Dear Friends, We, the Roma Community Centre, would like to draw your immediate attention to the impending planned demolition of the houses of four Romani families in Vilnius, Lithuania. The situation is especially urgent in the light of the extreme weather conditions and the fact that all of the families have children under 12 years of age.

On 27th January 2012 four Romani families, residing in the informal settlement of Kirtimai on the outskirts of Vilnius, Lithuania, received notifications that their houses are to be demolished at 8.00 am on 13th February 2012. The decisions are based on the conclusions of the Vilnius District Courts between the years 2010 and 2011 as regards the illegality of the buildings.

As the court decisions were taken among several cases almost two years ago, the motivation to carry them out now in February, which is usually the coldest month, is unclear. Out of the 10 people in the three houses concerned, there are seven children under 12 years of age, including a six-month-old infant. The temperature in Lithuania in the current period reaches -30 degrees. The local authorities are not providing any alternative housing solution for the families facing eviction.

Unfortunately, this event contradicts the effort of Lithuanian authorities to close the gap between the Roma minority and the majority of the population, as was stated, when committing to submit the National Roma Integration Strategy under the framework of the European Commission.

Furthermore, the planned evictions violate numerous human rights provisions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

We would like to bring the attention of the international community to this precarious situation and ask them to support us in demanding:

1. suspension of the eviction until suitable weather conditions

2. provision of alternative housing to the Roma families Thank you for your attention.

Kind regards,

Roma Community Centre

For more information please contact: Ana Rozanova

Email: ana.rozanova@gmail.com Website: www.roma.lt

4 August 2011 – In a letter to the Macedonian government, refugee and Roma rights organisations have expressed concerns that the recent measures which have been taken in order to prevent Macedonian citizens from seeking asylum in the EU would violate basic human rights principles. In a move to diffuse pressures from the side of the European Union, the Macedonian authorities have recently kept several hundred Macedonian citizens from leaving their country.

Over the last few months, refugee organisations and professionals working with asylum seekers noticed that asylum seekers from Serbia and Macedonia would suddenly drop their application and return to their home country citing fears of punishment. More recently, evidence appeared that the Macedonian authorities kept Roma from leaving Macedonia under the pretence that they would apply for asylum abroad. According to a statement made by the Macedonian Minister of Interior, Gordana Jankulovska, at the so-called Salzburg Forum, which brings together the Ministers of Interior of eight Central and Eastern European States, 764 Macedonian citizens were prevented from leaving Macedonia between April 29th and June 27th. Prior to this meeting, she declared that the persons, who would be rejected at the Macedonian border, would have their passports stamped as a “clear sign to our colleagues at the other border crossings that these persons need to be subjected to additional controls.” She added that the purpose of this measure was to prevent these people from abusing the visa-free system and damage Macedonia’s reputation abroad.

Roma who were deported to Macedonia claimed that they lost their social benefits upon their return. Macedonian Roma NGOs, which have been enrolled as part of the government’s campaign to curb the number of asylum seekers, reported warning their clients that they would risk losing their social benefits and health coverage and might even be issued a travel ban. According to Macedonian media reports, the same NGOs were given the task of informing the Roma constituency that they might face imprisonment upon their return. Indeed, the Macedonian government has made several attempts to criminalise emigration. In July, the former Minister of Justice, Antonio Milošoski, presented a draft proposal for a reform of the criminal code aimed at introducing the abuse of the visa-free regime within the EU as a criminal offense. Accordingly, travel companies and tour operators, who would transport persons, trying to stay in the EU, would face imprisonment of up to five years, even if they were unaware of these persons’ intentions. The same minister also announced another law reform, which would enable the Macedonian authorities to deprive failed asylum seekers and returned migrants of their passports.

According to the NGOs, these measures are not only in contradiction with the Macedonian constitution, but also violate basic principles of international human rights. They remind the Macedonian government that freedom of movement, which includes the right of every person to leave every country including his or her own, is protected by several international conventions and treaties, which Macedonia has subscribed to. They highlight the absence of a legal basis and criteria upon which people are prevented from travelling. They also point out that the freedom of movement is concomitant with the right to have a passport, which can only be restricted under very specific conditions. They also warn that although only a few Macedonian citizens have been granted asylum recently, it does not imply that these citizens do not have the right to seek asylum. In this context, the NGOs point out that international organisations including the EU Commission have remained concerned about the widespread discrimination of Roma in Macedonia and their social marginalization.

