Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Having a Dream

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Having a Dream

The second year of the Having a Dream project will take place on May 3, 2025 in Pardubice. Nine inspiring Roma personalities, including three ROMEA scholarship holders, will perform on stage. The aim of the event is to support education, personal development and intergenerational dialogue. The event is held under the auspices of the Deputy Governor of the Pardubice Region, Pavel Šotola, and the Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs, Lucie Fuková. Visitors can look forward to panel discussions, workshops, cultural performances and a ceremonial procession through the city centre.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: Threats

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Slovenia: Threats

After conducting individual investigative actions, the Ljubljana District Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment with the Kočevje District Court for threats to Ribnica Mayor Sam Pogorelec. Pogorelec had hosted representatives of the Ribnica Roma, with whom they discussed providing water to the Roma settlements of Otavice and Goriča vas. Following this, he was threatened by a Rom who objected to the mayor’s view that water would only be provided if Roma show “good behaviour”.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Croatia: Romni?

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Croatia: Romni?

Maja Odrčić Mikulić, a long-time civil servant and director of the People’s University, is known for her work in the fields of social and education. The surprise came when she ran for the position of representative of the Roma minority, as it was the first time she had publicly identified herself as Roma – without any prior public mentions or connections to this community.

According to Croatian law, changing one’s ethnicity does not require proof – a personal statement is sufficient. Thus, she gained the right to run with one signature.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Lety: Memorial Service

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Lety: Memorial Service

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, a memorial service will be held at the Roma and Sinti Holocaust Memorial to honor the victims of the Nazi regime. The event is organized by the Roma Holocaust Compensation Committee under the auspices of the government commissioner Lucie Fuková.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Romania

Book

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Book

Soldiers. A Story from Ferentari  was only published in Czech this year. It tells the autobiographical story of a famous anthropologist Adrian, who is writing a dissertation on Romani music and moves into the Bucharest ghetto of Ferentari. There, former Romani prisoner Alberto becomes his guide, and the mismatched pair eventually becomes a couple facing the surprising twists and turns of an unexpected intimate relationship.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

An Australian in Lunik IX

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An Australian in Lunik IX

Upon arriving at the tiny apartment, an unexpected sight awaited the Australian woman. Although the apartment building seems cramped, the apartment that the young woman visited did not look any different from a normal Slovak household. The apartment was smaller, but considering what she saw outside, she was surprised by the cozy and clean environment.

Well, stereotypes are hard to kill …

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and Roma Settlements

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Slovakia and Roma Settlements

On March 20, five people died in a fire in a Roma settlement in Veľký Šariš near Prešov. This tragedy also highlighted the conditions in which Roma people often live. The Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities is currently trying to legalize dwellings in excluded communities.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia: Brawl

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Slovenia: Brawl

A brawl between Roma and locals in Slovenia ended up badly, with several injured. According to the articles, it was the Roma who aggressed the others.

Bad.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia, Schools, and Roma

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Slovenia, Schools, and Roma

An article about the fact that Roma drop out of school in Slovenia. According to the article, only 10 to 20 percent of Roma children complete primary school. What is problematic, is what they ascertain as being its cause: Successful Roma who abuse the social system and are role model as they have more money than the others.

They also add that speaking Slovenian is an issue, as most Roma children do not speak it when they arrive in kindergarten.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Brno: Exhibition

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Brno: Exhibition

The new exhibition “Roma Rising” at the Brno Museum of Roma Culture is intended to be the antithesis of the traditional ideas about Roma. It presents a total of 60 black-and-white portraits of prominent Roma men and women from 13 European countries and Canada. They have been on display since the middle of last week.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Pope Francis

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Pope Francis

Residents of the Košice housing estate of Luník IX still remember the pope’s visit there.

“Dear brothers and sisters, too often you have been the subject of prejudice and merciless judgments, discriminatory stereotypes, derogatory words and gestures. Thanks to this, we have all become poorer. Poorer in humanity,” with these words Pope Francis addressed the Roma in the Luník IX housing estate. The news of his death also affected the local community.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

School Segregation

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School Segregation

On February 28, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a fundamental judgment that affects the lives of thousands of Roma children in Central Europe – and especially all of us who are trying to ensure that our children have a chance at a decent education. In the case of Salay vs. Slovakia, the court ruled in favour of a young Roma man who was unfairly placed in a special school for children with mental disabilities as a child, even though there was no reason for this.

