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Hungary: Monument criticized by Jewish community starts construction

Budapest, 9.4.2014 21:11, (ROMEA) In Budapest the construction of a monument marking the 70th anniversary of the German occupation of Hungary has begun despite strong criticism of it by the Hungarian Jewish community. The MTI press agency reports that the Hungarian Government announced the start of construction today.  full story

Commentary: "Fear and Loathing" in the Dawn of Direct Democracy party

Prague, 9.4.2014 20:28, (ROMEA) Czech author Bohumil Hrabal once wrote of his friend Vladimír Boudník that he was renewing the myth of Dionysius (the drunken beauty who is the source of all creative action) and the myth of Antaeus (the hero who was only strong as long as he remained in contact with the earth). Czech MP Tomio Okamura is now reviving a few myths of his own as well.  full story

Jewish organizations fear rise of anti-Semitism in the EU during elections

Berlin, 9.4.2014 19:09, (ROMEA) The eventual success of right-wing extremist parties in the EP elections could lead to a strengthening of anti-Semitic rhetoric in Europe and could contribute to increased attacks against Jewish people. Rabbi Andrew Baker, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism, warned of such a possibility on Monday.  full story

Czech Gov't report: More than 41 000 people consider Romanes their mother tongue

Prague, 9.4.2014 18:40, (ROMEA) More than 41 000 people in the Czech Republic consider Romanes their mother tongue. Four-fifths of them also consider Czech their mother tongue as well.  full story

Council of Europe: Most Romani people in Europe suffer from poverty and segregation

Strasbourg, France, 9.4.2014 0:35, (ROMEA) Most of the 10 million Romani people living in Europe continue to suffer from overwhelming poverty and segregation. Despite European programs to support the integration of Romani people into society, the situation is improving only slowly.  full story

George Soros: Three Ways to Build Upon Roma Progress

Brussels, 9.4.2014 0:30, (ROMEA) Some years ago, I visited a village in Romania, and saw the seeds of a crisis at hand. The area was home to the Roma, an ethnic minority of 10 to 12 million people scattered across Europe who face discrimination and persecution on a daily basis. In this village, the Roma were scavenging on a garbage dump. Without help, I realized, sons would join their fathers on the dump; daughters could only hope to be married off. There was no clear way to escape their fate.  full story

Czech Republic: Romani activist says excluded localities aren't just about welfare

Karviná, 9.4.2014 0:01, (ROMEA) They may be poor, but their culture is rich. That's how Milan Horváth, General Director of the Excluded Locality Center (Centrum pro vyloučenou lokalitu) describes the group of people who have come together in the New Town neighborhood of the Czech town of Karviná.  full story

Improving the Rights of Roma in Italy

Rome, 8.4.2014 23:26, (ROMEA) April 8 is International Roma Day, a moment when Europe can recognize one of its largest—at 12 million members—and most marginalized groups.  full story

Joint press statement: International Roma Day: Strong call for solidarity ahead of European elections

Brussels, 8.4.2014 23:20, (ROMEA) Roma across Europe continue to be the victims of racist attacks, widespread discrimination and hate speech. Today, on International Roma Day, anti-racist organisations are seriously concerned about the prevalence of anti-Gypsyism, and pledge to join forces to curb racism and hate speech ahead of the European elections.  full story

Germany: Second in command of ultra-right party resigns

Berlin, 8.4.2014 21:52, (ROMEA) The second in command of Germany's largest ultra-right party, the NPD, has resigned after being criticized for participating in a social event featuring a penis-shaped cake and a former porn actress. Peter Marx said Sunday he was resigning from his post as the party's Secretary-General, officially over the "public debate about his person".  full story

Miroslav Kováč: International Romani Day is a day for Roma to present themselves

Prague, 8.4.2014 20:42, (ROMEA) There is no doubt that Romani people are one of the largest minorities in the world. Their numbers in Europe are estimated at more than 12 million.  full story

Czech Human Rights Minister on Int'l Romani Day: Let's address the situation seriously

Prague, 8.4.2014 19:49, (ROMEA) Czech Minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation Jiří Dientsbier has issued a press release on the occasion of International Romani Day. News server Romea.cz publishes it in full translation here.  full story

David Beňák: Roma Summit showed places in Europe where things work

Brussels, 8.4.2014 18:57, (ROMEA) The EU Roma Summit in Brussels on 4 April brought together representatives of the European Commission, governments, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and Romani people themselves, some of whom had the opportunity of presenting on the day's panels. The summit was addressed by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Vice President Viviane Reding, Commissioner László Andor and Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, demonstrating that some EU politicians are aware this topic exists and is of importance.  full story

Roma in Europe: Demanding justice and protection in the face of violence

EU, 8.4.2014 9:37, (ROMEA) European states are failing to curb and in some cases even fuelling discrimination, intimidation and violence against Roma, Amnesty International said on International Roma Day on 8 April.  full story

Romani people worldwide celebrate International Romani Day

Prague/Planet Earth, 8.4.2014 7:12, (ROMEA) International Romani Day is celebrated annually on 8 April. On this day, Romani people commemorate the historic first-ever global congress of the International Romani Union which was held near London in 1979 at the initiative of Donald Kenrick and Grattan Puxon of Great Britain, Jarko Jovanović of the former Yugoslavia, Mateo Maximoff representing the Manouche of France, and other Romani representatives and scholars of Romani studies.  full story

Czech Republic: International Romani Day celebrated 8 April

Czech Republic, 8.4.2014 6:44, (ROMEA) International Romani Day is celebrated annually on 8 April. On this day, Romani people commemorate the historic first-ever global congress of the International Romani Union which was held near London in 1979 at the initiative of Donald Kenrick and Grattan Puxon of Great Britain, Jarko Jovanović of the former Yugoslavia, Mateo Maximoff representing the Manouche of France, and other Romani representatives and scholars of Romani studies.  full story

videoNorman L. Eisen, US Ambassador to the Czech Republic: Bachtalo tumaro Maškarthemutno Romano džives! Happy International Day of Roma!

Prague, 8.4.2014 4:00, (ROMEA) Good morning and Happy International Day of Roma! Lačho džives u bachtalo tumaro Maškarthemutno Romano džives!  full story

Czech EdMin against educating Romani children separately in Romanes

Prague, 7.4.2014 23:54, (ROMEA) The Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MŠMT) has responded to proposals made by the TOP 09 party, specifically, by Czech MP Anna Putnová, about the education of Romani children and has fundamentally rejected them. Czech Education Minister Marcel Chládek said the notion of instructing Romani children in both Czech and Romanes or placing them in segregated classes was counterproductive and ill-conceived.  full story

Draft Czech intelligence report: Anti-Roma campaign of 2013 was a significant ultra-right action

Prague, 7.4.2014 23:23, (ROMEA) Czech news weekly TÝDEN.cz reports that during the year 2013, extremists in the Czech Republic organized 272 events, 132 of which were organized by right-wing extremists and 140 of which were organized by left-wing extremists. The number of extremism-related crimes rose slightly to 217 cases, while two persons were given prison sentences without the possibility of parole for racially-motivated crimes, 62 were put on probation, and four persons were sentenced to performing community service work.  full story

Hungary: Jobbik's right-wing extremists place third in parliamentary elections

7.4.2014 20:56, (ROMEA) The Hungarian parliamentary elections have been won as expected by the governing conservative Hungarian Civic Union (Fidesz) party. With almost 90 % of the ballots counted, the coalition of Christian Democrats and Fidesz should once again win the two-thirds majority required by the constitution.  full story