Tag Archives: Roma

Belgique France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Further Evictions in France … As usual

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Further Evictions in France … As usual

Meanwhile, evictions continue, and very few of the evicted people are re-lodged as per the directives from the Valls’ government. For example in St.-Fargeau; in Grenoble, where the eviction has been requested by the mayor; and so on…

Meanwhile, in Belgium, there are also calls to re-lodge Rroma, for example in Brussels, in Ixelles, and a bus is being used as a temporary abode for five Slovak Rroma families in Brussels.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

Rroma in Strasbourg

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Rroma in Strasbourg

Viorel Costache, Rrom and president of the association PRALES (Brothers) and Gabriela Munteanu, a Romanian translator have denounced the inacceptable situation of Rroma Migrants in Strasbourg. In their press conference, they have compared the measures of the city of Strasbourg to a “modern concentration camp” for having established an enclosed camps for Rroma and are accusing the police and the authorities of a true hunt against Rroma.

We do agree with them. Please support them and join their action!

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

France accused by the UN of having a racist problem

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France accused by the UN of having a racist problem

France has been slammed by a UN report on racism in France. The report, among other states that “The committee is concerned by the recrudescence of hate and xenophobic speech in certain political circles and the media which contribute to the trivialisation of racism and xenophobia”. It cites racism against Jews, Moslems, but also increasingly against Rroma with statements such as the “unbearable smell” of Rroma in public transportation, but also due to police brutality in clearing illegal camps and the breach of the rights to proper lodging when expelled from such camps.

This increase of racism towards minorities is worrisome and not worthy of a country like France. Unfortunately, in the case of Rroma, even people such as the Prime Minister are prone to racist statements – for example when he deemed that Rroma do not and cannot integrate. This has to stop.

News Americas Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Canadian Lawyer suspended for 5 months for misconduct involving Rroma refugees

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Canadian Lawyer suspended for 5 months for misconduct involving Rroma refugees

A Canadian lawyer was suspended for 5 months for misconduct involving Rroma refugees for failing to adequately represent thousands of Rroma claimants between 2009 and 2013. In view of what this meant for these refugees, i.e. being deported back, this is a mild sentence indeed.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Turkey: A Rrom in parliament

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Turkey: A Rrom in parliament

Özcan Purçu is a candidate of the opposition Republican People’s Part (CHP) in Izmir for a parliamentary seat and stands good chance of being elected. As such, he will be only the third official Rroma representative in Europe’s parliaments. For such a large minority, not an acceptable representation. We wish him all the luck!

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Manchester Project aims at reducing prejudice against Rroma

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Manchester Project aims at reducing prejudice against Rroma

A new project in collaboration between the city of Manchester and the EU aims at reducing prejudices against Rroma as well as to break their “dependency on others”. The project coordinator is Yaron Matras, professor at the University of Manchester and a specialist of Rroma. The project aims to increase the Rroma access to public services, education and employment.

While we greet the first part and the goals, the second subtitle, the one on the dependency, leaves a bitter taste. This is definitively a paternalistic view of the world, and is ascribing an ethnic trait to what is simply a social and poverty problem.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles suisses Roumanie

Yves Leresche: Exhibition on Rroma in Lausanne

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Yves Leresche: Exhibition on Rroma in Lausanne

Until May 23, Yves Leresche’s exhibition in Lausanne depicts the lives of some of the Romanian Rroma beggars who came to Switzerland. It goes between Lausanne and Romania, and shows a very humane picture of these people, far from the criminal bands prejudices.

These picture should nevertheless not lead to the belief that this is the only Rroma reality. In fact, it is the reality of a small group of Rroma from a few villages in the same Romanian region. Many Rroma are integrated, especially in Switzerland where beggars, thieves and other stereotypical Rroma only make a tiny percentage of the overall Rroma population there.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Indian Ambassador to Hungary on Rroma

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Indian Ambassador to Hungary on Rroma

The current Indian Ambassador to Hungary, Malay Mishra is currently studying the Rroma communities in Hungary as part of a Ph.D. he is currently registered for at Corvinius University. He is looking at parallels and at what could be learned from India in terms of integrating disadvantaged minorities.

We cannot but agree with his statement that in spite of 1’200 NGOs active in Hungary for Rroma, there seem to be precious few recipients, especially in the country side.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria: A hard life for girls

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Bulgaria: A hard life for girls

An article on the Rroma Mahala in Vidin, in North Western Bulgaria. The article, while dispelling some of the stereotypes of many children, still pushes some age old prejudices, stating that marriage occurs by abduction (ritually, yes, practically, unknown), that child brides are the norm etc. What most journalists tend to blend out is that in Rroma tradition, one is married if one sleeps with one’s boyfriend. So effectively, by this standard, most of girls in Western Europe are not that different … What is different tough is that there is little contraception, resulting in early pregnancies, dropping out of schools, etc. All things that are a social poverty issue and have de facto nothing to do with Rroma.

