Roma community - page 7 - The Slovak Spectator

New government ignores Roma and refugees

Refugees were a top issue in pre-election debates, but the new government did not write a single word about them in its programme priorities.

Roman Cuprik

Police raid in Moldava alright, prosecutor says

The regional prosecutor’s office in Prešov has dismissed a complaint concerning the police inspectorate’s probe into a raid in Moldava nad Bodvou.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Kotleba agitates even among children

The post of Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region (BBSK) governor was for Marian Kotleba, the leader of the fascist People’s Party – Our Slovakia, just a way to become more visible and enter the parliament, according to Ingrid Kosová from WatchBBSK, the BSSK watchdog project of Quo Vadis NGO.

Roman Cuprik

A man from Roma settlement Vrbnica shows his bruises allegedly caused by police.

AI criticises Slovakia for Roma and migrants

SLOVAKIA failed in human rights protection last year, particularly by discriminating against Roma and its approach to refugees.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Court finds violation of Roma woman’s rights

THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court has overturned the ruling in a case of a Roma woman who unsuccessfully took legal action against discrimination in her access to employment.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Slávka Mačáková, the director of ETP Slovakia

ETP: State could learn from our work with Roma

WHILE some mayors struggle to improve life in segregated Roma settlements, the non-profit organization ETP Slovakia has helped hundreds of marginalized people construct their own houses. The Slovak Spectator spoke to its director Slávka Mačáková about ETP’s success and how the state often ignores proven methods that succeed.

Roman Cuprik

Mašličkovo settlement on the outskirts of Košice

Roma organisation concerned about dead children

THE EUROPEAN Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) called on Slovak authorities to take immediate action in response to the deaths of children in Roma settlements.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Human rights policies still found lacking

AT THE very end of the current government’s term refugees became the main issue on Slovakia’s minority and human rights agenda, but for much of the previous three years the excluded Roma communities and LGBTI issues topped the agenda, according to Zuzana Števulová from the Human Rights League non-governmental watchdog.

Michaela Terenzani

Tanko accuses Matovič of vote-buying, OĽaNO chair denies

CHAIRMAN of the Party of Roma Union in Slovakia (SRÚS) František Tanko accused Igor Matovič of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) movement of buying votes of the Roma; however the latter denied this.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Government Proxy for Roma Community Peter Pollák (right) with Luník IX mayor Marcel Šaňa (left).

Pollák visits Roma ghetto after two children die

ON January 7, the Government Proxy for the Roma Community Peter Pollák paid a visit to Košice city's troubled Roma borough Luník IX and Mašličkovo settlement, where two small children died on January 1 and 3. The first child died in a fire and the second froze to death.

Compiled by Spectator staff

UN Committee slams Slovakia for violence against Roma

THE COMMITTEE Against Torture (CAT) of the United Nations slams Slovakia, citing violence and the state of the judiciary as the most troublesome issues.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Every Roma woman is mentally abused

EVERY second Roma woman is subjected to physical violence in her relationships and every Roma woman has suffered some form of mental abuse from her partner.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Roma Spirit awarded to people without prejudices

THOSE who live without prejudices, regardless of ethnicity, religious faith or social status were awarded the Roma Spirit in 2015, for the seventh time already.

Compiled by Spectator staff

Investigation found no torture in infamous police raid

POLICE officers who raided the Roma settlement Budulovská in the town of Moldava nad Bodvou (Košice Region) in 2013 did not abuse their powers or torture Roma, according to an investigation conducted by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Prešov, but other elements of the case remain open.

Roman Cuprik

Government, election campaign avoid Roma issues

THE GOVERNMENT has given up solving problems confronting the Roma community during its current term, and it is unlikely the related topics will be widely discussed during the pre-election campaign, according to human rights workers.

Radka Minarechová