ERIO participation in "Roma and the Media" seminar within Khamoro Festival
The international two-day seminar "Roma and the Media" has been held on 1-2 June 2007, in the framework of the 8th World Roma Festival Khamoro 2007 in Prague, Czech Republic. The event has been attended by journalist from the most important Roma media from all over Europe and distinguished journalist who have succeeded in majority media. The aim of this seminar was to give the space for discussion and exchange of experiences from projects of the participating countries. The two-day seminar was held in a Czech, English and Romanes and was divided into the following sections: Role of the media in society, Existence of Roma TV channels, Internet Roma media and servers, Collaboration with majority media, international agencies and television channels, Financing of Roma media at present and in the future. Mr. Valery Novoselsky, ERIO representative, presented the report entitled "The role of Internet in the formation of a non-territorial Roma nation", where the effects of the Internet on the establishment of Romani virtual nationhood and the role of the Internet in the performance of Roma public diplomacy have been examined.
ERIO at the second stakeholders meeting for discussing the 6th European Roundtable on Poverty and Social Exclusion
On June, 6th ERIO took part at the second stakeholders meeting for discussing the 6th European Roundtable on Poverty and Social Exclusion. The roundtable is organized by the Portuguese EU-Presidency and the European Commission will take place in Azores, Portugal in October 2007. The meeting was attended by networks of NGOs working in the social sector. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the programme of the roundtable with the stakeholders. The social NGOs demanded participation of people experiencing poverty in the roundtable, a stronger addressing of housing issues and those related to the social inclusion of the youth and more space to discuss strategies of promoting social inclusion. ERIO raised the question that the Roma issue should be more thoroughly addressed in whole roundtable, especially in the workshops on migrants and minorities, children and women. The participation of Roma in the event was also demanded.
ERIO's contribution to the Civil Society Consultation of the Fundamental Rights Agency
The European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) is planning to develop a strategy for cooperation with civil society and is therefore looking for new, more efficient and mutually useful forms of cooperation and synergy. A public consultation with civil society was launched in order to identify "ways in which the civil society can contribute to its policy development, its data and information collection, its research and analysis, its awareness raising and outreach and the dissemination of the results of its activitiesâ?¦ [and] â?¦ways that FRA can profile the work of civil society". ERIO was keen to provide its contribution. According to ERIO, the FRA should work closer with civil society organizations than its predecessor EUMS used to do. Among other, ERIO recommended that the FRA establish a mechanism for dialogue and cooperation, e.g. a separate body with representatives of EU-level NGOs meeting on a regular basis for information exchange and joint strategy-building. Regular information exchange, regular meetings for the discussion of specific issues, and thorough consideration of the civil society's feedbacks and recommendations on FRA policy papers are crucial elements of the partnership. Close cooperation with civil society organizations in project and initiatives is required in order to improve the effectiveness of awareness-raising campaigns, which should in particular target people at local level and establish communication channels able to reach the most disadvantaged groups.
UNICEF: Smaller Housing Space for Roma
"Break the chain of exclusion - Roma children in South Eastern Europe" is a study of UNICEF presented in Belgrade on 16 May, 2007. The comparative analysis of living conditions of Roma and majority population is what represents a great value of this study. The study is focused on Roma children and various aspects of their life, as well as context of this life. Housing conditions are certainly one of the most important elements. The data shows that housing space of the Roma household - measured as m2 per member - is half the space of non-Roma population. The integrated study may be downloaded from the website www.unicef.org/serbia. For more details regarding the study please write to Jadranka Milanovic, to the following address: belgrade@unicef.org.
