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Commentary: The mythical "decent gypsies" of the Czech Republic

Prague, 14.3.2014 17:39, (ROMEA) Everyone who isn't a racist knows a few decent gypsies - at least, that's what I read in internet discussions and that's what I hear from friends and strangers alike: "I'm not a racist, I even know a couple of decent gypsies..." I hear and read this so often that it has led me to reflect on who this mythical "couple of gypsies" really are, these people who are mentioned by anyone and everyone who is just about to pronounce some more racist nonsense.  full story

Commentary: Czech media exaggerate significance of crimes involving Roma

Prague, 14.3.2014 2:58, (ROMEA) Hundreds of serious violent crimes, including murders, are committed annually in the Czech Republic, but during the past few months no other case has received as much media coverage as that of a nighttime conflict between several drunken citizens in the small northern town of Duchcov. Everyone involved in the incident, including the state prosecutor, agrees that the conflict resulted not just in grave physical harm but, as both the state prosecutor and the attorney for the victims agree, it resulted in grave psychological harm to one of the victims, who has been prevented from returning to normal life for some time now.  full story

Analysis: If the Czech state buys residential hotels, only the traffickers in poverty will win

Prague, 13.3.2014 22:10, (ROMEA) Deputy Ombud Stanislav Křeček believes that the Czech state should start running residential hotels because they represent an immoral business that no one else can fix. That sounds logical, overall - we do have this problem here, and the state should see to its solution  full story

European Court pressuring Czech Govt to compensate Romani women sterilized without their consent

Prague, 13.3.2014 21:10, (ROMEA) The Czech daily Právo reports that five years ago, the Fischer cabinet expressed regret on behalf of the Czech Government for what has happened to women who have been sterilized without their consent, but the women do not consider that sort of moral satisfaction sufficient and are asking for financial compensation as well. Those who have not succeeded in the Czech courts have turned to the European Court for Human Rights.  full story

Commentary: Czech tabloids spark antigypsyism online and off

Česká Lípa, 12.3.2014 19:48, (ROMEA) "A good gypsy = No gypsy. Or ZYKLON B" writes Facebook user Jiří Buldok Hrubý.  full story

Ukraine: Neo-Nazi leader Yarosh tones down rhetoric ahead of elections

Kiev, 12.3.2014 18:07, (ROMEA) The leader of Ukraine's neo-Nazis, Dmytro Yarosh, is planning to run for president during the May elections. Ukrainian National News (UNN) reported the announcement last week.  full story

videoRomani activists discuss the Ukraine crisis

Kiev/Crimea, 12.3.2014 17:12, (ROMEA) On Monday, March 10, Roma Radio Patrin and Terraforming broadcast live Skype interviews with Romani activists discussing their perspectives on the current crisis in Ukraine. The interviews marked the first time that Roma Radio Patrin has also broadcast a video feed of its online radio program.  full story

Czech Human Rights Minister to push for right to nursery school, social housing

Prague, 11.3.2014 18:18, (ROMEA) Czech Minister for Human Rights and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier (Czech Social Democratic Party - ČSSD) wants to push for the right to social housing, equal access to education, increased powers for the ombud, and every child's right to a place in daycare or preschool. He also wants to concentrate on the fight against poverty and changing the rules governing collections procedures.  full story

Czech petition protests Romani people near mall in Hradec Králové

Hradec Králové, 11.3.2014 17:26, (ROMEA) Some citizens of the Czech town of Hradec Králové are reportedly bothered by the presence of Romani people near the Atrium mall. The manager of the shopping center was the first to send a letter to the town hall asking them to do something about it.  full story

European Centre for Roma Music producing "Gypsy Rhapsody"

Prague, 10.3.2014 21:45, (ROMEA) On 24 March, the European Centre for Roma Music (ECRM) and the New Stage (Nová scéna) of the National Theater in Prague will premiere a dance and music performance entitled "Gypsy Rhapsody" (Cikánská rapsodie) inspired by Czech author Bohumil Hrabal. The piece was created in honor of what would have been the late author's 100th birthday.  full story

