Tag Archives: Travellers

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Four associations have filed a complaint against an “illegal ethnic file” maintained by the gendarmerie regarding Roma and travelers. The existence of such files has always been denied by the French government.

Other news are moreof the usual. Gendarmes  arrested Roma stealing car loading cables; a contestation ongoing for the elections in a commune near Nantes, and a French politicia stating that we’d have all the means to integrate these Roma (after all they have been there for more than 20 years, and there are not more than 30’000 of them).

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

The canton of Lucerne is reinitiating the search for stopping places for travelers, with the Social Democrats (SP) and Greens seeking clarity on Ebikon’s role in this process.

A report indicates that there are still dozens of missing stopping places in Lucerne, despite the obligation to provide adequate facilities for travelers such as Jenische, Sinti, and Roma.

The previous attempt to establish new sites was unsuccessful due to strong opposition from local municipalities, prompting a new cooperative dialogue approach to find a socially acceptable solution.

Austria News Western Europe

Braunau …

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Braunau …

Braunau am Inn celebrates the 25th anniversary of the RoSi-Rastplatz, a unique project supporting Roma and Sinti travelers, recognized for promoting integration and tolerance.

The anniversary features two cultural events: a film screening of “Black Cat, White Cat” and a reading by author Karl-Markus Gauß, highlighting minority cultures.

The RoSi-Rastplatz has received multiple awards for its contributions to civil courage and human rights, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

The Canton of Baselland plans to take more responsibility for providing spaces for travellers, specifically the Jenischen and Sinti, to alleviate the burden on municipalities.

A proposed law revision aims to improve the availability of designated sites for these communities, as current provisions have been deemed insufficient.

The Canton will coordinate with municipalities to establish these sites and will also assume responsibility for their maintenance and operation, with additional costs covered within the existing budget.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

A group of Roma travelers from France has set up camp with 60 caravans on a city-owned field in Oberwinterthur, Switzerland.

They were previously forced to vacate another site in Stadel due to the presence of a high-voltage power line. The situation highlights ongoing issues regarding the accommodation of traveling communities in urban areas.

Austria News Western Europe

Travellers and Religion

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Travellers and Religion

Over 200 caravans are gathered in Ried im Innkreis, Austria, for a summer holiday organized by the free Christian church association Jeschua, attracting travelers from various German states.

The two-week event, themed “Traveling with God,” includes daily worship services in a large tent church, fostering a sense of community among participants, many of whom have roots in Austria or Germany.

Pastor Karl Schmidt highlights the challenges of discrimination faced by the Sinti and Roma communities, while emphasizing the importance of understanding individual groups rather than generalizing based on negative stereotypes.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

For lack of camping sites, Travelling Roma from outisde Switzerland try to find spaces where they can stay. They are not really “foreign” as most of them have family ties in Switzerland. Here, a farmer rented a field for 10’000 Swiss Francs until end of September, and he says he was told, this would be for hot air baloon launches. Well, now there are several caravans, and he is getting threatened bu locals.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

The municipality of Wädenswil in the canton of Zurich has opened a stopping place for Jenische and Sinti travelers, following renovations costing nearly half a million Swiss Francs.

Despite this new facility, there remains a significant shortage of stopping places for travelers in the Zurich region. The ongoing need for more designated areas for traveling communities highlights the challenges faced in accommodating their needs.

What also needs to be said, is that these places are limited to Swiss travellers. Sinti and Roma from outside Switzerlands are not welcome!

News Switzerland

Travellers

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Travellers

In Graubünden, there is a shortage of designated parking spaces for the Jenische and Sinti communities, despite legal obligations for authorities to provide them. The lack of spaces is exacerbated by prejudices against these groups, which hinders the establishment of necessary facilities.

The article highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the traveling communities in securing adequate accommodations in the region.

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

A group of travelers from France camped illegally in a protected area in Switzerland, highlighting the ongoing issue of finding suitable stopping places for travelers in the region.

Currently, there are only two designated temporary stopping places in the Rheintal area, both with strict limitations on duration and prior approval required.

Despite a legal obligation established in 2003 for adequate stopping places, progress has been slow, with only 40% of the needed sites realized, and ongoing resistance from local communities complicating new developments.

Switzerland lacks nearly 80 designated stopping and transit sites for Jenische and Sinti communities, particularly in the western regions. Although ten new sites have been created since 2021, the demand for additional spaces remains high, with calls for more political will from local governments.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

The report from the foundation “Future for Swiss Travelers” indicates a slight improvement in the availability of stopping places for travelers in Switzerland over the past five years, but significant needs remain.

The traveling lifestyle is a key part of the identity of Jenische,  and of some Sinti, and Roma communities, who require designated stopping and transit areas for their way of life.

While some regions, like Schaffhausen, serve as positive examples, many politicians are still reluctant to support the establishment of more stopping places, despite the acknowledgment of historical injustices against these communities.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

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Austria and Roma

Following the statement from the police regarding travelling Roma in Austria’s Burgenland, which contained a wealth of sterotypes, there was an outcry in the press and among the Roma from the country.

This article is a reportage within this group of mostly french pentacostal Roma and comments by Roma activists. Worth reading!

Germany News Western Europe

Criminal Charges

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Criminal Charges

The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma intends to file criminal charges against the municipality of Teistungen in the Eichsfeld district. This was confirmed to this newsroom by the Council’s chairman, Romani Rose. The reason given was “deeply abhorrent and inhumane” statements in the municipality’s app.

Following an uproar surrounding a caravan camp in Ferna (Eichsfeld district), the municipality local app referred to “Gypsies” who were to be “gotten rid of.”

News Switzerland

Travellers in Switzerland

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Travellers in Switzerland

Camping space for Yenish, Sinti, and Roma in Graubünden is becoming increasingly scarce. A regional event sparked a heated discussion about their needs, rights, and respect.

It doesn’t help that some spots are reserved for “Swiss Travellers”, and not for Roma.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Roma Travellers

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Switzerland and Roma Travellers

A reportage in Swiss television on Roma Travellers and how they are delt with. Recently, the police in the canton of Valais stopped many caravans and blocked a highway to stop them and turn them around.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Poland: Exhibition

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Poland: Exhibition

The North Mazovian Museum in Łomża is opening the exhibition “The Great Wagon: A Wanderer’s Belonging. A Roma Caravan Stopping Near Łomża,” on September 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Łomża Cultural Centre.

The exhibition explores belonging – one of the most important and challenging issues in the contemporary world. In an era of migration, displacement, and integration challenges, questions about identity, diversity, and acceptance of otherness are becoming crucial to our shared lives.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Birmingham and Travellers

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Birmingham and Travellers

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…

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