Amnesty International "extremely concerned" about forcible return to Kosovo
In an extensive report, Amnesty International (AI) warns against the forced return of members of ethnic minorities to Kosovo. The human rights organization is "extremely concerned" about some European states preparing deportations to Kosovo, although the political conflict about the status question of the province could lead to renewed violence, according to AI. "To date, neither UNMIK (UN Interim Administration) nor the current PISG (Provisional Institutions of Self Government) have been able to guarantee a safe and secure environment to which members of minority communities may return in safety and dignity", says AI. According to estimations by AI, after July 1999 more than 235.000 Serbs, Roma and other members of ethnic minorities fled Kosovo. Only about six percent have returned since. The full report is available at the section "Documents": http://www.roma-kosovoinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=35#Forced%20Returns Roma in Kosovo AFP: Roma minority demands to be part of Kosovo status negotiations, 29.5.2007 http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=14462 "Building a new beginning - The return to Roma Mahala", in: UNMIK, Focus Kosovo, March 2007. http://www.unmikonline.org/pio/fokus_kosovo_eng.htm
Wi-fi for Roma
No one has ever heard about the village called Tomor except for the people who live in the neighborhood. Still, this small village in Northern-Hungary got into the news. A foundation decided to help the villagers, mostly unemployed and poorly educated, to break out of the segregation: it gives them free wi-fi and used, cheap computers. They say that it helps them for instance to finish their studies, obtain a profession, and then, to find a job. Not only in this area is segregation widespread. Roma pupils (and in Tomor most of villagers are Roma) got often into segregated schools where everything is worse, and only a few manage to finish their studies. This was one reason why the foundation called Rom Som decided to help them. Now it operates community centers in six villages where the villagers can study or simply browse on the web. Nevertheless, they started another project in Tomor. With the help of some companies, computers are available for the villagers at a cheap price - around 80 euros, which reminds on the 100-dollar-laptop project of Nicholas Negroponte that inspired the Hungarian initiative as well. Monthly payments are also possible. And beside the computers, free wi-fi covers the whole village. The foundation says, if the program works, they will continue it in other villages, and then, they may also extend the program abroad. One thing is sure so far: the people in Tomor are enthusiastic. http://blogs.tol.org/roma/2007/05/31/wi-fi-for-roma/
Dale Farm Eviction Ordered
The Development Control and Traffic Management Committee of the Basildon Council voted last night to take direct action under §178 of the Town & Country Planning Act to evict 14 families in eleven properties at Dale Farm, Crays Hill, Essex. Pleas by members of Dale Farm that the eviction be suspended until an alternative site could be developed were ignored. They have applied for planning permission to build a chalet park at Terminus Drive, Pitsea, as proposed earlier by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The vote clearly shows that the council deems the protection of the Green Belt as more important than the than potential suffering that members of the community will face once they have been rendered homeless. Members of the Dale Farm community who attended the meeting expressed concerns that the committee did not fully comprehend the magnitude of its decision. Even local council members in attendance expressed apprehension. Nethermayne Ward Councillor Geoff Williams stated that the committee members, 'would have to live with a heavy conscience the rest of their lives,' for making the decision to continue with evict. Fortunately, the committee's decision was not unexpected. Members of Dale Farm's Housing Association had already completed legal aid forms for all eleven properties and in the hope that they can be included in a previous injunction, which protects the rest of Dale Farm until a pending judicial review is heard by the High Court later this year. However, as Grattan Puxon stated, the Housing Association is undertaking, 'a race against time,' as its lawyer is now searching for a sympathetic judge who can be persuaded to include the eleven properties under the same injunction. The committee's decision to evict comes is particularly troubling since many of the residents of the eleven properties are either terminally ill or pregnant mothers. Constant & Co., the bailiff company employed by the committee to carry out the eviction, has repeatedly ignored health and safety regulations when bulldozing properties during previous evictions. The fear is that Constant & Co.'s negligence will continue at Dale Farm, jeopardizing the lives of those residents who are up for eviction. Dale Farm is the largest Traveler community in the UK with over 1,000 residents. Over the past two years, the 86 Traveler families at Dale Farm have been defending their rights to build on land that they own. Zachary Scott, Advocacy Project, 07906821841, zds3@georgetown.edu Grattan Puxon, 01206523529, dale.farm@btinternet.com
Call for proposals for design of image for the FERYPs Festival
The Forum of European Roma Young People - FERYP is calling for proposals for design of image for the Festival, which will be organized in the framework of the "All different, all equal" and in co-operation with the DOSTA! Campaigns. The image will be used for the preparation of all promotion, information, etc. materials and publications, produced by FERYP for the Festival. The image produced should: 1. Reflect the slogan of the Festival - "Roma are Europe!" 2. Be produced specifically for the activity of FERYP and is not reproducing in any form already existing designs. Any individual or entity can submit proposal to the organization. However if there are many qualified proposals, priority in the selection will be given to proposals submitted by young Roma. In return the organization is offering an award of 100 Euro and mention of the authors' name in all promotion materials and publications related to the Festival. The deadline for submitting the proposals is 17 June 2007, Sunday (24h00) in electronic form at: ferypfest@yahoo.com Any questions or request for clarifications should be addressed to Ms. Ramiza SAKIP at the same e-mail address. The awarded proposal will be announced on the 20th June 2007.
Call for Submissions: Decade of Roma Inclusion Photo Contest
The Open Society Institute and Open Society Archives announce an international photography contest entitled "Chachipe." Chachipe means "truth, reality, or right" in Romanes. The Decade of Roma Inclusion began in 2005 with the participation of nine governments (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia), the World Bank, and numerous nongovernmental organizations. Its aim is to fundamentally improve the socioeconomic status and social inclusion of Roma. In keeping with that broader goal, this contest aims to help combat visual stereotypes associated with Roma, and to present Roma people and culture sensitively and artistically. The contest is open to all regardless of citizenship, residence or ethnic affiliation, but submissions by photographers of Roma origin are especially encouraged. The contest is open to professional and amateur photographers alike. After voting by an international jury of professionals and the public, prizes will be awarded in five categories. The best of the submitted photos will be displayed in an exhibition at Galeria Centralis in Budapest in fall 2007, and a selection of photos will appear in a publication early next year. More information on how to submit work is available on the photo contest website at http://photo.romadecade.org/.
