|
|
European Roma and Travellers
Forum c/o Council of F – 67 075 Tel.: + 33 3 90 21 53 50 Fax: +
33 3 90 21 44 34 e-mail:
ertf@ertf.org www.ertf.org |
ERTF Update
14/2007 20.06.07
Political Developments
International
Organisations
OSCE
OSZE will sich für
Rechte der Roma einsetzen
Finnland will sich
während seines Vorsitzes in der Organisation für Sicherheit und
Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) im kommenden Jahr besonders um die Rechte der
Roma kümmern. Das finnische Außenministerium kündigte heute
einen Aktionsplan zur Verbesserung des Status der über ganz Europa
verstreuten Minderheit an.
Der Aktionsplan soll in den kommenden Monaten vom Büro für
demokratische Institutionen und Menschenrechte (ODIHR) in Warschau vorbereitet
werden. Helsinki bezeichnete die Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Europarat und der
völkerrechtlichen Vertretung der Minderheit, dem Europäischen Roma
und Reisenden Forum (ERTF), für die Umsetzung des künftigen Aktionsplans
als wichtig.
Das ERTF geht auf eine Initiative der finnischen Staatspräsidentin Tarja
Halonen aus dem Jahr 2002 zurück. ERTF-Präsident
Quelle: ORF
http://www.orf.at/?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.orf.at%2Fticker%2F255920.html
United Nations
CEDAW Committee concerned about ongoing discrimination of Romani women
in Serbia
11 June 2007
In its concluding comments on the situation
of women in
The full text of the
CEDAW Committee's concluding comments on
available at:
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw38/cc/Serbia.pdf
The ERRC/Bibija/
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2136
Reports
NGOs
Centre
on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)
The
Olympic Games have displaced more than two million people in the last 20 years
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
(COHRE) has just released a new report on the issue of displacement of people
in relation with the organisation of Olympic games. The report “Fair Play
for Housing Rights: Mega-Events, Olympic Games and Housing Rights”
notices that the Olympic Games have displaced more than two million people in
the last 20 years, and that socially marginalized groups have been
disproportionally affected by displacement.
The
report looks into several cases where Roma were evicted in the preparation of
the Olympic games such as in
The
Fair Play for Housing Rights report,
the Multi-Stakeholder Guidelines and
background papers on each of the Olympic Cities studied are available online
at: www.cohre.org/mega-events
Decade Watch
Decade Watch Report
Released in Sofia
11 June 2007
DecadeWatch assesses governments’
actions on introducing measures on the four Decade priority areas of education,
employment, health, and housing, as well as institutional arrangements and anti-discrimination
legislation. Country reports were prepared by Roma civil society alliances, and
then countries were ranked on indicators on a scale from 0 to 4, with 0
capturing no action and 4 best practice (see table). The report looks at
government inputs, not outcomes, as the Decade was only launched in 2005. The
World Bank and the Open Society Institute supported DecadeWatch through
assistance with training and methodology.
”Cooperation between Roma civil
society and governments is critical to moving the social inclusion agenda
forward,” says George Soros, chairman of the Open Society Institute.
“DecadeWatch is a critical component of this cooperation and in making
the Decade a success.”
DecadeWatch Ranking by Country
Rank
Country
Score
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Macedonia
1.37
8
9
The country rankings not only track progress
but also identify areas where countries can benefit from one another's
experience.
”So far, the biggest gap in Decade
implementation has been the lack of data on Roma,” says Shigeo Katsu,
World Bank Vice-President for Europe and
The Decade of Roma Inclusion is a
pan-European initiative to foster the integration of the Roma in nine
countries, and the primary vehicle for a European solution to the challenge of
Roma exclusion. Countries should place their Decade commitments into the
process of European accession and integration, including through the use of EU
Structural and Pre-Accession Funds as well as by partnering with EU member
states, the Commission, and other EU institutions.
”Governments have put institutional
arrangements for Roma inclusion in place, which can serve as coordinators of
government policy,” says Gabriela Hrabanova, researcher from the
Her colleague Toni Tashev adds
“Political will is necessary to translate plans into government financing
of inclusion policies and to ensuring that national programs filter down to the
municipal level.”
The report is available at http://www.decadewatch.org.
Save
the Children
Save the Children has just released the
first of a series of reports on the issue of child trafficking in
According to the organisation, the aim of the report was to obtain detailed
information from children about the factors that expose some of them to the
risks of trafficking and exploitation, as well as to learn about their strength
and resiliency in unfavourable situations that many of them are faced with. The
report presents the children's perception of their own lives and their
relationships with their peers, adult family members or adults from the
institution and the wider community. It portrays their fears, hopes and dreams,
and provides valuable insight and understanding for all those commited to
improving the life of children, protecting them from abuse and exploitation and
helping them fulfill their ambitions. In addition to numerous children's
statements, the report includes the opinions of parents and other adults in
charge of taking care of the children, enabling interesting comparisons.
People who are interested in receiving a
electronic version of the report should write to scfmon@cg.yu. The report is available in
English and Serbian.
C.E.G.A.
Creating Effective Grassroots Alternatives (CEGA) has
just released the second issue of its
bulletin START. The bulletin looks into nationalism in
START
is available at the website of the organisation and can be downloaded at: http://www.cega.bg/files/start_2eng.pdf
News digest
Experts say systematic policies needed for success of Roma inclusion
initiative
13 June 2007
The nine countries participating in the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative
must move from the implementation of sporadic measures to the adoption of
comprehensive Roma integration policies, participants at an international
meeting in
Integrated Roma inclusion policies and an efficient use of EU funds are the
key conditions for the success of the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative,
representatives of the nine participating countries and international officials
agreed in
The ten-year project, aimed at ending centuries of isolation and
discrimination against Roma in
Efforts to improve the situation of Roma in the participating countries
over the past two years have produced mixed results, according to a watch
report released on the eve of the 10th meeting of this International Steering
Committee.
According to DecadeWatch, the first assessment of government action on
implementing the commitments expressed under the joint initiative, there was
"significant progress across all countries, though more in some than in
others, and, within countries, more in some areas of action that in
others".
