European Union Anti-Romanyism

1 european union

1.1 bulgaria
1.2 czech republic
1.3 denmark
1.4 france
1.5 germany
1.6 hungary
1.7 italy
1.8 romania
1.9 slovakia
1.10 united kingdom

1.10.1 england
1.10.2 scotland
1.10.3 wales
1.10.4 northern ireland

european union

the practice of placing romani students in segregated schools or classes remains widespread in countries across europe. many romani children have been channeled all-romani schools offer inferior quality education , in poor physical condition or segregated all-romani or predominantly romani classes within mixed schools. many romani children sent classes pupils learning disabilities. sent so-called delinquent schools , variety of human rights abuses.

romani in european cities accused of crimes such pickpocketing. in 2009, documentary bbc called gypsy child thieves showed romani children being kidnapped , abused romani gangs romania. children held locked in sheds during nights , sent steal during days. however, chachipe, charity works human rights of romani people, has claimed programme promoted popular stereotypes against roma contribute marginalisation , provide legitimacy racist attacks against them , in suggesting begging , child exploitation intrinsic romany culture , programme highly damaging romani people. however, charity accepted of incidents detailed in programme in fact took place.

the documentary speculated in milan, italy single romani child able steal as €12,000 in month; , there many 50 of such abused romani children operating in city. film went on describe link between poverty, discrimination, crime , exploitation.

a united nations study found romani people living in european countries arrested robbery more other groups. amnesty international , romani rights groups such union romani blame widespread institutionalised racism , persecution. in july 2008, business week feature found region s romani population missed economic opportunity . hundreds of people ostravice, in beskydy mountains in czech republic, signed petition against plan move romani families ostrava city home town, fearing romani invasion schools not being able cope influx of romani children.

in 2009, un s anti-racism panel charged gypsies suffer widespread racism in european union . eu has launched program entitled decade of roma inclusion combat , other problems.

bulgaria

antiziganist protests in sofia, 2011

in 2011 in bulgaria, widespread anti-romanyism culminated in anti-roma protests in response murder of angel petrov on orders of kiril rashkov, roma leader in village of katunitsa. in subsequent trial, killer, simeon yosifov, sentenced 17 years in jail. of may 2012, appeal under way.

protests continued on 1 october in sofia, 2000 bulgarians marching against romani , viewed impunity , corruption of political elite in country.

bulgarian prime minister borissov referred roma bad human material

volen siderov, leader of far-right ataka party , presidential candidate, spoke crowd @ presidential palace in sofia, calling death penalty reinstated romani ghettos dismantled.

many of organized protests accompanied ethnic clashes , racist violence against romani. protesters shouted racist slogans gypsies soap , slaughter turks! many protesters arrested public order offenses. news media labelled protests anti-romani pogroms.

furthermore, in 2009, bulgarian prime minister borissov referred roma bad human material . vice-president of party of european socialists, jan marinus wiersma claimed has crossed invisible line between right-wing populism , extremism .

czech republic

sign banning entry of itinerant gypsies , rovers, 1920s

roma make 2–3% of population in czech republic. according Říčan (1998), roma make more 60% of czech prisoners , 20–30% earn livelihood in illegal ways, such procuring prostitution, trafficking , other property crimes. roma more 20 times overrepresented in czech prisons population share suggest.

according 2010 survey, 83% of czechs consider roma asocial , 45% of czechs expel them czech republic. 2011 poll, followed after number of brutal attacks romani perpetrators against majority population victims, revealed 44% of czechs afraid of roma people. majority of czech people not want have romanis neighbours (almost 90%, more other group) seeing them thieves , social parasites. in spite of long waiting time child adoption, romani children orphanages never adopted czech couples. after velvet revolution in 1989 jobs traditionally employing romanis either disappeared or taken on immigrant workers.

the romanis @ centre of agenda of far-right groups in czech republic, spread anti-romanyism. among highly publicized cases vítkov arson attack of 2009, in 4 right-wing extremists injured three-year-old romani girl. public responded donating money presents family, able buy new house donations, while perpetrators sentenced 18 , 22 years in prison.

in january 2010, amnesty international launched report titled injustice renamed: discrimination in education of roma persists in czech republic. according bbc, amnesty s view while cosmetic changes had been introduced authorities, little genuine improvement in addressing discrimination against romani children has occurred on recent years.

denmark

in denmark, there controversy when city of helsingør decided put romani students in special classes in public schools. classes later abandoned after determined discriminatory, , romanis put in regular classes.

