Tag Archives: Travellers

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…

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

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…

France News Western Europe

France and Travellers

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France and Travellers

In the Vosges Mountains, Travelers have set up camp with around 400 caravans on agricultural meadows. After years without major problems, the situation escalated this time as both sides sought an agreement – apparently failing due to a lack of consent from the farmers. The farmers took drastic measures to evict the unwelcome guests: they sprayed manure.

Bad.

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

The usual French things. First, an “explanation” of the French confusion between Roma, Tsiganes, Manouches, and Gitans. Well, the explanation is worthless. In Strasbourg, they are trying to integrate Roma, lodging them in better housing and making sure the children are educated. Finally, one large Roma camp in Toulouse, in the South of France will be closed. Of course, without any planned relocation.

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

An article about the police action in the French speaking cantons of Switzerland that attempts to prevent Roma travellers from coming to Switzerland. The Police in Valais even illegally blocked a highway to prevent Roma from passing. They issue fines, but also summons.

This is clearly racist.

News Switzerland

French Roma in Neuchatel

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French Roma in Neuchatel

Another story, this time in the canton of Neuchatel, where Roma  tried to rent a camping site and after an initial accord, were told there was no longer a vacancy.

In brief, Switzerland doesn’t want Roma travellers…

News Switzerland

Police in Valais

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Police in Valais

The head of the police force in the Canton Valais has been defending his decision to stop the ca. 40 caravans of French Roma on a highway on April 15th.

In an interview published Saturday in “Le Nouvelliste”, Christian Varone, commander of the Valais cantonal police, spoke at length about the blocking of caravans on Tuesday, April 15, on the highway in Saint-Maurice, disrupting traffic between Vaud and Valais for more than seven hours in the region.

HeE said: “There’s zero tolerance for situations where public order is not respected.”

The problem is precisely determining the extent to which these Roma failed to respect public order while traveling to Gampel, where they had duly rented a private campsite. They had paid some 15,000 francs in advance for the rental. They were driving peacefully along the highway with their wives and children before encountering the Valais sheriff and his deputies.

The Police commander said that the Roma themselves to the owner of this land as Swiss Jenishe when they were actually Roma of French nationality. Upon learning of this, the lessor considered it a fraud and cancelled the agreement.” He communicated his decision to us orally, then in writing a few days later.

News Switzerland

Jenische and Roma

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Jenische and Roma

Following the illegal action of the police in the Canton of Valais, stopping caravans of Roma, an article that totally missed the point. It says that Jenische object being thrown in the same bag as Roma travellers and misses the fact that the real issue is the lack of camping site.

We are not speaking of a large issue: There are maybe 3’000 YEnische travellers, and the same number of Roma who come over the summer…

News Switzerland

Switzerland and Travellers

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Switzerland and Travellers

Another article in the Swiss press about 200 policemen stopping 42 caravans and ca. 150 French Roma on a highway, forcing them to turn back, this in spite of not having done anything illegal.

The police de facto blocked the highway for 7 hours!

Shame.

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