Czech Deputy Ombud says state should run residential hotels for the needy

Prague, 10.3.2014 20:48, (ROMEA) Deputy Ombud Stanislav Křeček believes the residential hotels in which the needy are now ending up throughout the Czech Republic should be run by the state. The facilities should be taken away from private individual owners and should be run as nonprofits offering acceptable housing.  full story

France: Mayoral candidate for 6th arrondissement of Paris would "concentrate" Gypsies in "camps"

Paris, France, 10.3.2014 20:07, (ROMEA) Paul-Marie Coûteaux, a candidate for the fringe CIEL party (which stands for "Sovereignty, Independence and Freedom") linked to the anti-EU and anti-immigrant National Front (FN) party, has compared the presence of Romani people in Paris to an "invasion of lepers" undermining the city's "aesthetic order". In a blog posting dated 19 February, Coûteaux wrote: "What can the interior minister do other than concentrate these foreign populations into camps where they would no doubt feel that life there is so far removed from their traveling lifestyle that they would rather leave such an inhospitable country."  full story

EP elections 2014: Seven demands from the European Network Against Racism

EU, 10.3.2014 19:23, (ROMEA) The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is an EU-wide network of NGOs from all EU Member States plus Iceland. The group works to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and promotes equality of treatment between European Union citizens and third country nationals.  full story

Czech court postpones announcing verdict in case that sparked 2013 anti-Roma unrest

Ústí nad Labem, 10.3.2014 18:10, (ROMEA) Today the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem postponed until 19 March its proclamation of the verdict in the case of last year's brutal assault on a married couple in Duchcov (Teplice district). Presiding Judge Jana Kurešová informed the press that the court wants to review additional evidence.  full story

Romani Women’s Day: We Are Not A Problem, But An Opportunity!

Budapest, 8.3.2014 21:26, (ROMEA) This year, to coincide with the 8th of March International Women’s Day, Romedia Foundation launched a call to action to Roma Women Organizations from all over Europe. The initiative, devised under the auspices of UNESCO’s Global Alliance on Gender and Media, following Romedia’s participation at the The First Global Forum on Media and Gender in Bangkok, 2013, intends to draw attention to the need for a global means, including media partnerships, promoting a fair and equal media representation of Romani women in the media, contributing to an increased visibility of one of the most vulnerable minority groups in Europe.  full story

Appeal by the International Charitable Foundation “Roma Women’s Fund “Chirikli” and Roma Council of Ukraine

Kiev, 8.3.2014 19:28, (ROMEA) We, representatives of the Roma community appeal to the politicians, armed forces, and to all those, who have influence on the future of our country.  full story

Roma in Ukraine call for calm: UN day march pledges support

London/Kiev, 8.3.2014 19:22, (ROMEA) When Roma migrants head a march up Whitehall shortly to mark UN Anti-Racism Day they will carry a banner calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine.  full story

videoPress TV: French politician makes anti-Roma remark

Paris, 8.3.2014 19:07, (ROMEA) A far-right politician in France has made a verbal attack against Roma community, saying they should be “concentrated” in “camps,” Press TV reports.  full story

Germany prosecuting suspected Auschwitz guards

Berlin, Germany, 7.3.2014 21:04, (ROMEA) Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reports today that three men suspected of being former SS guards at the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz were arrested by German Police last month. The men, aged 88, 92 and 94, are now being prosecuted but will not be remanded into custody for health reasons.  full story

Riga permits march to honor SS veterans, counter-protest planned

Riga, Latvia, 7.3.2014 20:21, (ROMEA) Today the Latvian capital, Riga, once again permitted the convening of what has become a traditional march to celebrate the Latvian veterans of an armed SS unit (the Waffen-SS). The march takes place annually on 16 March, which was once briefly officially known as "Legion Day" in Latvia.  full story