All the participating countries have adopted Decade Action Plans, have set
up the relevant institutions and co-ordination offices, and -- although to
various degrees -- have initiated activities to improve the situation of the
Roma, the report found.
The document, drawn up by a coalition of Roma NGOs and activists, also
noted some progress towards the achievement of another goal of the initiative,
namely giving Roma a voice in the countries' efforts at promoting inclusion.
However, "the Decade has not reached the critical point that would
guarantee success", the experts said, urging governments to move from the
implementation of specific projects and sporadic measures towards the adoption
of comprehensive programmes or integrated policies.
Due to lack of consistent and systematic outcome indicators and data, the
report only assesses government action and does not provide an insight on the
actual impacts for the Roma.
Still, it measures the performance of each participating country on a scale
of 0 (lowest score) to 4 (highest score), the main criterion being the
individual governments' ownership and effort to move from sporadic measures to
systematic policies backed up by budgetary resources.
Among the nine nations,
The participants in the
"The EU must develop a European-wide Roma policy,"
His words were echoed by billionaire philanthropist and OSI chairman George
Soros, who said the EU could not "overlook the fate of eight million
Roma". At the same time, he said, it is critical for governments to step
up their co-operation with Roma civil society so that the social inclusion
agenda could move forward.
Among the other officials participating in the
Source: Southeast European Times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2007/06/13/feature-01
Countries
Draußen vor der großen Stadt
FRANZENSDORF / Roma auf Urlaub in Franzensdorf. Beim
Bürgermeister laufen die Telefone heiß. Der versucht die
aufgebrachte Menge zu beruhigen: „Kein Grund zur Sorge.“
Misstrauisch beäugen die dunkelhäutigen Frauen
die näher kommende Journalistin. Ein Lächeln und schon
grüßen sie freundlich und laden ohne Umschweife zu Speis und Trank.
Bratwürstl und Kotellets liegen auf dem Grill vorm Wohnwagen, dazu gibt es
Semmeln, Eistee, ein großes Glas Pfefferoni. Sie sprechen mit Händen
und Füßen Deutsch, ansonsten Französisch. Die Kinder kommen
gelaufen, neugierig, ob man sie verstehen könne, na ja, seulement un peu.
Derweil wird nach Marcellino, dem Clanchef geschickt, er spricht Deutsch, wie
sein Bruder Carlos.
„Wir sind auf Urlaub hier“, erzählen
sie. Sie seien aus Paris und Straßburg gekommen. Denn demnächst
treffen in Wien Roma aus aller Welt zusammen und feiern eine große Messe.
So wie bei den berühmten Festen in St. Marie de la Mer (in
Südfrankreich)? „Nein, das sind die Katholiken, wir sind evangelisch.“
Ein Blick auf die vielen Kinder und schon kommt die
prompte Antwort auf die nicht gestellte Frage. Sie gehen nur im Winter in die
Schule, von Oktober bis März, in Frankreich. „Im Frühjahr aber
müssen wir weiterziehen. Wir haben kein Haus, unser Heim ist der
Wohnwagen, und wir müssen auch Geld verdienen.“ Sie sind fahrende
Händler, verkaufen Teppiche, Bestecke, Waren aller Art. Hier sei man ein
bisschen „en vacances“, in den Ferien.
Anrainer brechen in helle Hysterie aus
Aber wenn es mich interessieren würde, ein Teppich
sei schon noch da, ein besonders schöner sogar, wie viel ich dafür
geben würde? Ganz abschalten geht wohl nicht in der warmen Jahreszeit. Man
wolle aber nicht, dass die Leute wissen, „dass wir Roma sind, sonst
kaufen sie uns nichts ab“. Ob sie denken, dass sie hier unerkannt
blieben? 26 Wohnwagen am Rande eines Dorfes wie Franzensdorf. Alle wissen
Bescheid und brechen gerade in helle Hysterie aus.
Bei Bürgermeister Rainer Hübl sind schon die
Telefone heiß gelaufen: „Die Zigeuner sind da!“, haben
Anrainer aufgeregt gemeldet. „Und was haben sie angestellt? Jagen sie
eure Frauen durchs Dorf, stehlen sie eure Hendln?“, habe er
zurückgefragt, „Nein, aber sie könnten“, bekam er zur
Antwort. Wie in den 30er-Jahren, erzählt er genervt. Die BH hatte
Hübl gebeten, einen Platz für das fahrende Volk bereitzustellen, die
Polizei habe ein wachsames Auge auf sie: „Also kein Grund zur
Sorge!“
Ulla
Kremsmayer
Quelle:
Niederösterreich Nachrichten
http://www.noen.at/redaktion/n-mar/article.asp?Text=234727&cat=343
Stanishev: We
Can't Manage Roma Problems Without Help From EU
12 June 2007
The lack of policy for
Roma people integration means deepening of our problems. On a national level we
can hardly manage this problem and that is why we need higher attention from
the EU.
This claimed
The Prime Minister emphasized that there could not be effective integration of
the Roma people before the society is ready for this.
Stanishev added that the financial and management instruments of the EU on
projects for Roma people integration should be used but the resources should be
spent in a transparent way.
The Minister of labor and social policy Emilia Maslarova informed that 83 000
Roma people have found jobs and more than 42 000 – have received
professional qualification. She added that
The president of Open Society Institute George Soros recommended sterling use
of the EU funds for Roma projects. He added that in the society there was
resistance to the allotment of funds for the Roma minority.
Olga Yoncheva
Source: news.bg
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1310685153
NS-Opfer fordern
Gedenken für Roma
15. Juni 2007
Verbände von
NS-Opfern haben die tschechische Regierung aufgefordert, Gedenkorte auf den
Geländen ehemaliger Roma-Konzentrationslager zu errichten. Die Anlage
einer Schweinemast auf dem Boden des ehemaligen KZ im südböhmischen
Lety u Pistu sei eine tiefe Beleidigung aller Opfer und Überlebender der
Nazi-Verbrechen, sagte der Vorsitzende des Zentralrats Deutscher Sinti und
Roma, Romani Rose, am Mittwoch in Berlin. In einem Appell an den tschechischen
Premier Mirek Topolanek forderte der Zentralrat, den Schweinemastbetrieb zu
verlegen. Mitunterzeichner sind das "Komitee für die
Entschädigung des Roma-Holocaust" und die Opferverbände der
Konzentrationslager Auschwitz und Buchenwald. Der Appell richte sich auch an
EU-Ratpräsidentin, Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel.
