News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Education in Slovakia

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Education in Slovakia

Education for children from marginalized Roma communities in Slovakia faces significant challenges, particularly regarding language barriers, as many children arrive at school speaking Romani or a Romani-influenced Slovak. Teachers report that the school system often fails to accommodate these language differences, leading to misinterpretations of children’s abilities and creating additional stress for both students and educators.

There is a call for systemic support, including the return of Roma language assistants and a shift in perspective to view Romani as a valuable part of children’s identity rather than a hindrance to learning.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and the Genocide

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Slovakia and the Genocide

Martina Znamenáčková, a Slovak actress, discusses her role in the series “Dunaj” and her experiences as an actress. She reflects on the tragic historical context of her character’s storyline, which relates to the Roma Genocide during the Holocaust, emphasizing the importance of remembering such events to prevent future atrocities.

Znamenáčková also addresses issues of racial stereotyping in casting and the need for sensitivity in how questions about her ethnicity are posed, while sharing her ongoing projects in theater and television.

Greece News Western Europe

Crime in Greece

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Crime in Greece

According to this article, over 70% of criminal organizations in Greece are composed of Roma, raising concerns about crime rates. Most of these organizations are involved in burglaries, highlighting the need for targeted police actions.

Authorities are urged to investigate the underlying causes of this crime and enhance prevention efforts to restore public trust.

These are basically statements without concrete proofs, stigmatising a minority in Greece.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma Settlements

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Roma Settlements

The article discusses the challenges of demolishing illegal Roma settlements in Greece due to international human rights protections that require alternative housing solutions before eviction. It raises questions about the definition of homelessness, the effectiveness of integration policies, and the potential for new settlements to emerge if current ones are not addressed properly.

Concerns are expressed about the social exclusion faced by the Roma community and the adequacy of existing relocation and integration programs in Patras.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Work in Serbia

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Work in Serbia

The event “Days of Roma Careers” was held in Bor to improve employment opportunities for Roma and Romnja, focusing on self-employment and job training. It gathered representatives from institutions, civil society organizations, and the Roma community to discuss employment support programs and challenges faced by Roma in education and the labor market.

The project aims to enhance the social status of Roma through active employment inclusion, particularly targeting unemployed youth and vulnerable groups such as Romani women and persons with disabilities.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Inclusion

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Roma Inclusion

A ceremony was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Office for the Inclusion of Roma, which has worked to improve the position of the Roma community in Vojvodina for two decades. Key achievements over the past twenty years include better integration of Roma into society, increased access to education, employment, healthcare, and improved living conditions.

Officials emphasized the importance of continued support for the Roma community through various programs aimed at education, economic empowerment, and strengthening institutional support.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and WWII Victims

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Slovenia and WWII Victims

The Slovene National Assembly has passed a law regarding the burial of victims of post-war killings. According to the article, the left continues to label as an ‘ideological law’ and a source of ‘division’. The article argues that this law is a necessary civilizational duty to address the thousands of unburied victims of communist terror, supported by archival documents.

It recounts historical atrocities committed by communists, including the execution of innocent civilians, emphasizing the need for the law’s implementation as a moral obligation.

Roma were also killed by Partisans in Slovenia. From mid-May 1942, communists partisans forcibly gathered and drove a large group of Roma from below Krim, from Vrblje and Podpeč into the gorge. At Benkov meadow, they shot everyone in a row without a shred of mercy: children, young people, old people, men and women. At that time, 43 innocent victims ended up in a common grave, which turned Iška into one large cemetery.

What the article fails to mention, is that the mayor od Ljbljana, who is not a leftist, denied the burial of these Roma victims in local cemetary for war victims … This all is part of a narrative whereby Roma were not killed by Slovenes, but by partisans only (some of which were indeed slovenes).

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

The number of articles about crime and Roma in the Greek press is horrendous. Not a day passes without 5 or more articles about crimes committed by Roma in Greece.

The show “Autopsia” ‘investigates’ crime among the Roma community, revealing the realities within their settlements. Host Antonis Sroiter interviews Roma individuals about police raids, weapons, drugs, and electricity theft. The program explores the prevalence of Roma in criminal groups and their shift from theft to phone scams, alongside personal stories and police statistics.

Basically, it portrays all Roma as criminals. Bad.

Europe

Roma Education

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Roma Education

Danijela Dimitrovska highlights that Roma communities in Europe face significant barriers in education and employment, with 36% unemployment among Roma and 56% of young Roma not engaged in education or training.

She emphasizes the need for education, vocational training, and support systems to enable equal participation in the labor market, while also addressing discrimination and racism as major obstacles. Dimitrovska calls for greater integration of Roma into society and warns that Europe cannot afford to exclude millions of young people, especially during times of labor shortages and social challenges.

While her position and statements are correct, the use of percentages is definitively not. There are no definitive population numbers for Roma in Europe. And if one doesn’t know, the population, percentages are meaningless.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czech Schools and Roma

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Czech Schools and Roma

Romani children face prejudice, bullying, and violence in schools, with nearly half of teachers admitting to having negative personal feelings towards them.

A new project by IQ Roma Servis aims to empower Romani mothers to advocate for their rights and their children’s rights through community legal advisors. It operates a center in Brno for parents and children, including a preschool club that helps children transition to kindergarten and teaches them social skills. The club aims to prevent children from feeling marginalized and encourages them to communicate any discomfort to their parents.

