According to the European Roma Right Centre, the Italian current government is targeting Romnja.
- ITALY: INCITING HATRED AGAINST ROMANI WOMEN. In: ERRC. 24.11.2023. http://www.errc.org/news/italy-inciting-hatred-against-romani-women
Serbia and Roma
Another article about Zlatomir Jovanović, a Rom who is a culturologist, writer, journalist and translator. He is the president of the “Association of Romani Writers”, and is especially dedicated to the preservation of the Romani language. According to him, all Roma songs talk about freedom. However, this is not about freedom of movement, but about freedom of spirit.
To be frank, this is not quite accurate…
- Zlatomir Jovanović živi po principima romske filozofije: Ja posedujem samo kreativni duh koji mi je Bog dao. To je moja sloboda! (VIDEO). In: Informer. 24.11.2023. https://informer.rs/vesti/drustvo/850063/sa-o-roma-romi-kulturolog
Roma Spirit: Portrait
The director of the Filakovo school is a finalist in Roma Spirit. Ildikó Kotlárová, a Romni, has been working in education for 36 years. “When pupils see that the principal is a Roma woman, it can inspire and motivate them,” she says.
- V rodinách vidia i chudobu, deťom pomáhajú aj materiálne. Riaditeľka fiľakovskej školy je finalistkou v Roma Spirit. In: My Novohrad SME.24.11.2023. https://mynovohrad.sme.sk/c/23248195/v-rodinach-vidia-i-chudobu-detom-pomahaju-aj-materialne-riaditelka-filakovskej-skoly-je-finalistkou-v-roma-spirit.html
Poland and Roma
The Pomeranian Voivode invites representatives of non-governmental organizations to participate in the work of the commission assessing applications for 2024 – submitted under the “Program for the social and civic integration of Roma in Poland for 2021-2030”.
Let’s see what the outcome will be …
- Program integracji społecznej i obywatelskiej Romów w Polsce na lata 2021-2030. Zaproszenie do pracy w komisji. In: Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki. 22.11.2023. https://www.gdansk.uw.gov.pl/6886-program-integracji-spolecznej-i-obywatelskiej-romow-w-polsce-na-lata-2021-2030-zaproszenie-do-pracy-w-komisji
Slovenia, Roma, and Health
The Lendava People’s University, together with eight partners from seven other countries, is completing a three-year project that aims to contribute to better physical and mental health of members of the Roma community. The data show that the life expectancy of Roma is sometimes as much as nine years shorter than that of the majority population.
- Zaključen projekt za večjo zdravstveno pismenost Romov. In: STA. 22.11.2023. https://www.sta.si/3238933/zakljucen-projekt-za-vecjo-zdravstveno-pismenost-romov
Montenegro: Census
The councillor and president of the Roma Council Mensur Šalaj said he believes that the census now will take place. The opposition will participate in the census as well as the minority councils after Prime Minister Milojko Spajić accepted the demands of the opposition when it comes to the census. According to Mensur Šalaj, The Roma Council is satisfied with the fact that a certain number of census enumerators will be Roma.
- Šaljaj: Nadam se da će Roma na popisu biti više i da će ta cifra ići do devet hiljada. In: CDM. 23.11.2023. https://www.cdm.me/politika/saljaj-nadam-se-da-ce-roma-na-popisu-biti-vise-i-da-ce-ta-cifra-ici-do-devet-hiljada/
Germany, Social Help, and Stereotypes
Natalie Reinhardt, chairwoman of the state representation of German Sinti and Roma in Baden-Württemberg, sees anti-Gypsyism emerging again and again in various areas of social work.
- Expertin: Sozialarbeit oft geleitet von Vorurteilen zu Sinti und Roma. In: Sonntagsblatt. 22.11.2023. https://www.sonntagsblatt.de/artikel/gesellschaft/expertin-sozialarbeit-oft-geleitet-von-vorurteilen-zu-sinti-und-roma
Lujan Koka
Ljuan Koka is a Roma political scientist, screenwriter and journalist. He achieved a significant career as a media and socio-political worker, especially in the field of protection of national and ethnic minorities. He also created a television show in Romanes.
The article covers his story.