Quelle: Frankfurter
Rundschau
http://www.fronline.de/in_und_ausland/politik/aktuell/?sid=0a6547102229c61b6386c8e1e6fef991&em_cnt=1154156
Czech Ombudsman: Eviction of Romanies in
Vsetin was Mistake
13 June 2007
The town hall of Vsetin, north Moravia, made
a mistake when it moved out Romany rent-defaulters from the town's centre in
the autumn, Czech Ombudsman Otakar Motejl told journalists today. However,
Vsetin town hall rejects the criticism. The town hall was then headed by Jiri
Cunek, now Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) leader and Local Development Minister.
Motejl said that the export of socially excluded families from municipalities
in which the families have long been living cannot be accepted as an efficient
solution. He said that a good solution can be achieved through cooperation
between social workers, NGOs, Romany families and local authorities. Cunek said
he agreed with this, but said that the town hall did its utmost in the case. He
added that "the ombudsman should have rather deal with the problem what to
do with a rent-defaulters who is evicted, irrespective of the colour of their
skin." The ombudsman's report will be available on the website www.ochrance.cz.
The Ombudsman Office checked the conditions under which the demolition of the
ramshackle apartment house where the Romany families lived was permitted. It
concluded that Vsetin authorities acted against the construction law as they
did not care for the house for more than ten years, allowing it to become
dilapidated. The office challenged the town hall's argument that the families
had to leave the house due to unhealthy living conditions. Motejl said that the
state of the houses to which the Romanies moved was no better than that of
their original home. Some of the Romany families were moved to container flats
on Vsetin outskirts, while others were sent away from Vsetin and resettled
elsewhere in
The report writes that the resettlement violated the basic rights for
respecting family and private life. Motejl said that Vsetin should allow the
families to return to the town and let them request a municipal flat. The town
hall dismisses the criticism. "The ombudsman's report has some 50 pages
and it positively assesses some of our steps. We disagree with the simplified interpretation
that we erred," Eva Stejskalova, spokeswoman for the town hall, told CTK
today. The step provoked a lot of controversy. It was strongly criticised by
NGOs focusing on human rights, Romany associations and a number of politicians.
Motejl's office also focused on how social benefits were paid to the Romanies
and whether they were satisfied in their new homes. Cunek faces strong
criticism also over a police accusation of bribe taking. The opposition demands
his leave as cabinet minister. The government position of Cunek was further
affected when he made statements about Romanies in March that some call
xenophobic while far-right extremists welcome them.
Source: CTK
Satirical TV programme sparks controversy
among Finnish Roma
YLE believes show will incite debate on
tolerance issues
14 June 2007
The Finnish Roma Forum has asked the Finnish
Broadcasting Company (YLE) to suspend broadcasts of the summer comedy series
Manne-TV. In an appeal sent to the YLE, the series, which aired its first
programme on June 2nd, is denounced as demeaning to the Roma, or Gipsy
population. The organisation claims that it is racist, that it underscores
prejudices, and that it could undermine the results of years of work to change
attitudes. Other fears include a prospect of increased violence between the
Roma community and other Finns, as well as an increase in ethnically based
school bullying. YLE Programme Director Harri Virtanen stands behind the show,
most of whose producers and actors are Roma themselves. He says that Manne-TV
will not be cancelled, and that it would continue to air on Saturday and Sunday
evenings. "If the series really increases school bullying, for instance, I
would naturally be very sorry, but it is not the purpose of the series",
Virtanen says. "The target of the series is the population at large and
its prejudices. If someone watching the series thinks ‘is that how I
think?', or ‘do I have attitudes like that?', then we will be fairly
close to the aim of the series". Nevertheless, changes are planned in the
content of Manne-TV. In the future there will be a greater effort to
specifically deal with prejudices of the majority population toward the Roma.
"
The Roma Forum, which called for the cancellation of the show, is an umbrella
organisation of Finnish Roma organisations, focusing on equal treatment under
the law for the Roma population. According to the group's vice president Mertsi
Lindgren, Manne-TV contains overt incitement against a population group. The Roma
Forum is actually considering the possibility of submitting a criminal
complaint on the matter. "First we need to meet with the Minority Affairs
Ombudsman and to discuss it with [YLE Director-General] Mikael Jungner."
Minority Affairs Ombudsman Mikko Puumalainen has not yet studied the appeal of
the Roma Forum. "I want to discuss the matter with representatives of the
forum before I form an opinion on the matter", Puumalainen says. Lindgren
says that the Roma Forum took action on the basis of negative feedback from the
Roma community. "We have also heard from the majority population that the
programme does not work", Lindgren adds. Response received by YLE on the
programme has been more negative than positive. "We get feedback from all
programmes, but it dies not shake our decisions", Harri Virtanen says.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat
Einigung bei Mahnmal für Sinti und
Roma
Langer Streit um Inschrift ist beendet
14. Juni 2007
Seit mehr als sechs Jahren ist über das Mahnmal für die
ermordeten Sinti und Roma im Tiergarten gestritten worden - vor allem um
verschiedene Varianten des Inschrifttextes. Nach Informationen der Berliner
Zeitung sind inzwischen alle Konflikte gelöst. Das von dem in Paris
lebenden Künstler Dani Karavan entworfene Mahnmal kann gebaut werden.
Darauf sollen sich der Zentralrat der Sinti und Roma und
Bundeskulturstaatsminister Bernd Neumann (CDU) verständigt haben. Aus dem
Büro des Kulturstaatsministers hieß es dazu, dass in den kommenden
Wochen "abschließende Abstimmungsgespräche" mit allen
Beteiligten vorgesehen seien. "Aus Respekt vor den Opfergruppen"
könnten derzeit keine Angaben zur zeitlichen Realisierung und zur Gestaltung
des Mahnmals gemacht werden.