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Prostitution … Again

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Prostitution … Again

A first article in the Swiss German press since the publication of a study on the bias of newspapers in that country against Rroma (See Rroma Foundation). This time, a Swiss man allegedly bought a young Czech Rromni from a Rrom in the Czech Republic for prostitution for the sum of 256 CHF. The whole thing flew off as the woman shouted while crossing the border and she was subsequently freed.

Sad story. But what we liked, it is the first time where such a story is brought without saying that this is “typical” or “culturally driven” for Rroma. It is a criminal deed that, unfortunately does exist. It is not a cultural trait of a minority. And we are happy that this is the way it was reported.

Hongire News Americas Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Rita Iszak: A Rromni and the special rapporteur for the UN on Minorities

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A portrait and interview of a Hungarian Rromni activist who worked first at the European Roma Right Centre (ERRC) and who is now the special raporteur for Minority issues at the UN.

Well done!

Nouvelles suisses

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

The Swiss Travellers, the Jenische, are currently making the headlines in Switzerland. One of their organisations, the so-called “Bewegung” [Movement] has occupied an unused parcel in the city of Zurich to protest for the lack of camping places for travellers in the Canton and city of Zurich. This new organisation also walked out of a working group covering other Jenische and Rroma organisations and the Swiss Federal Authorities, stating that this working group was far to slow (due to complete in 2018) and anyhow was more of an alibi exercise.

The acute lack of camping places has led to other occupations, for example in Basle, but also to some excesses whereby the Swiss Jenische want “segregated” places, i.e. want foreign travellers and Rroma be quartered in other places. The rationale is that the foreign travellers do not comply to the rather strict Swiss regulations. In our opinion, this is not a reason to warrant segregation. This can be resolved by enforcement. But fact is: Lack of space leads to disputes and to such statements.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Serbie

Graduate Level Education for Rroma

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Graduate Level Education for Rroma

Many young Rroma are rebelling against so-called scientific evidence on and about Rroma. They are rebelling against statements such as “that Roma mothers willingly accept evaluation of their children as mentally disabled so that they can reap social benefits” found in a Serbian scientific journal. The Central European University is starting a program of graduate studies aimed at young Rroma so that they can contradict such nonsense from the inside!

All the luck to them!

Bulgarie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

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French “Normality”: Summer expulsions

The French Press is again full of news on forced eviction of illegal Rroma camps in France. This is nearly the only news that is given about Rroma in France.

Several articles are devoted to the evacuation of the camp in Saint-Herblain near Nantes. In this case, these are to a large extent French Rroma / Manouches, and not newer migrants from Romania and Bulgaria.

Other than that, a camp emptied in Argenteuil; another one in Limeil-Brévannes; one in Bonneuil-Limeil; while a Rroma camp is blocking the reconversion of a former prison in Loos; and in Ivry, Rroma are appealing against an imminent expulsion. Finally, Rroma who were recently expulsed are asking the prefect for new lodging, as is required by the French law prior to an eviction.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Holocaust and Rroma

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Holocaust and Rroma

In the context of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, Martin Schulz visited Auschwitz and paid tribute to the victims of the camp, among which were many Rroma.

A novel, “Jacob’s Colour” speaks about the Rroma holocaust. A long reviews on the book has been written in the Guardian. Unfortunately, the use the “Porrajmos” terms, which is not used by Rroma generally but was introduced by scholars. This choice of word, which denotes rape in Vlax dialects is a misnomer for the Holocaust.

Albanie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

French Prefect in front of tribunal

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French Prefect in front of tribunal

The prefect of Lyon, Mr. Michel Delpuech, has to appear in front the administrative tribunal of Lyon following a complaint from about 60 Romanian Rroma who were expulsed from their illegal camp by order of the prefect. There is a further complaint from Kosovars and Albanians for the same reason. The Prefecture states that there is no legal basis for asking to be re-lodged, as this is purely required for asylum seekers and not for EU citizen.

We hope he gets convicted…

France Allemagne Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

We are Gypsies, and are not like Rroma

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We are Gypsies, and are not like Rroma

Reportage on French Gitans (Gitanos) in Montpellier facing off the new immigrants. As in Germany, one has a similar reaction: We are Gitanos, they are [foreign] Rroma. We are not like them … This is the same as the Sinti in the famous Sinti and Rroma … While this is perfectly understandable, this should not be taken as a “truth”. Gitanos, Manouches, Sinti, and about 40 different other groups are all Rroma.

France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

France: Integration is also possible

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France: Integration is also possible

An nice article on a young Rrom from Romania who managed to get out of the camps, get a job, a flat, and a nearly normal life.

It shows that in spite of Mr. Valls’ statement that Rroma cannot integrate that they do, given the chance.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

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Hungarian Rroma Murders – Conviction upheld

The appellate court in Budapest upheld the first instance judgment against the perpetrators of the hate crimes against Rroma in Hungary. Three of the perpetrators are sentenced to life without parole, while another forth one to 13 years in Prison.

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