- Ovaj čovek formirao je prvu televizijsku emisiju na romskom jeziku u svetu! (VIDEO). In: Informer. 21.11.2023. https://informer.rs/vesti/drustvo/849200/sa-o-roma-romi-politikolog-scenarista-novinar#google_vignette
Slovakia: Awards
Folklorist, civic activist and community worker Marie Oláhová, sociologist Zuzana Kusá and mayor of Toporec Gustáv Pompa won the Luč z tmy (Ray of Darkness) award this year. The prize was awarded for the sixth time to people who have long been advocating for the improvement of the position of the Roma in various areas of life.
- Marie Oláhová, Zuzana Kusá a Gustáv Pompa získali ocenění Lúč z tmy za svou dlouhodobou práci pro Romy. In: Romea. 21.11.2023. https://romea.cz/cz/zahranici/marie-olahova-zuzana-kusa-a-gustav-pompa-ziskali-oceneni-luc-z-tmy-za-svou-dlouhodobou-praci-pro-romy
Germany and Roma
Not a good thing: In Chemnitz, two Roma families are making headlines for noise, insults, garbage, and in addition they are suspected of shoplifting. Whether true or not, the mere fact that such articles pop up is bad.
- POLIZEI FAST TÄGLICH IM EINSATZ: CHEMNITZER SONNENBERG-ANWOHNER FÜHLEN SICH NICHT MEHR SICHER. In: Tag24. 21.11.2023. https://www.tag24.de/chemnitz/lokales/polizei-fast-taeglich-im-einsatz-chemnitzer-sonnenberg-anwohner-fuehlen-sich-nicht-mehr-sicher-3018195
Ilona Lagrene
Die Sintiza and civil right activist Ilona Lagrene has died at 73.
Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, praised her for her “tireless education” about the minority’s history of persecution. For her it was never about “transferring blame”, but rather about “passing on knowledge”.
May she rest in peace.
- Ilona Lagrene mit 73 Jahren verstorben. In: Rhein Neckar Zeitung. 21.11.2023. https://www.rnz.de/region/metropolregion-mannheim_artikel,-HeidelbergMannheim-Ilona-Lagrene-mit-73-Jahren-verstorben-_arid,1230536.html
Roma Spirit
The Roma spirit finalists are announced. The Roma Spirit prizes are given to organisations and individuals who have contributed to the integration of Roma.
Among them are, for example, the non-governmental organizations Detstvo deťom from Dobšina, Šukar Dživipen from Banská Štiavnica and Spokojnost – a center of social services from Prievidza. The gala evening with the awards will be on November 25.
- Finalistami Roma Spirit sú aj učiteľky z Dobšinej, združenie zo štiavnického Šobova aj mäsokombinát a odpadová firma. In: Dennik N. 20.11.2023. https://dennikn.sk/minuta/3688446/
Petro Jovanovic / Petro Ivanovitch
The well know Parisian musician Petro Ivanovitch (Jovanovic) who was born in Serbia died recently at the age of 76 in Paris. He was buried in the Montmartre cemetery last Thursday acompaigned by music sung by his family and the many musicians who attended the ceremony.
Petro founded the “Tsiganes Ivanovitch”, a group that recorded several albums.
May he rest in peace! Te avel o drom angla leste putherdo!
- I PETRO UZ MUZIKU ODLETEO NA NEBO: Na poslednjem ispraćaju Petra Jovanovića, osnivača “Cigana Ivanovića” (VIDEO/FOTO). In: Novosti. 19.11.2023. https://www.novosti.rs/reportaze/vesti/1304099/petro-muziku-odleteo-nebo-poslednjem-ispracaju-petra-jovanovica-osnivaca-cigana-ivanovica-video-foto?fbclid=IwAR1dAOOrc2ljpqGqgcr8n7T8_lxVSRuKPPBhrK_5WYDvZPfgKPqGsNx8E8Q
Clichés
An amusing story of a German Gadže family who decided to travel through Europe with horse-drawn carriages. And of course, in the article, the analogy to the cliché of a Roma camp comes up…
- Podróżują w domu na kołach. Innego życia już sobie nie wyobrażają. In: Gazeta Olsztyńska. 19.11.2023. https://gazetaolsztynska.pl/szczytno/990703,Podrozuja-w-domu-na-kolach-Innego-zycia-juz-sobie-nie-wyobrazaja.html
Berlin and the Memorial
The family of the artist Dani Karavan, the creator of the Memorial for the Sinti and Roma victims of the Genocide is threatening legal action if the memorial is changed by the planned S-Bahn tunnel. The government remains divided on the issue.