Das Mahnmal kostet zwei Millionen Euro. Es besteht aus einem
kreisrunden See und einer zwölf Meter hohen Granitplatte. Das Land Berlin
hatte schon 1994 das Gelände im Tiergarten kostenfrei zur Verfügung
gestellt. Bundespolitiker und der Zentralrat hatten dann aber seit 2001 immer
wieder öffentlich über die Inschrift am Rande des Brunnens
gestritten, wodurch sich die längst geplante Fertigstellung
verzögerte. Dabei ging es insbesondere um den von der Sinti-Allianz
geforderten Begriff "Zigeuner", den Zentralratspräsident Romani
Rose aber strikt ablehnt. Jetzt wurde beschlossen, am Brunnen ein Zitat von
Altbundespräsident Roman Herzog anzubringen, über das auch lange
debattiert worden war: "Der Völkermord an den Sinti und Roma ist aus dem
gleichen Motiv des Rassenwahns, mit dem gleichen Vorsatz und dem gleichen
Willen zur planmäßigen und endgültigen Vernichtung
durchgeführt worden wie der an den Juden. Sie wurden im gesamten
Einflussbereich der Nationalsozialisten systematisch und familienweise vom
Kleinkind bis zum Greis ermordet."
Dieses Herzog-Zitat soll um eine Aussage von Altkanzler Helmut Schmidt
ergänzt werden. Am Mahnmal wird auch in einer Chronologie der
Völkermord an rund 500 000 Sinti und Roma dargestellt.
Marlies Emmerich
Quelle: Berliner Zeitung
http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/print/berlin/661677.html
Bewährungsprobe für Falkensee
Sinti und Roma machen in der Stadt
Station – das passt nicht jedem
6. Juni 2007
Falkensee
- Gut 30 elegante Campingwagen mit Sat-Schüsseln haben seit wenigen Tagen
auf dem Platz am Kreisverkehr Station gemacht. Der liegt an der Spandauer
Straße in Falkensee nahe der Semmelhaack-Siedlung. Die
Neuankömmlinge sind Sinti und Roma ungarischer Herkunft, die bisher
friedlich auf verschiedenen Plätzen in Berlin gelebt hatten und von ihrem
letzten Standort in Spandau wegen einer Veranstaltung weichen mussten. Am
vergangenen Freitag war der Konvoi in Begleitung von Polizei und Mitarbeitern
eines Ordnungsamtes von Berliner Seite nach Falkensee geleitet worden. Womöglich
sahen die Berliner Ordnungshüter das freie Feld, auf dem Drachenfeste
steigen oder Zirkusfamilien ihre Zelte aufschlagen, als kommunalen Festplatz
an. Doch das ist ein Irrtum: Er ist in privater Hand.
Eigentümer Manfred Strunk hat aufregende Tage hinter sich. Denn seit das
fahrende Volk sich auf seinem Acker niedergelassen hat, steht sein Telefon
nicht still. Empörte Bürger, auch aus der unmittelbaren
Nachbarschaft, bombardieren ihn mit der Forderung, dem Treiben Einhalt zu
gebieten und das Feld polizeilich räumen zu lassen. Müll und
Toiletten würden am See ausgekippt, und dass "die" klauen, sei
ja auch bekannt...
Strunk, der Erfahrung hat mit fahrenden Leuten – gute wie weniger gute
– sah sich die Sache erst einmal aus der Nähe an und fand weder
Toilettenauswurf am See noch Unrat auf dem Platz, sieht man einmal von den
Gartenabfällen ab, die die Anwohner auf seinem Acker abladen. Zwischen den
Campingwagen thronten zwei Abfallcontainer, die die Gruppe organisiert hatte.
Schöne Frauen bereiteten das Mittagessen vor, andere schüttelten die
Federbetten oder hängten Wäsche auf, Kinder tollten über die
Wiese und spielten Fangen ...
"Genau genommen", sagt Manfred Strunk, " handelt es sich um
Hausfriedensbruch." Denn er hatte vorab nichts von dieser Belagerung
erfahren. Dabei wäre er gar nicht abgeneigt, den Sinti und Roma
vorübergehend Quartier zu gewähren, die wollen ja nichts geschenkt,
die zahlen. Doch er muss passen, er hat den Platz bereits vermietet, den ganzen
Juni lang. Denn am 23. soll hier ein "Respekttag" unter dem Motto
"Falkensee be fair" steigen. Organisator Michael Gentz will für
Respekt und Toleranz in allen Lebensbereichen werben und hofft, mit guter Musik
und vielen Ideen mehrere tausend Menschen zu mobilisieren. "Am Wochenende
müssten wir mit den Vorbereitungen, also dem Mähen, beginnen. Bis
dahin müsste der Platz frei sein", sagt Gentz, der eines auf keinen
Fall will: eine Zwangsräumung.
Die will auch Carlos Ludvig, der Sprecher der Sinti- und Roma-Gruppe,
vermeiden. Er ist um einen Ausweichstandort bemüht. Auf Campingplätze
dürfen sie nicht. Und in der Stadtverwaltung, wo man ihn "sehr gut
behandelt" habe, erfuhr er, dass auch der städtische Festplatz am
Gutspark ausgebucht sei. "Ich verstehe, dass wir hier wieder weg
müssen, in die Veranstaltung wurde viel investiert", sagte Ludvig.
Doch die Aufregung der Falkenseer, die auch während seines Gesprächs
mit Ordnungsamtsleiter Michael Sahr pausenlos im Büro anriefen und den
Rauswurf der "Zigeuner" forderten, verärgert ihn. Verärgert
ist auch Bürgermeister Jürgen Bigalke. Nämlich darüber,
dass in diesem Fall "Berlin offensichtlich seine Probleme auf Kosten des
Brandenburger Umlandes regelt". Die Stadt sei im Vorfeld über diesen
Zuzug nicht informiert worden – ein Fakt, den Bigalke in einem Brief an
das Innenministerium kritisiert.
Die Anwohner verfolgen die Geschehnisse auf dem Platz mittlerweile etwas
genauer. Jeden Abend seien die Sinti bei ihm zu Gast, erzählt der Besitzer
eines Restaurants. "Sie sind nett, aber doch ein wenig
auffällig", sagt der Mann, der seinen Namen lieber nicht nennen
möchte. Einige Gäste hätten ihn auf die Leute angesprochen,
"irgendwie ist die Situation einfach unangenehm".
