News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Work instead of Benefits…

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Work instead of Benefits…

The “work instead of benefits” initiative is coming into practice as announced by the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Erik Tomáš (Hlas-SD) at a press conference in Poprad. According to the new law, if a person who can work rejects a suitable job offer from the labour office, he or she will lose material needs benefit or they will be reduced.

“If such a person rejects a job offer for the first time, his benefit will be withdrawn for one month, if he does it again, his benefit will be reduced for three months. This process will be repeated cyclically until the person accepts a job offer. Violation of work discipline will also be considered a reason for withdrawing the benefit. There will no longer be speculation with fake PNs,” Tomáš explained.

It is geared against Roma who are labelled as social services abusers …

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Gypsy Fire

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Gypsy Fire

On Saturday, September 6, the Bystrica amphitheatre will be singing and dancing for the 19th Gypsy Fire.

The Gypsy Fire traditionally brings a spirited musical experience full of passion. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 5:00 p.m., great Roma musicians, dancers and singers will perform at the Paľa Bielik Amphitheatre in Banská Bystrica. The climax of the Gypsy Fire will be Rytmus.

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Transcarpathia

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Transcarpathia

The project “Assistance and Support for Roma Girls and Women from Families of Military Personnel, Veterans, Fallen Defenders, Prisoners of War and Missing Persons” showed that these needs are especially relevant for Roma women.

Well, knowing that currently Roma from the region are forced enrolled, doing something is needed. But the project is just a drop of water…

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

Minister of Labor, Family and Social Affairs Luka Mesec visited Novo mesto today before the start of the new school year. He then had a working meeting at the rotovž, and then with program providers in the Roma settlement of Brezje, the Centre for Social Work Dolenjska and Bela Krajina and representatives of elementary schools in the local Brezje. Well, while this happened,  Novo Mesto Mayor Gregor Macedoni held a working meeting with Minister of Justice Andreja Katič at the municipality today.And there was a different tone there.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

Schooling for Roma children in Valais is still lacking. However, a year ago, State Councilor for Education Christophe Darbellay expressed his desire to find an “ad hoc” solution for these traveling children.

Well, they are doing something: Trying to prevent them entering the canton…

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Lots of articles this week in the French press. Many of them about a Roma camp in Nantes, where the city had to abandon the relocation into another place. But amongst those articles, the one about a family whose children integrated well in the region. Against that, the case of a young Rom who stole since age 12… Also a truck providing health care to children in the camps in Nantes.

Finally in Lyon, the expulsion of two Roma camps.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma in Maribor

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Roma in Maribor

According to the article, the Maribor Roma community is specific, as it is largely Muslim and therefore, according to some sources, even more introverted and patriarchal, and the Roma women in it are doubly underprivileged.

No comments, but this is pandering to stereotypes.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma “Incidents”

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Slovenia and Roma “Incidents”

Two articles in the Slovene press about shootings with automatic weapons and stolen cattle in the Šentjernej region of Slovenia.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Talents

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Roma Talents

Radio Regina brings new mini-portraits of talented Roma under the title Colourful Art. The aim of the project is to introduce the diversity of Roma talents to the general public, support their motivation to develop their talents and at the same time break down the prejudices and stereotypes of the majority society.

Mini-portraits of talented Roma will be broadcasted by radio Regina West (every Friday at 10.13), Regina Central (every Thursday at 13.23) and Regina East (every Wednesday at 11.13).

From September to December 2025, they will broadcast a total of 50 premiere mini-portraits from artists, athletes and scientists to craftsmen, teachers, health workers and chefs.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Partisans

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Roma Partisans

Watch the documentary about forgotten heroes. The film captures the story of Roma who joined the resistance and fought for freedom, but despite this, their actions were almost completely forgotten, as if they had survived a second death. The documentary is personally important to director Vera Lacková because it is closely related to the stories of her own family.

Germany News Western Europe

“Djelem Djelem” Festival

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“Djelem Djelem” Festival

For the twelfth time, the “Djelem Djelem” cultural festival in Dortmund, Germany, invites visitors to numerous events in September. At Germany’s largest Sinti and Roma cultural festival, visitors can immerse themselves in the art, culture, history, and present of the Sinte*zze and Roma.

From September 1st to 15th, the Sintiand Roma cultural festival will focus on themes and events surrounding art, history, and the present that affect the Roma. The festival invites visitors to experience and celebrate these cultures with concerts, exhibitions, films, training courses, and encounters. Most of the events are free of charge. The festival is organized by the City of Dortmund together with numerous partners, including AWO Dortmund, Romano Than e.V., and Keuning.haus.

Czech Republic Germany News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

Conference on Genocide Research

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Conference on Genocide Research

In mid-September, a 3 days Czech-German conference on the current challenges facing genocide research will be held in Lety. Entitled “The legacy of Romani and Sinti survivors across the generations”, the conference will bring together activists, the descendants of such survivors, historians, researchers, and representatives of public institutions to discuss current forms of commemorating this tragedy, the ethical challenges connected to researching the genocide of the Roma and Sinti, the intergenerational transmission of trauma, and memory policy.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Maribor and Roma

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Maribor and Roma

In Maribor the Romano Pralipe Roma Association presented the challenges and opportunities of the Roma community. The initiative for a joint action plan with local institutions received support. The president of the association, Fatmir Bechiri, pointed out that approximately 3,500 Roma live in Maribor and the wider area, so cooperation with the local community is of key importance.

“If there were no local community, the position of Roma in Maribor would be greatly weakened,” he said. He also stressed that Roma in Maribor want to show activity and willingness to cooperate: “Roma in Maribor are more active and want to cooperate, they do not have the same problems as elsewhere in Slovenia.” Bechiri called for greater responsibility within the community: “The Roma community must engage as much as possible for its family. The most important things are the children’s school obligations, as well as taking care of operating costs and good cooperation with the local community.”

News Eastern Europe Poland

Edward Dębicki

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Edward Dębicki

Edward Dębicki, a renowned Polsko Rom musician and Holocaust survivor is at the centre of a controversy in Gorzów Wiełkopolski. This is not his hometown, as he comes from former Eastern Poland, and was resettled when Poland was shifted 300 km westward.

The controversy was whether he could be granted a municipal apartment at a significant discount. Ultimately, the resolution was rejected. The vast majority of councillors voted against it.

So much for survivors …

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Pavel “Sliško” Krtek

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Pavel “Sliško” Krtek

The Roma activist Pavel Sliško Krtek died at 51 and was buried on August 27.

May he rest in peace, and te ovel i phuv lokhi.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

“Gypsy Compound”

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“Gypsy Compound”

An archaeological dig is taking place in the New Forest in the UK on the site of a compound where Roma were forced settled. The compound was later replaced by a ‘Gypsy Rehabilitation Centre’ which says a lot about the ideological background of those initiatives.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Racism in Czechia

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Racism in Czechia

An editorial against a racist article in the Czech press. This is unfortunately still too common in the country, where stereotypes and clichés dominate the view about Roma.

Germany News Western Europe

Antigypsyism in Germany

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Antigypsyism in Germany

The German State of Thuringia has decided not to renew the position of an Antiziganism Commissioner in the state. Rational behind this decision, is that the “broad-based strategy” of “integration policy for all people” does not require a dedicated representative for Sinti and Roma.

Well, this decision is being criticised, with right.

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