admin

(English) In September 2010, Romanian majority MP Silviu Prigoana (PDL) submitted a legislative initiative to change the designation of Roma people in official documents to „tigan”. While the press agency Mediafax reported government support for the initiative on 2 December, the Chamber of Deputies might vote on the proposal after its Human Rights Committee issue an opinion on 14 December 2010.
Citeste mai mult

(English) Policy Center for Roma and Minorities organized the debate “Roma ghettoes – between economic migration and criminality” at School 136 in Bucharest. The goal of the debate was to encourage an open discussion on issues like poverty, active inclusion, good governance and changing negative attitudes
Citeste mai mult

(English) Last night’s friendly match between Italy and Romania was marred by some racist incidents; these were reported widely by international media, including the BBC. Unfortunately, the media reports missed an important step forward in the fight against racism in the stadiums: the game opened with players of both teams together holding a huge banner which read Love football no violence no racism. The initiative involved both Italian and Romanian football federations
Citeste mai mult

(English) Policy Center for Roma and Minorities together with the Romanian Football Federation organized on November 13th, their bi-annual football competition for children in Bucharest. The football tournament, in which 23 teams with more than 250 children aged between 9 and 11 participated, is a part of the “ REACT! Make Europe an equal place for Roma” campaign which has the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) as a partner.
Citeste mai mult

(English) On October 30th, Policy Center for Roma and Minorities attended the 6th edition of the Halloween Charity Ball organized by NGO partner Ovidiu Rom, at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest. Members of our organization handed excellence awards to public figures involved in actively promoting equal access to education to all children regardless their ethnicity or their socio-economic background.
Citeste mai mult

(English) Following today’s announcement by the European Commission on the situation of Roma in France, the EU Roma Policy Coalition has expressed its dismay at the Commission’s silence over France’s discriminatory treatment of Roma people over the summer. “The Commission accepted France’s assurances that it would properly transpose EU law in future. This focus on the future fails to provide justice to those who have already suffered discrimination and lost their homes in recent weeks,” said the Coalition’s spokesperson.
Citeste mai mult

(English) EU justice chief Viviane Reding will recommend that the European Commission drop a threat of legal action against France over its Roma crackdown after the French government vowed to change national legislation, an EU official has said.
Citeste mai mult

(English) More than 50 children from School 136 in Ferentari, Bucharest took part in another “Read with me” event, organized by Policy Center for Roma and Minorities. This event is part of a campaign in which public figures are invited to read books and stories to students. Today, Mrs. Andreea Marin Banică read from one of her favorite childhood books (“Zâmbește” by Helen Exley), stressing the importance of having a positive attitude and enjoying what you do.
Citeste mai mult

(English) A human rights group has accused French police of taking DNA samples of Roma as condemnation of France’s crackdown on illegal traveller camps intensifies.

French police have taken DNA samples of Roma (Gypsies) as part of a crackdown on illegal traveller camps, a leading human rights organisation has alleged.
Citeste mai mult

(English) The recent expulsions of Roma, also known as Gypsies, from France to their countries of origin, Romania and Bulgaria, reopened a longstanding discussion on the fate of this ethnic minority.

Many Europeans view Roma as swindlers, pickpockets, social welfare system abusers, and people living parasitical lives on the shoulders of society. Human rights advocates and Roma organizations say the negative attitude toward Roma is mainly based in racism.
Citeste mai mult