"Irgendwie unangenehm." Auch bei Ralph Schremmer, der neben der Wiese
eine Kfz-Werkstatt betreibt, fallen diese Worte. Sechsmal seien Männer zu
ihm gekommen, um mehrmals kleine Dienstleistungen wie Bohrer anschleifen
anzubieten. "Das hab ich abgelehnt."
Hiltrud
Müller/Christiane Tauer
Quelle: Märkische
Allgemeine
http://www.maerkischeallgemeine.de/cms/beitrag/10948084/61759/#
Welcome for refugee children in
19 June 2007
Bekescsaba
- Integrating refugees is an increasingly difficult task, but a school in one
of
The
Szent Laszlo elementary school in this farming town of 60,000 near
"It's
safe to say that Bekescsaba has become a model," said Andrea Szobolits, a
spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "This
is what other schools have just been unable to do."
Pupil
Emina Berisa is one of the school's best examples of progress. The 14-year-old
Muslim Roma from
"It's
so much better here because other children like playing with me and teachers
are more cultured," said the tall, dark-skinned Berisa in nearly fluent
Hungarian during a break in her geography class.
Berisa,
one of over 11,000 refugee applicants in central
Bekescsaba,
a sprawling town that has struggled to build up industry, is one of three towns
in the country that accepts refugees but is the most welcoming, said the
UNHCR's Szobolits.
Like
many refugees across the world, those from
In
the eastern Hungarian town of
"Teaching
tolerance is not part of the school curriculum anywhere in the region and
teachers are left on their own to figure out what to do," Szobolits said.
The Szent Laszlo school's formula has been simple: keep classes small,
put just a few refugee students in each and oblige them to stay involved and
mingle with Hungarians, but do not compromise on the school curriculum.
In
2006, 2,117 refugees applied for asylum in
Open-minded children
The
school's principal, Katalin Gallo, said her goal is to let children -- who are
generally open-minded -- encourage their parents to become as tolerant.
"Children
are by nature tolerant, we have open-minded teachers, small classes and parents
who have grown to accept minorities and disabled children," she said.
Financial
necessity played a big role in the school's decision to welcome refugees:
dwindling student numbers threatened it with closure in the 1990s and teachers
decided they needed to bulk up the student population to save it.
So
they opened up to disabled students, the area's large Roma community and those
at the nearby refugee camp, currently home to 111 people.
Despite
the school's efforts, its community is precarious.
Over
90 percent of applicants and nearly all Europeans are refused refugee status
and around 60 percent simply disappear from camps, so children usually spend
just a few months at the school, the UNHCR's Szobolits said.
Refugee camps also fail to
provide parents with any means to earn a living, so they are often forced to
leave.
Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18222730.htm
Sicurezza, Rom: Patto di Veltroni – Amato innesca
bomba sociale
19 giuno 2007
Roma -
“La deportazione dei nomadi presenti negli insediamenti della capitale in
quattro campi di concentramento fuori dal Grande raccordo anulare rischiano di
scatenare una bomba sociale di dimensioni enormi. Non possiamo accettare ancora
una volta di essere escluso da qualsiasi processo decisionale che riguarda il
nostro popolo”. L’attacco che i rappresentanti delle comunità
Rom e Sinti fanno, prima dell’inizio del convegno che il ministero per le
Pari opportunità ha organizzato per discutere proprio dei diritti di
questi popoli, è diretto: “Non c’è nei patti per la
sicurezza nessuna volontà di inclusione – sottolinea uno dei
rappresentanti Bruno Morelli – ma solo di ghettizzare ed escludere. Si
tratta di un’operazione fondamentalmente razzista e profondamente
sbagliata”. “Quella dei villaggi della solidarietà –
spiega Silvana, una ragazza bosniaca che per anni ha vissuto nel campo del
Casilino – è una follia. A prescindere dalle difficoltà
legate alla gestione di una struttura del genere, sul fronte della
vivibilità come su quello della sicurezza, mettendo insieme gruppo
etnici differenti, che magari si sono combattuti per anni, si rischia veramente
di fare esplodere una bomba sociale di proporzioni enormi”.
Tutti sono concordi poi nel chiedere un coinvolgimento
diretto nelle operazioni e nella gestione dei fondi destinati a sostenere
l’integrazione e l’inserimento delle comunità nomadi:
“Senza passare per le associazioni che – sostengono – hanno
come unico interesse quello di rubare i soldi stanziati”. “Vogliamo
che ci sia data una possibilità di scelta – sottolinea Morelli
– i campi vanno eliminati per lasciare il posto a insediamenti assimilati
al tessuto dal tessuto urbano della città. Il governo deve investire e
non rinchiuderci. Mi pare invece che le parole d’ordine siano
ghettizzazione, repressione e reclusione”. “Non vogliamo più
assistenzialismo – insiste Eva Rizzin del comitato Rome Sinti insieme
– ma diventare soggetto per politiche programmi che ci rendano un
soggetto attivo a livello politico e sociale. Volgiamo essere messi nelle
condizioni di decidere con la nostra testa”.
Fonte: Il Velino
http://www.ilvelino.it/articolo.php?Id=374203
Activists claim five men have attacked a Romani family
19
June 2007
The League of
Human Rights Activists claims that another racially motivated attack has
occurred in
The
men allegedly beat the entire family and destroyed the apartment’s
facilities. One woman
who was attacked said: "I cried out that there was a child there, that
they should leave us alone, but they beat us all the same. They had to give me
stitches on my head and my chest is completely blue from the stick beating. My
husband, who is disabled – he has a disability pension – ended up
in the hospital with a fractured elbow and contusions. They say my child has
suffered psychological shock.” The family has allegedly been repeatedly
attacked by masked men since 2003.
Igboanusi
noted that the investigation of the crime is not yet complete: "Because
these racist attacks on this family continue without any effective remedy being
provided by the state, we will be forced to turn to the European Parliament as
soon as possible with a request that they address this family’s
situation.” A
spokesperson for the police in Bratislava said that should the investigation
discover that a crime has been committed, prosecution will begin immediately.
