Tag Archives: Discrimination

Rroma Women and the Balkans

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Rroma Women and the Balkans

An article on Rroma women in the Balkans. Starts quite badly, as the picture in the headlines depicts a woman prostitute and drug addict in Serbia – we reported on this article a while ago. Then it gets worse … “The Roma identity generally refers to a traditionally nomadic ethnic group, with various linguistic dialects and many sub-groups, living mostly in Europe” Full stereotypes. 99.9% of Rroma, especially in the Balkan were always sedentary (except for their migration from India, but then what to say about Germans J). While the article is right about the discrimination, it is also wrong on the generalisation (and on the numbers). It also presents sex trafficking and exploitation as Rroma issues which it is not, it is a poverty issue. On the other hand (and not in the Balkans, it presents the sterilisation issue in the Czech Republic, and other facts that are quite correct.

The Result: LOTS OF STEREOTYPES, a few facts, and lots of generalisations.

Child Poverty in France …

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Child Poverty in France …

The French government is defending its policies on fighting children poverty at the UN in Geneva. Besides the high number of children living in poverty in that country, France was also criticised about access to schools and discrimination of migrants, especially of Rroma.

 

Another Movie …

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Another Movie …

A French Documentary movie entitled “Toto and his sisters” received the “grand prix” in the Anger Festival. It is unfortunate to say the least that it shows all stereotypes associated with Rroma without any analytical discourse: Rroma live in Ghettoes, deal with drugs, have lots of children (implied in this case), but without stating that this is not a Rroma thing, this is a poverty and social problem.

We are generally against those kind of documentaries, as they reinforce already strongly held stereotypes about us …

NOT GOOD!!!

Slovak Media, Rroma, and Refugees

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Slovak Media, Rroma, and Refugees

A Study conducted on Slovak Media by the Media Academy in Bratislava and a Rroma organisation – Romano Kher – shows that the Slovak Media have a strong bias in their presentation of Rroma and Refugees. Negative stereotypes prevail in both cases.

Unfortunately not surprising.

New Arab Magazine in Germany

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New Arab Magazine in Germany

Abwab – the Doors in Arabic – is a new magazine in Germany aimed at its Arabic migrant population. In one article, they mention racism, especially also against Rroma, and explain the German sensitivities on this topic due to their Nazi past.

Unfortunately, it does not address the fact that many of those new migrants share biased views against Rroma too, even when these are Moslems.

Rroma Baby Dies in a Fire in Greece

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Rroma Baby Dies in a Fire in Greece

A Rroma baby died in a fire in a camp in central Greece. While we regret this death, the reporting and the lack of background on the subject further the standard stereotypes – all Rroma are poor, live in camps, etc…

Education in Serbia

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Education in Serbia

Some interesting numbers in Serbia and on education. The census counted 147’000 Rroma in Serbia, or rather, 147’000 people declared themselves or were rated as such in the survey. This represents 2.1% of the population in Serbia. Generally, one counts that there are about 10% of Rroma in that country. A bit more.

The ones who were registered have a bleak future with very low education (only one in a thousand will make it to university).

Bleak but not the full picture.

Workshop in Greven (Germany) with Rroma Youth

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Workshop in Greven (Germany) with Rroma Youth

A workshop in Greven, Germany focused on the integration of young Rroma in society. While the aim is definitively to be praised, the suggestions, an orchestra, fall again in the stereotypes. Pity …

Turkish Rrom MP: Discrimination is Ripe

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Turkish Rrom MP: Discrimination is Ripe

Özcan Purçu, the first Rroma Member of Parliament in Turkey, stated that entire segments of the population are being marginalised in Turkey nowadays due to the polarisation seen under Erdogan. This is bad for Rroma, as racism is already common against them in Turkey.

More Crime … Geneva

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More Crime … Geneva

A sordid story of a mal prostitute from Romania and his client and violence. The prostitute slit the throat of the client in whose flat he was living, killed the dogs and torched the flat.

OK, it is crime. What is the relevance here of the fact that the two criminals were Rroma? Does it add anything or does it just strengthen stereotypes?

No Racism???

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No Racism???

Not acceptable. Gilles Bourdouleix’ condemnation for racism for having said that “Hitler probably did not kill enough of them” has been slashed. The reasoning from the judges is quite special: He did not intend these words to be made public… But he told them, so he is certainly racist.

SHAME AND PROTEST!!!!

Germany Expulsions: a Rroma View

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Germany Expulsions: a Rroma View

An interview of Kenan Emini, president of the Roma anti-discrimination Network Göttigen on the forced repatriation of Rroma to so-called sagfe countries such as Kosovo.

Italian Rroma Camps

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Italian Rroma Camps

An article on a Study of the Italian Association “July 21” on what it means living in camps for Rroma in Italy. In that country, these camps are institutionalised and the police, the authorities and NGOs all maintain this status quo.

A MUST READ!

Valeurs Actuelles: Verdict Confirmed!

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Valeurs Actuelles: Verdict Confirmed!

The French magazine Valeurs Actuelles and its redactor in chief, Yves de Kerdrel, have been condemned in appeal to a fine of 2’000 Euro for “incitation to racial hatred” and racism following their editiorial “ “Roma – the overdose”.

Well done!

Geneva Police in Romania

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Geneva Police in Romania

The Geneva police went to investigate a case of human trafficking – a man accused to have sold his invalid son to go and beg in Geneva. As usual, stereotypes prevail. No one has so far proven that there are criminal clans engaged in begging. There are families who live from that, but this is about it. And it is not a business – not for 20 CHF per day.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Clearly, with the events in France, the “Rroma Problem” somehow faded in the background. Interestingly enough, the Rroma yes, the “Gens du Voyage” [Travellers], not. So here’s a short overview of the general news: In La Courneuve, where Rroma were expelled from their camp, expelled Rroma organised a dinner for the victims of the attacks in Paris; an article about the scholarisation of Rroma children; in Lyon, a demonstration for migrants was annulled following the attacks; in the north, Rroma have problems to get their skills recognised; Rroma are still squatting; in another place, the illegal camps are resolved – allegedly; in Beziers, in the South, an association against Racism is being asked to vacate their offices; in the West, in la Rochelle, health is more important than money, thanks God; some people are thinking about the causes for the attack; and finally, festivals and music in various place in France on Rroma.

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