- Streit um Berliner Sinti-und-Roma-Denkmal: Künstler-Familie droht Senat mit Klage gegen S-Bahntunnel. In; Tagesspiegel. 20.11.2023. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/streit-um-berliner-sinti-und-roma-denkmal-kunstler-familie-droht-senat-mit-klage-gegen-s-bahntunnel-10797214.html
Belgium, Politics, and Roma
Conner Rousseau, the president of the Vooruit party (Socialist) resigned after weeks of controversy on his statements about Roma. He apparently said “one has to get rid of them” and said they are “brown garbage”. He then claimed to his defence to have been drunk …
- Propos racistes: Conner Rousseau démissionne de la présidence de Vooruit. In: L’Echo. 17.11.2023. https://www.lecho.be/economie-politique/belgique/flandre/conner-rousseau-demissionne-de-la-presidence-de-vooruit/10507176.html?_sp_ses=0d9ab0df-56ea-4f7f-98b4-aebc7a0dcbe0
- ”Vraiment, ces Roms, il faut s’en débarrasser” : voici les propos racistes qu’aurait tenus Conner Rousseau. In: DH Net. 16.11.2023. https://www.dhnet.be/actu/belgique/2023/11/16/vraiment-ces-roms-il-faut-sen-debarrasser-voici-les-propos-racistes-quaurait-tenus-conner-rousseau-UVD4PX5OJJEBLNIBIFLGQ3N2WE/
French Chronicle …
Not much this week about Roma in France. Just a clean up after a camp closure near Bordeaux, another camp in Nantes being closed, and an article on insecurity in Grenoble, partly due to Roma thieves according to the article.
- Trois mois après le démantèlement du camp de Roms, le grand tri des encombrants achevé en Gironde. Inb: Sud Ouest. 12.11.2023. https://www.sudouest.fr/environnement/trois-mois-apres-le-demantelement-du-camp-de-roms-le-grand-tri-des-encombrants-acheve-en-gironde-17415842.php
- Expulsion en cours sur le terrain des Roms à Malakoff. In: Sud Ouest. 17.11.2023. https://www.francelive.fr/teaser/ouest-france/nantes-expulsion-en-cours-sur-le-terrain-des-roms-a-malakoff-8275986/
- INSÉCURITÉ : PIOLLE AFFIRME QU’ELLE N’EXISTE PAS À GRENOBLE. In: Grenoble le Changement., 18.11.2023. https://grenoble-le-changement.fr/2023/11/18/insecurite-piolle-affirme-quelle-nexiste-pas-a-grenoble/
Serbia and Roma
An interview in the Serbian press of Kosovo’s General Secretary of the National Council of Roma, Bajram Morena. By law, the National Council of Roma has competence in four areas: education, culture, official language use and information in the languages of national minorities.
- Svake godine sve više Roma upisuje fakultete! Morena: Nadamo se da ljudi u buduće neće gledati boju kože, već koliko čovek vredi! (VIDEO). In: Informer. 18.11.2023. https://informer.rs/vesti/drustvo/848151/sa-o-roma-romi-diskriminiacija#google_vignette
Poland: Conflict
Another article in the Polish press about the conflict between the residents of Koszary, a large village in Limanowa County and its Roma populations, which apparently settled there in the 1970s.
- Wielki konflikt mieszkańców Limanowej z Romami. Mają ich dość. “Miarka się przebrała”. In: Fakt. 18.11.2023. https://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polska/krakow/limanowa-mieszancy-maja-dosc-romow-miarka-sie-przebrala/eckebsn
Czechs and Romanes
A quiz on Romanes in the Czech press on the background of the International Romanes Day.
- KVÍZ: Jak se vyznáš v základních romských slovech a frázích? In: Refresher. 19.11.2023. https://refresher.cz/147930-KVIZ-Jak-se-vyznas-v-zakladnich-romskych-slovech-a-frazich
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