Source: Romea
http://www.romea.cz/english/index.php?id=detail&detail=2007_349
Vuelven las chabolas
retiradas durante la campaña electoral
20
de Junio de 2007
SEVILLA. Entre la leyenda urbana de los raptos de niños que
la Policía se ha apresurado a «desactivar» por su falta de
solidez, y los asentamientos chabolistas que se están produciendo en los
lugares más variopintos de la ciudad, da la impresión de que los
rumanos han «tomado» literalmente Sevilla.
Muy cerca de la manzana de la calle
Calatrava, ocupada desde octubre o noviembre por más de sesenta familias
rumanas y de gitanos portugueses, hay otro asentamiento que lleva visos, si no
se actúa, de convertirse en perenne. En plena campaña electoral,
de la noche a la mañana surgió un nuevo asentamiento de familias
rumanas en la calle Torneo. Fueron
retirados de forma expeditiva, pero ahora, tras las elecciones, ha reaparecido
ante la pasividad municipal.
El lugar elegido por
estas personas para instalar su chabola es una parcela situada entre la calle
Torneo y el Paseo de Juan Carlos I, muy cerca de la Pasarela de la Cartuja. Al
ser descubierto en la campaña de las elecciones municipales, este
asentamiento fue erradicado de forma espectacularmente rápida para el
ritmo a que nos tienen acostumbrados nuestras autoridades competentes. La
semana pasada el asentamiento volvió a la misma parcela. Junto a las
tiendas se amontonan las pertenencias de estas familias que al parecer se
dedican a la chatarra y parte del solar lo dedican a almacén de esta
actividad. En esta ocasión la prisa ha dejado paso a la permisividad.
En Sevilla Este
Algo parecido ha
ocurrido en Sevilla Este. En plena campaña electoral el PA
denunció la aparición de un asentamiento junto a Fibes, y fue
retirado en cuestión de horas.
Ahora han vuelto los
problemas, pero la actitud municipal es muy distinta. La pasada semana los
vecinos de la zona conocieron que tenían un asentamiento en una zona
verde junto a Aquópolis, frente al Club Deportivo Nudión. Al
parecer, estas familias que habían aposentado allí sus caravanas,
tiendas de campaña y chabolas al más puro estilo tradicional,
llevaban allí ya varias semanas dada la cantidad de basuras acumuladas
alrededor de este campamento. El descubrimiento del asentamiento fue pura
casualidad. Vieron muchos rumanos,
los siguieron y vieron el núcleo de chabolas.
Esta semana surgieron
los primeros enfrentamientos, afortunadamente sólo verbales, entre los
vecinos y los chabolistas. En un primer momento los rumanos acusaron a los
residentes de racistas por denunciar la existencia del asentamiento, y
concretaron que se dedicaban a la chatarra. Más tarde fueron los vecinos
los que, de palabra, recriminaron a los chabolistas su incivismo, ya que abren
los contenedores para rebuscar y dejan tiradas las basuras alrededor. También usan la fuente ornamental instalada frente
al centro cívico Blas Infante para asearse y coger agua.
Los vecinos han
denunciado el peligro de este asentamiento en este parque, ya que los
chabolistas hacen fogatas y hay serio riesgo de incendio porque la maleza
alcanza más de un metro de altura. Consideran los residentes que el
asentamiento es la puntilla para esta zona verde, regenerada con fondos
europeos en el mandato de Soledad Becerril, y que hace años que
está totalmente abandonada, sin vallar pese a las continuas peticiones
vecinales.
Fuente: abc
http://sevilla.abc.es/20070620/sevilla-sevilla/vuelven-chabolas-retiradas-durante_200706200309.html
Un juez ordena a
los «okupas» de la calle Calatrava desalojar el inmueble
20 de Junio de 2007
Sevilla - El Juzgado de
Instrucción número 4 de Sevilla ha dictado una resolución
para que los okupas de la manzana de la calle Calatrava desalojen las
viviendas. Esta resolución ya ha sido notificada a la Policía
Nacional para que comunique a las familias rumanas y de gitanos portugueses que
tienen cinco días laborables para dejar vacío el edificio.
Según
comentó ayer Pilar Solís, secretaria de la Asociación de
Vecinos Alameda, si una vez cumplido el plazo los rumanos no se han marchado la
Policía está autorizada para actuar. Señaló que el
plazo fijado por el juez será válido a partir de la
notificación de la Policía a los okupas por lo que seguramente
será la semana que viene cuando se lleve a cabo el desalojo. Pilar
Solís es de la opinión de que será problemático
porque todos no se van a querer «ir por las buenas».
Pero parece que los
rumanos se estaban «oliendo» que el paraíso de casa, agua y
luz gratis, y un edificio para desmantelar y vender se les iba a acabar. Hace
dos días a una de las inquilinas, uno de ellos le preguntó
«¿Usted sabe si mañana marchar todos los rumanos?».
Ya hace dos semanas la
Asociación de Vecinos Alameda puso una denuncia a la Fiscalía
sobre la situación que estaban creando los okupas y habló con el
comisario de relaciones con los vecinos, Manuel Ramírez, para que un
coche de la Policía hiciese un seguimiento de la manzana para
tranquilidad de los inquilinos de renta antigua que comparten el edificio con
los okupas y de los vecinos de la zona.
La propiedad de la
manzana, por su parte, se encuentra satisfecha con la resolución del
Juzgado, ya que desde mayo de 2006, con los primeros okupas -entonces
aún españoles- puso la primera denuncia. En todas las denuncias
de la propiedad se ha pedido siempre la medida cautelar de desalojo. La
propiedad siempre ha mantenido en sus escritos al Juzgado que los inquilinos
sufrían riesgo físico y sanitario por la situación de los
okupas, a la vez que señala el daño moral y económico que
ella ha sufrido por la ocupación, ya que el edificio, que tiene
intención de restaurar, ha sido destrozado por las familias okupas que
han roto puertas antiguas y destrozado su interior.
