Over forty Roma high school and university students from all over the country participated in the twenty-sixth Baruvas meeting (Romanes “we grow”) in the Jizera Mountains at the end of August. The program offered workshops on hate speech, Roma history, Romani language and traditions, working with emotions, activism, a healthy lifestyle and a space for sharing and support.
A Roma first-year student in a primary school in the Brno-North district has become the target of attacks on social networks after a Facebook user took a photo taken by the boy’s mother and shared it with the comment: That feeling when a glutton fails 3 times in first grade.
A number of offensive comments subsequently appeared under the post, attacking the child’s ethnicity and appearance. The behavior was condemned in a joint statement by representatives of the city district and the principals of local schools. “Someone misused the photo, people spread it further on social networks, where hate speech appeared under it, especially during Tuesday afternoon.
At least the police is doing something…
Neighbours of a Roma settlement wrote to the Slovene Minister Luka Mesec. They said: “In the village community of Mihovica (Šentjernej municipality), we are following your visits to Roma settlements in Slovenia and your statements about constitutional rights. Meanwhile, we are dealing with a much more basic question every day – how to survive with approximately 100 residents of Roma settlements, whose behaviour represents a serious security threat to our community.”
The contract for a new community centre in the Boris Kidriča Settlement was signed. It is a project co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union from the European Social Fund. The aim is to promote the integration of the Roma population into the school system, as this is a basic condition for us to no longer talk about the “Roma issue” in the future, but about Roma integration. Workshops and other programs, starting in September, will be prepared for it by a special expert team. “Let’s hope that’s the case,” says the mayor, emphasizing that this is not a new Roma settlement, but an educational space.
Well, fingers crossed …
Andrej Bakreni, a popular Slovenian Romano comic, will appear on TV. He is well known for making fun of his own community but also of the stereotypes about Roma in Slovenia.
Birmingham Council wants to recruit someone with experience in “dealing with difficult conversations” as it looks to reset its relationship with the travelling community.
Well, the description is not promising…
This September, Lithuanian listeners will be treated to a veritable cocktail of famous performers. According to the press release, the best Roma performers from abroad will perform on the stage of the international festival “Gypsy Fest 2025”.
Archive material on the persecution of Roma, Sinti, Yenish and other people defined as “Gypsies” under National Socialism has been released.
https://www.bundesarchiv.de/themen-entdecken/online-entdecken/geschichtsgalerien/archivgut-zur-verfolgung-von-roma-sinti-jenischen-und-anderen-im-nationalsozialismus-als-zigeuner-definierten-menschen/
The Grandmas Against the Right in Koblenz and the surrounding area, in coordination with the associations “Culture and Integration Rhineland-Palatinate” and “State Council of German Sinti & Roma Rhineland-Palatinate,” are calling for a vigil in solidarity with Sinti and Roma.
Once again, abhorrent, right-wing extremist, and extremely dehumanizing propaganda against Sinti and Roma has been graffiti-covered on the streets of Koblenz. We will not tolerate this, we cannot remain silent, and we are taking a stand against it.
In her textile “paintings,” Małgorzata Mirga-Tas connects the past and present of the Roma. At the Kunsthaus Bregenz, she tells stories of her community, marked by pride in their own culture.
An article from a church about Roma in Southeastern Europe. It shows the stereotypes and the total lack of culture of its writer.
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 …
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.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
Two articles in the Slovene press about shootings with automatic weapons and stolen cattle in the Šentjernej region of Slovenia.
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.
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