February, 2009

US criticises EU countries for human rights abuses

Posted Sat, 02/28/2009 - 8:56pm

Ethnic discrimination on the Belgian labour market, neo-Nazi extremism in Austria and abuses against Roma in nine EU countries are some of the findings of the 2008 US government report on human rights.

Roma are discriminated against and excluded in a number of EU societiesRoma are discriminated against and excluded in a number of EU societies The report, issued on Wednesday (25 February) by the State Department for each country of the world, says that the Belgian government "generally respected the human rights of its citizens," but found several problems, such as overcrowded prisons, lengthy pre-trial detention, poor detention conditions prior to expulsion and "ethnic discrimination in the job market."

Labour discrimination was directed particularly against young men from the Muslim community, estimated at 450,000 people, principally of Moroccan and Turkish origin.

OSCE human rights office concerned about continuing attacks and hate speech targeting Roma

Posted Sat, 02/28/2009 - 8:43pm

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today expressed concern over continuing attacks and hate speech targeting Roma and Sinti communities in several countries across Europe.

Ambassador Janez LenarcicAmbassador Janez Lenarcic"We observe with great concern the emergence of a climate of hatred directed against Roma and Sinti minorities in some OSCE participating States, which in some cases has led to violence and even deaths," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, ODIHR's Director.

"It is the responsibility of governments to speak out against any form of violence motivated by racial hatred, bring the perpetrators to justice, and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of minority communities," he added.

The recent killing of a Roma man and his son in Hungary was only the latest in a series of attacks on Roma and Sinti in the country and elsewhere in Europe.

Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Posted Fri, 02/27/2009 - 9:07pm by admin


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Roma are an ethnic group in Bosnia and Herzegovina for more than 600 years. According to the 1991 census, there were 8,864 Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina or 0.2% of the population. Unofficial estimations counts 80,000[1] to 400,000[2] Roma or approximately 2 to 10 % of the total population. By religion, they are both christian and muslim Roma in the country. Important communities are living in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Zenica.

Historical data

Johann Roskiewicz estimated in 1867 the number of the Gypsies in Bosnia at 9,000 (1.2%) and in Herzegovina at 2,500 (1.1 %). Rousseau, the French consul in Bosnia estimated in 1866 a number of 9,965 or 1.1% of the population. The 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica mentions 18,000 Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1.6%). 1

  1. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_minority_in_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina

Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Posted Fri, 02/27/2009 - 9:07pm by admin


Image

Roma are an ethnic group in Bosnia and Herzegovina for more than 600 years. According to the 1991 census, there were 8,864 Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina or 0.2% of the population. Unofficial estimations counts 80,000[1] to 400,000[2] Roma or approximately 2 to 10 % of the total population. By religion, they are both christian and muslim Roma in the country. Important communities are living in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Zenica.

Historical data

Roma in the Czech Republic

Posted Fri, 02/27/2009 - 8:30pm by admin

The Roma population in the Czech Republic is estimated to be between 12,000 (Government data) or as high as 360,000 (NGO data). 1

Coercive Sterilization

  1. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_sterilization#Other_countries

Roma in Croatia

Posted Fri, 02/27/2009 - 8:11pm by admin


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Roma are an ethnic group in Croatia for more than 600 years and they are concentrated mostly in the northern regions of the country. According to the 2001 census, there were 9,463 Roma in Croatia or 0.2% of the population. Unofficial estimations counts 18,000 to 300,000 Roma (under it 131,000 Sinte) or approximately 0.5 to 7 % of the total population. The most important Roma organization is the Croatian Roma Union. Many Croatian Roma, as well as the members of other minority goups like Serbs and Jews, have been murdered by the ustasha during the Second World War. 1

2008 Human Rights Report

  1. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_minority_in_Croatia

Roma in Belarus

Posted Fri, 02/27/2009 - 7:59pm by admin

The Roma population in Belarus is estimated between 10,000 (official census data) and 50,000 - 60,000 (NGO estimated data).

The Ruska Roma, also known as Russian Gypsies, are an ethnic group of Roma people, the biggest Roma group of Russia. Ruska Roma live mostly in Russia and Belarus, but can also be found in Eastern and Central Ukraine, France, Canada and the USA.

The group is descended from the Polska Roma who came into Russia in the end of the XVIII century. The Ruska Roma language contains some German, Polish and Russian words and a small amount of Ukrainian and Russian grammar. Ruska Roma are Orthodox Christians.

Their traditional professions are horse trading, music, dancing and fortune-telling. Today, most Gypsy singers, actors, dancers and musicians in Russia are of the Ruska Roma. Their musical culture is considered to be the leading Roma culture in Russia, and is copied by other Roma.