Los primeros okupas de
la manzana eran españoles, gorrillas y drogadictos que tenían su
campo de acción en la Alameda de Hércules. Sobre el mes de
noviembre pasado llegaron los rumanos, que echaron a casi todos los
españoles. Venían solos, pero luego trajeron a sus familias y
también llegaron otras familias de gitanos portugueses.
Suciedad y pestilencia
Durante meses los vecinos de la zona, y sobre
todo los inquilinos de renta antigua, han soportado escenas increíbles
más propias de un asentamiento chabolista de extrarradio, tipo Vacie,
que
Las basuras y el olor
nauseabundo son constantes en la manzana, ahora más, debido al calor. En
plena calle estas familias orinaban y defecaban y tiraban los orines y las
heces en el contenedor. Todavía
recuerdan los vecinos la vez que mataron un cordero en el alcorque de la
esquina de Puerta Barqueta con Vib Arragel, o las muchas ocasiones en que en
los carros del Mercadona entraban a la casa cargados de objetos que los
residentes piensan que son robados. Una
vez tiraron a los contenedores casi 30 o 40 maletas con ruedas.
Cuando no querían
que los vecinos viesen lo que descargaban de los coches ponían una manta
para introducir sin problemas la mercancía. Todos estos meses e incluso
hasta hace dos días han ido llegando familias nuevas. Una cosa que han
observado los vecinos es que veían llegar coches con matrículas
extranjeras y a los dos días las tenían ya españolas.
La llegada de las
mujeres y los niños y de muchas familias portuguesas potenció las
riñas. El domingo día 10 se pelearon las mujeres. Los hombres no
intervinieron, pero ellas se revolcaron por el suelo tirándose de los
pelos, según testigos. También
los niños han protagonizado incidentes. Las broncas llegaron a su punto
máximo en la madrugada del jueves cuando hubo una reyerta e
intervinieron más de ocho coches de Policía y una ambulancia ya
que hubo un herido en la cabeza y en el brazo, aunque la Policía no ha
facilitado datos. Desde ese día la manzana ha estado en calma porque un
coche de la Policía ha ido de forma continua y como dicen los vecinos
«se han recogido» sobre todo las mujeres y los niños, que no
se han visto más solos desde que se presentaron los servicios sociales.
Debido a que arrancaron
una tubería para venderla, el agua corría como una catarata el
pasado jueves y uno de los inquilinos la cortó. Los inquilinos
estuvieron más de un día sin agua e incluso el lunes
tenían sólo un hilito y los termos no calentaban por falta de
presión. Los inquilinos son los más afectados por la terrible
situación propiciada por los okupas, al margen del contencioso que
tienen con la propiedad y en el que tienen el apoyo incondicional de Otainsa,
Oficina Técnica de Asistencia a Inquilinos en Situación de Abuso,
de la Gerencia de Urbanismo.
Gloria Gamito
Fuente: ABC
http://sevilla.abc.es/20070620/sevilla-sevilla/juez-ordena-okupas-calle_200706200311.html
España/
Proponen red trasnacional europea para erradicar exclusión de gitanos
8 de Junio de 2007
La secretaria de
Estado de Servicios Sociales, Familias y Discapacidad, Amparo Valcarce, propuso
hoy la creación de una red trasnacional europea que gestione la
aplicación de fondos estructurales para luchar contra la
discriminación que sufre la comunidad gitana.
Durante las
jornadas 'Cooperación trasnacional sobre comunidad gitana y
exclusión social', Valcarce explica que en Europa viven 12 millones de
gitanos -650.000 en España-, que constituyen la 'minoría
étnica mas numerosa' de la Unión Europea.
Al respecto
aseguro que gran parte de ellos vive en situación de pobreza,
exclusión social y sufre el rechazo generalizado de la sociedad.
Al ser una
comunidad 'asentada casi en exclusiva en Europa', la secretaria de Estado
considera que la UE es el marco 'idóneo' para desarrollar
políticas públicas de cohesión social en beneficio de esta
etnia.
Asimismo ofreció al resto de
países participantes en las jornadas que se fijen en la experiencia
española en el ámbito de la inclusión de los gitanos,
especialmente a través del empleo -programa ACCEDER, gestionado por la
Fundación Secretariado Gitano-.
Entre los objetivos que han de
establecerse, prosiguió, deben estar la mejora de la calidad de vida, el
fomento de su participación en la vida publica, la mejor convivencia, el
fortalecimiento del movimiento asociativo gitano y la lucha contra la
discriminación.
Por su parte, el presidente de la
Fundación Secretariado Gitano, Pedro Puente, explico que es importante
que se trate la situación de la comunidad gitana en el marco de los
fondos estructurales europeos, pues han sido el 'elemento esencial para
producir cambios en la comunidad gitana'.
Puente
pidió a los asistentes a las jornadas que la puesta en común de
avances en cohesión social gitana tenga un carácter continuado en
el tiempo.
Fuente : Actualidad Etnica
http://www.etniasdecolombia.org/actualidadetnica/detalle.asp?cid=5482
Roma neighborhood of Sulukule awaits demolition
9
June 2007
For many Turks, a film made more than three decades ago is an icon of local
Roma culture. In the movie, Arkadaş (Friend) made in 1974, two friends
meet after many years and head to a familiar entertainment place: one of the
Roma houses of “Sulukule” where the scene quickly turns to
traditional music, swirling dance and laughter.
But if the film still
captures the image of
“It's a done deal,” said
Şadi Çatı, who continues to live in Sulukule after more than a
decade after the neighborhood's decline started. “Some may not like the
way we live, but these are our houses.”
Not only for Turks, but
for tourists too, Sulukule
was an attraction that ranked in popularity with Sultanahmet's Blue Mosque and
Aya Sophia.
But in 1992, the
But even intervention by
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's
(UNESCO), which listed the city walls that surround the neighborhood as a site
of international heritage did not stop the process.
The area was first
populated by the Roma during the Byzantine times and became the first sedentary
settlement of the Roma anywhere in the world in the 15th century under Mehmet
the Conqueror, the sultan who captured
Neither did the weight of
such history, a similar declaration by
Problems: not only one
The neighborhood and its
culture that survived through the Byzantine and Ottoman empires are not
nearing extinction in the face of modern urban transformation.
