-zacinaju-oslavy-medzinarodneho-dna-romov [link-preview url=”https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/128884/v-prahe-sa-zacinaju-oslavy-medzinarodneho-dna-romov”]
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