A new project called “Aven savore džas anglal” is training Roma mothers to advocate for their rights and those of their children, with the goal of empowering them to become legal advisors in their communities.

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much in terms of news, but a very large number of articles about a fire in a former camp of Roma that was evacuated recently. The other topic, speaks about the “calvary” of an owner whose property has been squatted by Roma.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia and Hate Speech

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Slovakia and Hate Speech

ECRI’s report praises Slovakia’s new National Framework to combat radicalization, focusing on hate speech online and support for Romani children in schools and healthcare.

Despite improvements, the report highlights ongoing issues such as hate speech against LGBTI individuals and Roma, and the need for better police resources and education for Romani children.

ECRI calls for stronger police structures to address hate crimes, better healthcare access for marginalized groups, and legal recognition of gender identity without unreasonable requirements.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Magyar and Roma

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Magyar and Roma

Under Viktor Orban, the Roma community faced severe discrimination and marginalization, but the new Prime Minister Peter Magyar is making efforts to address antiziganism and include Roma voices in politics.

A significant moment occurred during the inaugural session of the National Assembly when Roma children performed their anthem, symbolizing a shift in political representation for the Roma community.

Magyar’s government has pledged to end discrimination against Roma, improve their living conditions, and reform public works programs, but skepticism remains about the sincerity and effectiveness of these promises.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Roma Minority in Serbia

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Roma Minority in Serbia

Roma are officially the third largest minority in Serbia, yet they face significant challenges in their daily lives.

In recent decades, there has been a gradual improvement in their social standing, with efforts to move away from marginalization.

Young graphic designer Veselj Saliji exemplifies this progress through his award-winning work, showcasing the potential and talent within the Roma community.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Young Roma in Serbia

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Young Roma in Serbia

Salih Saitović, president of the Democratic Union of Roma, discussed the challenges faced by young Roma in Vranje, emphasizing the lack of equal opportunities rather than a lack of will or potential among the youth.

UNDP, World Bank, and European Commission data reveal that only 27% of young Roma aged 18-24 are engaged in education, employment, or training, compared to 58% of their non-Roma peers, with young Romnja facing even greater challenges.

Saitović calls for increased investment in education, training programs, and employment support for young Roma, stressing the importance of providing equal opportunities to prevent losing a generation of potential contributors to society.

News Eastern Europe Romania

Roma and Romanians

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Roma and Romanians

Lucian Dan Teodorovici’s novel “Pe unde înoată urechinii” explores the complex and often avoided theme of racism, particularly the problematic coexistence between ethnic Romanians and Roma in a rural community during the 1980s. The story is narrated through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy who witnesses a tragic event involving the accidental death of a Romanian child, leading to a cover-up by the local community, highlighting themes of truth, perception, and societal division. The novel presents a nuanced portrayal of childhood innocence and the harsh realities of social hierarchies, ultimately revealing the darker aspects of human nature, such as indifference and moral relativism.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Milena Hübschmanova

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Milena Hübschmanova

An article in the Slovak press about Milena Hübschmannová, born on June 10, 1933. She significantly influenced the lives of several generations of Roma, instilling pride in their identity and leaving a lasting impact on Czech and global culture.

She began working with Roma communities in the 1950s, encouraging written expression and supporting Roma literature through editing, translating, and publishing efforts.

Hübschmannová was instrumental in establishing Romani studies at Charles University in Prague, elevating the Romani language and culture to an academic discipline and fostering close relationships with Roma personalities.

Austria News Western Europe

Burgenland Roma

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Burgenland Roma

A lesser-known chapter of Burgenland’s Roma history will be discussed at an event organized by the Roma Adult Education Center in Burgenland. The event titled “Myth of the Reichsautobahn: Forced Labor and Suffering of Romnja and Roma from Burgenland” will feature writer and historian Ludwig Laher.

The event is scheduled for Friday, June 19, at 7 PM at the OHO – Open House Oberwart.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary and Roma

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Hungary and Roma

Two articles concerning Roma in Hungary.

The first one discusses the lack of Roma representation in the Hungarian government, which has disappointed the Roma community, and highlights the need for genuine inclusion in political processes. Activist Horváth Aladár emphasizes the importance of recognizing Roma as equal citizens and the potential for change under the new government led by Magyar Péter. The article also critiques the historical neglect of Roma issues in Hungary and the need for substantial reforms to improve their social and economic conditions.

In the second second one Keno Verseck questions whether the situation for Roma in Hungary will improve under the new government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who is sending a historical signal against anti-Roma sentiment. Magyar has a knack for symbolic politics, having previously highlighted Roma culture during significant political events, which resonated with the European Roma community. The new Prime Minister aims to go beyond mere gestures and is expected to take more substantial actions regarding Roma issues.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

One of the typical articles about Roma in Greek press. When they are not stealing, then, underage forced weddings are the norm…

The article says that a 16-year-old girl escaped from her 30-year-old husband in a Roma settlement in Neapolis after being forced into marriage against her will about 40 days prior.

The husband was found guilty of domestic violence and threats but acquitted of physical harm, receiving a 17-month suspended sentence. The girl testified that he physically restrained her and threatened her, while he denied any wrongdoing, claiming he loved her and did not understand her fear.

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