The Greater Istanbul
Municipality has lined up the area for demolition as part of a broad urban
transformation effort along the shores of the Golden Horn waterway that
intersects the European half of
“We accept that our
buildings are very old and not the best places to live,” said
Çati. “Some might not approve of them, but they are not wrecks.
These are our homes. Officials have not involved us in the process. That is not
fair. We have lived here for centuries. We do not want apartments.”
Once full of laughter and
sounds of music, the narrow
streets today are silent with fear and grief. Colorful two-three story
buildings are now waiting for bulldozers to come. Even children are aware of
the tension in the air and play in silence.
In today's Sulukule there
are 503 house owners, 371 tenants and more than a hundred unregistered
residencies. When the bulldozers have demolished the area 3,500 people will
have to find somewhere else to live.
The
The project, which could
bring the bulldozers to Sulukule soon, envisions restoring many neighborhoods
of Istanbul that were constructed devoid of plans, security conditions,
green fields, and social and sanity facilities.
Istanbul Mayor Kadir
Topbaş explained that the restructuring of
But the Sulukule part of
the project has been a subject of disagreements between the project leaders and
local non-governmental organizations who have sought to defend the rights of
Sulukule's Roma.
Instead of destroying the
neighborhood, the
“Under the project
the unhealthy residence areas will be transformed as healthy places,”
said Topbaş.
Solidarity and cooperation
But one opponent of the project,
architect Aslı
İngin, said the same set of promises were given to the Roma in two
other neighborhoods further up the Golden Horn in an earlier restoration exercise,
Kağıthane and Küçükbakkalköy. Now, she says,
many of the inhabitants live where they used to have homes in tents or the
wreckage of their former properties.
İngin and others have
launched a campaign Sulukule and its culture under the name ‘Sulukule for
40 days and 40 nights.'
It is evident that the
houses need repair and the neighborhood needs maintenance. But activists and
experts say that this should be done sensitively and in cooperation with the
residents.
The initiative is open to
cooperation, and emphasizes that the very first place of settlement by nomadic
Roma in
“We were working and
learning for nearly a year before we started commenting on how to do it. We are
not against changes, but you have to know every detail before you decide to
change something that will change the lives of thousands of people,” said
a member of the campaign, Funda Oral. Oral is a business administration and
expert on participatory decision making.
The residents of Sulukule
see themselves as having been excluded from the process. No one sought their
ideas while deciding despite the slogan of the municipal transformation
project: “First the people”. The process moved forward and was
capped last December when the Turkish Cabinet endorsed the "rapid
expropriation" of land in the area. The result is a choice of taking
compensation that is said to range from YTL 7,000 to 25,000 or to sell out to
speculators interested in the long-term development prospects.
Those places were their
basic means of living, explained Belgin Cengiz, president of the Accessible
Life Association, an NGO involved in the campaign to reverse the pending
demolition. “This law takes people's rights of self-determination and
active participation,” said Cengiz.
The “Sulukule for 40
days and 40 nights” campaign has begun to attract attention. The NGO
argues there are alternatives to current plans. “Why not make Sulukule
another model for this, it is human life and history. These people have their
ancestors' graves; there are tombstones from the 1800s on this land,”
said Cengiz.
Onur Burçak Belli
Source: Turkish Daily News
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=75344
Gypsies
claim site choice is 'illegal'
15 June 2007
The Gypsy Council has heavily criticised South Holland District
Council's methodology to find suitable travellers' sites, saying it is
discriminatory and illegal.
The council has responded to the district's public consultation on the
matter and says the methods proposed will identify sites which are unhealthy,
unsafe and in places that gypsies will not want to live.
A letter from Ann Bagehote, the Gypsy Council secretary, says: "We
have to object in the strongest possible terms.
"Your criteria deliberately ensures gypsy caravan sites are treated
less favourably than houses for non-gypsy people.
"In our view that is not only offensive but also illegal. You need
to re-write the criteria to say that both gypsy and non-gypsy families need
decent accommodation.
"There is absolutely no point building a site where no-one wants to
live."
The letter is appended to a report by council leader Gary Porter and
corporate director Tim Leader due to be discussed by the cabinet on Tuesday,
which says that the Gypsy Council's criticisms are not accepted by the district
council.
The report will update members on the consultation phase but states
there has been limited response.
No councillors made comments, while Weston and Cowbit parish councils
replied saying that they were unable to identify suitable sites in their areas.
Two members of the public suggested locations and these will be fed into
the formal site selection process and evaluated using the criteria adopted by
the cabinet.
The report asks councillors to approve a modification of the site search
method to include all land within one mile of a bus route and/or a major
arterial road running through the district.
If the criteria is approved the council will then set about constructing
a sieve map and creating a long list by the end of July.
The council needs to find land to accommodate two residential gypsy sites
and a stopping place for up to ten caravans. It launched a public consultation
this year after protests against its three preferred sites.
Kate Barney
Source: The Guardian
http://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2951565
Vacancies
Project Assistant
The
European Roma and Travellers Forum is looking for a Project Assistant to assist
with setting up its new subsidiary in
Job Description (Project Assistant)
- assist the office manager in his/her daily duties,
- perform administrative tasks including book-keeping.
Requirements
- University degree in Social Sciences or Law or commensurate professional
experience,
- professional fluency in English and good knowledge of Romani compulsory,
- additional language skills in particular of French and Dutch will be
considered as an asset,
- flexibility and adaptability.
Candidates must be nationals of a Council of Europe member State.
The position is initially limited until 15 December 2007.
Applications
Interested persons should send their application together with a cover letter
and CV outlining their interest and experience in English, French or Romani to:
European Roma and Travellers Forum
c/o Council of Europe
rue Toreau
F – 67 075 Strasbourg
E-mail:
Letters of recommendation from Roma or Traveller NGOs as well as from former
employers will be appreciated.
Established
in 2004, the European Roma and Travellers Forum is the European Romani interest
representation which gathers Romani organisations from all over
ERTF
Update is an information bulletin on Roma issues. The views represented in the
articles and comments do not necessarily represent the view of the European
Roma and Travellers Forum. For reactions and comments please write to ertf@ertf.org.