france

france has come under criticism treatment of roma. in summer of 2010, french authorities demolished @ least 51 illegal roma camps , began process of repatriating residents countries of origin. french government has been accused of perpetrating these actions pursue political agenda. in july 2013, jean-marie le pen, controversial far-right politician , founder of national front party, had lawsuit filed against him european roma , travellers forum, sos racisme , french union of travellers association after publicly called france s roma population smelly , rash-inducing , claiming comments violated french law on inciting racial hatred.

germany

after 2005 germany deported 50,000 people, romanis, kosovo. asylum seekers fled country during kosovo war. people deported after living more 10 years in germany. deportations highly controversial: many children , obtained education in germany, spoke german primary language , considered germans.

hungary

hungary has seen escalating violence against romani people. on 23 february 2009, romani man , five-year-old son shot dead in tatárszentgyörgy village southeast of budapest fleeing burning house set alight petrol bomb. dead man s 2 other children suffered serious burns. suspects arrested , on trial.

in 2012, viktória mohácsi, 2004–2009 hungarian member of european parliament of romani ethnicity, asked asylum in canada after requesting police protection @ home serious threats receiving hate groups.

italy

in 2007 , 2008, following brutal rape , subsequent murder of woman in rome @ hands of young man local romani encampment, italian government started crackdown on illegal roma , sinti campsites in country.

in may 2008 romani camps in naples attacked , set on fire local residents. in july 2008, high court in italy overthrew conviction of defendants had publicly demanded expulsion of romanis verona in 2001 , reportedly ruled acceptable discriminate against roma on grounds thieves . 1 of freed flavio tosi, verona s mayor , official of anti-immigrant lega nord. decision came during nationwide clampdown on romanis italian prime minister silvio berlusconi. previous week, berlusconi s interior minister roberto maroni had declared romanis in italy, including children, fingerprinted.

opposition party member gianclaudio bressa responded insisting these measures increasingly resemble of authoritarian regime . in response fingerprinting plan, 3 united nations experts testified exclusively targeting roma minority, proposal can unambiguously classified discriminatory . european parliament denounced plan clear act of racial discrimination , asked italian government not continue.

romani woman demonstrating in bucharest, romania against antiziganist remark of romanian president traian băsescu against journalist bothered him in may 2007. text on shirt Ţigancă împuţită! ( stinking gypsy! )


romania

roma make 3.3% of population in romania. prejudice against romanis common amongst romanians, characterize them thieves, dirty , lazy. 2000 eu report romani said in romania… continued high levels of discrimination serious concern...and progress has been limited programmes aimed @ improving access education. survey of pro democraţia association in romania revealed 94% of questioned persons believe romanian citizenship should revoked ethnic romani commit crimes abroad.

in 2009-2010, media campaign followed parliamentarian initiative asked romanian parliament accept proposal change official name of country s roma (adopted in 2000) Țigan (gypsy), traditional , colloquial romanian name romani, in order avoid possible confusion among international community between words roma, refers romani ethnic minority, , romania. romanian government supported move on grounds many countries in european union use variation of word Țigan refer gypsy populations. romanian upper house, senate, rejected proposal.

several anti-romani riots occurred in recent decades, notable of being hădăreni riots of 1993, in mob of romanians , hungarians, in response killing of romanian gypsy, burnt down 13 houses belonging gypsies, lynched 3 gypsies , forced 130 people flee village.

in baia mare, mayor cătălin cherecheș announced building of 3 metre high, 100 metre long concrete wall divide buildings in gypsy community lives rest of city , bring order , discipline area.

the manele, modern music style, prohibited in cities of romania in public transport , taxis, action being justified bus , taxi companies being passengers comfort , neutral ambience, acceptable passengers. however, actions had been characterised speranta radulescu, professor of ethno-musicology @ bucharest conservatory, defect of romanian society . there few criticisms of professor dr. ioan bradu iamandescu s experimental study, linked listening of manele increased level of aggressiveness , low self-control , suggested correlation between preference music style , low cognitive skills.

slovakia

three slovakian romani women have come before european court of human rights on grounds of having been forcefully sterilised in slovakian hospitals. sterilisations performed tubal ligation after women gave birth caesarean section. court awarded 2 of women costs , damages while third case dismissed because of woman s death. report center reproductive rights , centre civil , human rights has compiled more 100 cases of roma women in slovakia have been sterilised without informed consent.

united kingdom

according lgbt rights organisation , charity stonewall, anti-romanyism prevalent in uk, distinction made between romani people , irish travellers (both of whom commonly known exonym gypsies in uk), , so-called travellers [and] modern gypsies . in 2008, media reported gypsies experience higher degree of racism other group in uk, including asylum-seekers. mori poll indicated third of uk residents admitted openly being prejudiced against gypsies.

