News

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

Czech Culture Minister to pay respects to Romani Holocaust victims at Museum of Romani Culture

Brno, 6.3.2014 20:03, (ROMEA) On Friday 7 March 2014 the Museum of Romani Culture will hold its traditional Commemorative Gathering to honor the memory of the victims of the Romani Holocaust. The event will take place at 14:00 in the fourth hall of the museum's permanent exhibition and will feature a speech by Czech Culture Minister Daniel Herman.  full story

Czech hooligans and neo-Nazis went to Kiev to fight

Kiev/Prague, 6.3.2014 19:40, (ROMEA) News server Novinky.cz reports that two football hooligans who are fans of Slavia Prague left the Czech Republic at the end of February heading for the center of anti-government unrest in the capital of Ukraine. They joined the neo-Nazi "Right Sector" movement in Kiev, which espouses the legacy of Stepan Bandera, a radical 20th-century fighter for Ukrainian independence.  full story

Czech town files criminal report over rumors that thousands of Roma are moving in

Kladno, 6.3.2014 19:08, (ROMEA) The town of Kladno has filed a report of criminal activity by an unidentified perpetrator over the alleged dissemination of rumors that Romani people will be moving into several neighborhoods there. The town leadership is of the opinion that someone is intentionally spreading untrue information about the planned move of thousands of so-called "inadaptables" to the town.  full story

Czech human rights record poor on minorities

Prague, 5.3.2014 20:34, (ROMEA) As news server Romea.cz reported last week, the annual human rights report by the US State Department says societal discrimination and violence against Romani people were a serious problem in the Czech Republic last year. Below is the section of the report entitled "National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities":  full story

Russia issues international arrest warrant for leader of Ukraine's "Right Sector"

Prague, 5.3.2014 18:43, (ROMEA) Russia has issued an international arrest warrant for the leader of the Ukrainian ultra-nationalist Right Sector movement, Dmytro Yarosh. Russian press agencies quoted a representative of Russia's Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, as announcing the news.  full story

Brian Foster: Early care should focus not only on children but also their parents

Praha, 5.3.2014 16:29, (ROMEA) Brian Foster has a long experience of working with vulnerable and underachieving groups, particularly Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families and community organisations, schools and local authorities. He has worked in the UK, Czech Republic, Romania and Lithuania on projects to promote the inclusion, achievement and opportunities of children and young people from these communities. He has contributed to a number of publications, including “Mainstreaming Traveller Education: the Litmus Test” (with Anne Walker - 2010). He was also part of the research team that undertook the major study “Improving Outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils” for the UK Department of Education and has contributed to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Achievement Programme resources. He is an accomplished trainer, and has developed innovative systems for monitoring and tracking mobile pupils. Most recently he has coordinated the work of seven Traveller Education Services in London. He is a trustee of the Irish Travellers Movement in Britain and chair of the Advisory Committee on the Education of Romanies and other Travellers.  full story

ERTF: Czech Republic failing Roma under the European Social Charter

Strasbourg, France, 5.3.2014 13:38, (ROMEA) The European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) announced today that it has filed a collective complaint against the Czech Republic with the European Committee of Social Rights, which is responsible for ensuring that States comply with the provisions of the European Social Charter.  full story

Czech Gov't plans social housing law, redress for victims of illegal sterilizations

Prague, 3.3.2014 21:06, (ROMEA) Social housing should begin to function in the Czech Republic as of 2017. The law regulating it should take effect by the end of 2016, according to the Government's preliminary plans.  full story