Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Ukraine

Roma at War

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The twenty-nine-year-old Rom Vasil Medvědenko, together with his brother, volunteered for the Ukrainian army after seeing the footage of the massacre in Bucha. He decided to defend his homeland. At first Vasil could not believe the news about the Russian invasion, but after a few days he was sure that it was really a war. “I realized that this is a big problem for my country, where I grew up and raised my children. At first I thought that it wouldn’t last long, maybe a month, maybe it would end sooner, but when I saw the news about Bucha, I realized that it would be for a long time. It was the terrible events in Bucha that forced me to act – to voluntarily defend my native country,” he told RomaUA, a Ukrainian Roma information site that reported his story.

Allemagne Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Ake Dikhea

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The German Newpaper taz is giving away 2×2 free tickets for the 6th International Roma Film Festival “AKE DIKHEA?” for the film “Time of Silence and Darkness” on October 27th. at 7:30 p.m. AKE DIKHEA is an international festival with films by and with Roma and Sinti, which has been taking place in Berlin every year since 2017. It shows the world from their perspective and asks how they see themselves and how they want to be seen.

Nouvelles suisses

Switzerland and Camping Sites

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Another article on the fight of travellers in Switzerland to get camping sites, this time in Thal, Canton St. Gallen. The commune voted against the required zoning changes to allow for sur a site to be constructed.

One needs to say also that there are  camping sites and that by and large, foreign Roma are parked in so-called “transit sites”.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Hungary: Fekete Vonat

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The music group “Fekete Vonat” [Black Train] has reunited and released a new album. They played together for only five years, and it has been twenty years since the band broke up.

The band was founded in 1997. It got its name from the train transporting workers during the Kádár era. The black train brought and took workers from Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county to the capital and the country’s major cities. Among the passengers there were many unskilled Roma helpers living in segregation.

With this choice of name, the Fekete Vonat band announced their support for the Hungarian Roma and the importance of the fight against segregation and racism. That is why around the turn of the millennium they enjoyed huge popularity among the Roma in Hungary and abroad, and the whole country was in love with their songs and soundscape.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria: OMG!

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Very recently, a discussion started in Bulgaria as to whether the singer Preslava, who is famous in Bulgaria might be a part or fully Romani. She did not comment on it …

And frankly, so what?

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.

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