All too common still.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Brno: “Problematic” school

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Brno: “Problematic” school

It used to be an elite institution where no Roma students attended. However, after merging with a neighboring elementary school, Merhautova Elementary School became a school where most of the students are Roma and, in recent years, Ukrainian. Does this sound like a recipe for disaster? But that did not happen at the Brno elementary school. Children and parents expressed their opinion in a satisfaction survey that “Merhautka” has the best internal climate of all Brno schools.

The proof that integration works.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Isolation during Covid

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Isolation during Covid

A draft resolution in the Slovak parliament to apologize to Roma for being isolated by the state in settlements during the COVID-19 pandemic divided the parliament and provoked one of the harshest exchanges of opinions in recent years. The main protagonists were Progressive Slovakia MP Ingrid Kosová – of Roma origin – and the former mayor of Humenné, long-time MP for Smer Jana Vaľová.

Kosova stated: “It is a shame for Slovakia and a shame for all mayors and mayors who have not yet put a serious end to this situation”. Vaľová defended herself, stating how much she had done for the Roma community, but also saying “they do not pay their bills”.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia, Roma, and Archaeology

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Slovakia, Roma, and Archaeology

The sad story of an archaeological site on top of which there is a Roma settlement in Slovakia. Although everyone agrees the settlement needs to be relocated. The issue, in spite of available funds, is that no one wants to have these Roma as neighbours…

This has been going on for years.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece: New Police Unit

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Greece: New Police Unit

The Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoïdis has announced two new shock measures: a ban on public concerts in the Exarchia district of Athens and the creation of a specialized police unit to combat crime among Roma communities. The minister cited very high crime rates. “This situation must end. These groups are responsible for a large number of crimes: drug trafficking, fraud, burglaries, robberies… And it is the residents of the affected areas who are paying the price.”

According to him, the unit is already operational, with a structure, a hierarchy, ongoing investigations, and identified individuals. “Our objective is clear: to dismantle these networks. This is a personal commitment, first to myself, but also on behalf of the police.” This has been going on for decades, it’s time to put an end to it. But to do so, we will need everyone’s commitment.”

Bad.

Bosnia News Eastern Europe

Bosnia and Roma

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Bosnia and Roma

As part of the Roma Month celebrations, an event was held in Gračanica to promote Roma culture and customs. Traditional Roma music and dance, poetry, an exhibition of famous Roma posters, crafts, clothing, and tools—all of this could be seen and heard as part of the program organized by the “Step into the Future” organization.

Danijel Eminović, a young keyboardist and award-winning student at the “Stevan Mokranjac” Music School, performed the Roma anthem “Đelem, Đelem.” Demir Osmani of the “Step into the Future” organization stated that the aim of this event is to promote Roma cultural heritage.

Kosovo News Eastern Europe

Kosovo and Work

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Kosovo and Work

Starting today, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities will be able to register on the “My First Job” platform, where they can apply for jobs in private companies and also report discrimination in the workplace, KosovaPresse reports.Only people between the ages of 18 and 34 will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Armanda Toska, employment officer at the “Voices of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians” organization, told KosovaPress that this is an invitation to young people from this community to begin their work experience. After six months, she said, they will have regular employment contracts. Toska added that 80 beneficiaries will be employed this year.

News Eastern Europe Poland Ukraine

Ukrainian Refugees

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Ukrainian Refugees

Olena Vaidalovich, defender of Roma rights says that some Roma Don’t Admit Who They Are

In refugee shelters, Ukrainians of Roma origin were separated from other Ukrainians. Coordinators said they were trying to avoid tensions. “Better” Ukrainians had more comfortable conditions – beds, chairs. Where there were Roma, there might have been nothing. I saw children sleeping on cardboard boxes in winter.

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