thousands of retrospective planning permissions granted in britain in cases involving non-romani applicants each year, , statistics showed 90% of planning applications romanis , travellers refused local councils compared national average of 20% other applicants, disproving claims of preferential treatment favouring romanis. travellers argued root of problem many traditional stopping places had been barricaded off , legislation passed previous conservative government had criminalised community. example, removing local authorities responsibility provide sites leaves travellers no option purchase unregistered new sites themselves.

in august 2012, slovakian television network tv joj ran report cases of romani immigrant families slovakian or czech citizenship, children forcibly taken away british authorities. has sparked romani protests in towns such nottingham. authorities refused explain reasons actions slovak reporters. 1 of mothers alleged allowed visitation newborn baby in empty room; there no furniture, forced change baby s dirty nappies on floor, reflected negatively in social workers report. then, when not change diapers on subsequent occasion following experience, failure change them reflected negatively in report well. tv joj alleged in case, biological mother suffered nervous breakdown because children being taken away, seen proof not able take care them , put adoption. problem further escalated after reports slovak children put adoption either in uk or elsewhere, after british court rejected request of grandmother, living in slovakia, legal custody of grandchildren. dispute has sparked protests in front of british embassy in bratislava, protesters holding signs such britain – thief of children , stop legal kidnappers . according slovak media, on 30 romani children taken parents in britain. slovak government voiced serious concern on readiness of british authorities remove children biological parents no sound reason , further stated readiness challenge policy in front of european court of human rights.

england

in 2002 conservative party politician, , member of parliament (mp) bracknell andrew mackay stated in house of commons debate on unauthorised encampments of gypsies , other travelling groups in uk, [gypsies , travellers] scum, , use word advisedly. people these people have done not deserve same human rights decent constituents going ordinary lives . mackay subsequently left politics in 2010.

in 2005, doncaster borough council discussed in chamber review of gypsy , traveller needs , concluded gypsies , irish travellers among vulnerable , marginalised ethnic minority groups in britain.

a gypsy , traveller support centre in leeds, west yorkshire, vandalised in april 2011 in police suspect hate-crime. fire caused substantial damage centre used base support , education of gypsies , travellers in community.

scotland

the equal opportunities committee of scottish parliament in 2001 , in 2009 confirmed widespread marginalisation , discrimination persists in scottish society against gypsy , traveller groups. 2009 survey conducted scottish government concludes scottish gypsy , travellers had been largely ignored in official policies. similar survey in 2006 found discriminatory attitudes in scotland towards gypsies , travellers, , showed 37 percent of questioned unhappy if relative married gypsy or traveller while 48 percent found unacceptable if member of gypsy or traveller minorities became primary school teachers.

a report university of west of scotland found both scottish , uk governments had failed safeguard rights of roma recognized ethnic group , did not raise awareness of roma rights within uk. additionally, amnesty international report published in 2012 stated gypsy traveller groups in scotland routinely suffer widespread discrimination in society, disproportionate level of scrutiny in media. on four-month period sample 48 per cent of articles showed gypsy travellers in negative light, while 25–28 per cent of articles favourable, or of neutral viewpoint. amnesty recommended journalists adhere ethical codes of conduct when reporting on gypsy traveller populations in scotland, face fundamental human rights concerns, particularly regard health, education, housing, family life , culture.

to tackle widespread prejudices , needs of gypsy/traveller minorities, in 2011, scottish government set working party consider how best improve community relations between gypsies/travellers , scottish society. including young gypsies/travellers engage in on-line positive messages campaign, contain factually correct information on communities.

wales

in 2007 study newly formed equality , human rights commission found negative attitudes , prejudice persists against gypsy/traveller communities in wales. results showed 38 percent of questioned not accept long-term relationship with, or unhappy if close relative married or formed relationship with, gypsy traveller. furthermore, 37 percent found acceptable if member of gypsy traveller minorities became primary school teachers, lowest score of group. advertising campaign tackle prejudice in wales launched equality , human rights commission (ehrc) in 2008.

northern ireland

in june 2009, having had windows broken , deaths threats made against them, 20 romanian romani families forced homes in lisburn road, belfast, in northern ireland. 115 people, including women , children, forced seek refuge in local church hall after being attacked. later moved authorities safer location. anti-racist rally in city on 15 june support romani rights attacked youths chanting neo-nazi slogans. attacks condemned amnesty international , political leaders both unionist , nationalist traditions in northern ireland.

following arrest of 3 local youths in relation attacks, church romanis had been given shelter badly vandalised. using emergency funds , northern ireland authorities assisted of victims return romania.