World

videoUkraine: Pro-Russian separatists want to "purge" Slavyansk of "Gypsies"

Slavyansk, Ukraine, 28.4.2014 19:28, (ROMEA) Another attack on local Romani people took place on 22 April in the Ukrainian town of Slavyansk, which is currently being ruled by pro-Russian separatists. German news server Die Welt quotes one of the separatists as saying the pro-Russian forces want to purge the town of "gypsies".  full story

Ukraine: Neo-Nazis from Right Sector form Donbas battalion to handle pro-Russian separatists

Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, 26.4.2014 1:02, (ROMEA) Dmytro Yarosh, the leader of Ukraine's neo-Nazis, is organizing a "special Donbas battalion" in eastern Ukraine to take care of public order and confront the activities of pro-Russian separatists. Yarosh announced the news in Dnipropetrovsk on 24 April.  full story

videoPro-Russian radicals target Roma for assault in eastern Ukraine

Slavyansk, Ukraine, 19.4.2014 20:25, (ROMEA) News server Novosti Donbasu reports that pro-Russian radicals in eastern Ukraine have assaulted several Romani families in Slavyansk, allegedly for racial reasons. Armed pro-Russian separatists broke into their apartments, where they attacked and robbed them.  full story

International Renaissance Foundation: Stop Ethnic Violance in Slovyansk!

Slovyansk, 19.4.2014 16:46, (ROMEA) In Slovyansk, the Eastern Ukraine, separatists began riots targeted at Roma residing in the city. The armed separatists burst into houses inhabited by Roma, beaten and robbed them regardless of gender or age, UNIAN reports. According to this report, they have beaten even women and children. Separatists said that they operate under the direct order of their "people's mayor Vyacheslav Ponomarev". The armed men loaded the property of Roma families in the truck, eyewitnesses say.  full story

Is Equally Entertaining Enough? Diversity on American Television

Prague, 11.4.2014 0:03, (ROMANO VOĎI) American TV embodies social norms while diverting viewers with situations that are amusing, terrifying, or both. The representation of ethnic and sexual identities on TV has been and continues to be a double-edged sword in American cultural life. The periodic inclusions of actors of color, gay characters, or women in positions of authority on TV are perennially discussed as “milestones”, celebrated by some, derided by others.  full story

videoUkrainian Roma: We are against separatist tendencies and for a Europe-oriented, united Ukraine

Uzhhorod, Ukraine, 10.4.2014 23:44, (ROMEA) On the occasion of International Romani Day on 8 April, the leaders of Romani groups from Chop, Perechin, Svaliava, Uzhgorod and Vinohradiv met with guests, journalists and representatives of the regional administration at the Transcarpathian National Minorities Cultural Center. In a joint declaration, the Transcarpathian Romani organizations stated their opposition to manifestations of discrimination and separatist tendencies, expressing their fears of an imminent military invasion.  full story

On International Roma Day, OSCE/ODIHR Director calls for greater efforts to improve co-operation between police and Roma communities

Warsaw, 9.4.2014 23:26, (ROMEA) Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called today for greater efforts to improve relations and co-operation between police forces and Roma communities. On the occasion of International Roma Day, he further called on law-enforcement authorities to ensure effective police responses to violence against Roma and Sinti people in the OSCE area.  full story

Secretary of State John Kerry on International Roma Day 2014

Washington, 8.4.2014 23:18, (ROMEA) Today of all days, all the American people are particularly thinking of the Roma around the world. We celebrate the rich Romani culture and contributions to our societies in Europe, the United States, and beyond. We also renew our commitment to remove the obstacles that keep millions of Roma on the margins of society and prevent them from realizing their full potential.  full story

International Roma Day: UN expert urges full inclusion of Roma in decision-making in Europe

Geneva, 8.4.2014 22:56, (ROMEA) On International Roma Day, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák, calls on all European States and institutions to fully include Roma people in the decision-making process in Europe at all levels.  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

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

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

Enough is enough: Time to break the circle of Roma health exclusion across Europe

Brussels, 5.4.2014 1:07, (ROMEA) The need for better policies and funding for Roma inclusion, with an emphasis on local integration in Eastern Europe, is the focus of the Third Roma Summit – a landmark event organised today by the European Commission in Brussels.  full story

videoThird EU Roma Summit takes place in Brussels

Brussels, 4.4.2014 20:08, (ROMEA) Progress on Romani minority integration was the main topic of the European Roma Summit today in Brussels. In addition to discussing the situation of Romani integration in the EU Member States, the 500 delegates also focused on the question of financing for integration measures.  full story

Viviane Reding: Roma Integration - From polemics to small miracles

Brussels, 4.4.2014 14:34, (ROMEA) I remember very well: 8 April 2010, in Córdoba, Spain. A Ministerial meeting on Roma – without Ministers. Exactly four years later, I stand here with the President of the European Commission, the President of Romania (Traian Băsescu), the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria (Zinaida Zlatanova) and Ministers, mayors and State secretaries from many other EU and non-EU countries.  full story

ERRC: On the Eve of the EU Roma Summit, Respect for the Human Rights of Roma is an Unfulfilled Promise

Budapest, 4.4.2014 14:05, (ROMEA) Member States of the European Union and candidate countries are meeting today in Brussels, just before International Roma Day on 8 April, to assess progress in addressing the problem of Roma exclusion in Europe. Unfortunately, the commitment to combatting discrimination and human rights abuses against Roma remains largely no more than a promise, despite the creation of an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and the Decade of Roma Inclusion. Throughout the EU and the countries aspiring to join the EU, Roma face significant rights abuses with an inadequate state response. A few examples illustrate the persistence of some of the most egregious abuses in EU Member States and candidate countries, relating to segregation, violence against Roma, and forced evictions leading to homelessness.  full story

Roma integration: EU Framework triggers first results

Brussels, 4.4.2014 13:41, (ROMEA) Concerted action by the European Commission has put Roma integration firmly on the political agenda across Europe. The first signs of improvement in the lives of Roma are slowly starting to show, says a new report unveiled today on Member States' progress achieved under the EU Framework for national Roma strategies.  full story

videoSpeech by President Barroso at the European Roma Summit

BRUSSELS, 4.4.2014 11:00, (ROMEA) Six years ago, at the time of the first Roma Summit, I spoke about Roma inclusion for the first time at European level.  full story