They also express concerns about the discriminatory character of the governmental measures as Roma are the most targeted. The NGOs call on the Macedonian government to refrain from any measures which are not in accordance with international human rights law. Instead, they invite the government to combat poverty and discrimination as the root causes for Roma to apply for asylum. Finally, the NGOs ask the Macedonian government to integrate the Kosovo Roma refugees who have been kept in limbo since their violent expulsion from Kosovo, more than twelve years ago.

Chachipe a.s.b.l.

The letter is available here: http://romarights.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/letter_macedonian_authorities_030811.pdf

Now Accepting Applications! Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, Deadline: May 27 - http://bit.ly/gtyZHj 

The International Women’s Media Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2011-12 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, named for the 1998 IWMF Courage in Journalism Award winner and The Boston Globe correspondent who was killed in Iraq in May 2003.

The fellowship will run from September 2011 to March 2012. The application deadline is May 27, 2011. This program, created with Neuffer’s family and friends, aims to perpetuate her memory and advance her life mission of promoting international understanding of human rights and social justice while creating an opportunity for women journalists to build their skills.

One woman journalist will be selected to spend an academic year in a tailored program with access to Boston-area universities as well as The Boston Globe and The New York Times. The flexible structure of the program will provide the fellow with opportunities to pursue academic research and hone her reporting skills covering topics related to human rights. The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship is open to women journalists whose focus is human rights and social justice.

Applicants must be dedicated to a career in journalism in print, broadcast or online media and show a strong commitment to sharing knowledge and skills with colleagues upon the completion of the fellowship. Excellent written and spoken English skills are required. A stipend will be provided, and expenses, including airfare and housing, will be covered. Click here to learn more. http://bit.ly/gtyZHj

Call on the Hungarian authorities to protect Roma communities from harassment and violent attacks and to thoroughly investigate racially motivated incidents and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.

http://action.amnesty.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=1194&ea.campaign.id=9976

On 6 March the far right Jobbik party held a march of up to 3000 people in Gyöngyöspata village. The party was reportedly invited to the village ‘for the protection of Hungarians’ after an alleged incident between a resident and members of the local Roma community.

After the march, around 200 vigilantes from the New Hungarian Guard, Civil Guard Association for a Better Future and Vagabonds for the Protection of Hungarians were reported to have remained in the village and were harassing and verbally abusing local Roma residents. The vigilantes have reportedly been marching in military outfits, carrying whips and axes and issuing verbal death threats to resident Roma families. Due to fear of racist attacks by the vigilantes, many Roma families subsequently stopped sending their children to school. The vigilantes have announced that their next target will be Roma communities in the town of Hajdúhadháza.

According to local NGO representatives and Amnesty International staff police have reportedly taken little action to prevent the harassment. Although police check-points were eventually established according to reports state that Roma residents were told to ‘behave’ and nothing would happen to them.

The Hungarian authorities have an obligation under international human rights law to ensure the security and physical integrity of their citizens, without discrimination, and to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate, punish and provide redress for racially-motivated attacks including harassment by non-state actors. According to the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the authorities are obliged to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitements to, or acts of, discriminatory violence.

FACEBOOK – NO PLACE FOR GYPSY/ROMA/TRAVELLER HATE PAGES

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - which arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are entitled – states that: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

Adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe, the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities sets forth a number of principles according to which States are to develop specific policies to protect the rights of minorities. These include: Promote the conditions necessary for minorities to maintain and develop their culture and identity, (Article 5) and Protect the rights to freedom of assembly, association, expression, thought, conscience, and religion. (Articles 7, 8, and 9)

Sadly, these remain empty words for many in the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller community as discrimination and prejudice (which Sir Trevor Philips, chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, describes as “the last ‘acceptable’ form of racism in the UK”.) is experienced here in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, on a daily basis. A worrying trend is the use of social networking sites such as Facebook to promote hatred towards the Gypsy/Roma/Traveller communities and to encourage others to take ‘vigilante’ style action to cleanse Gypsy/Roma/Travellers from an area.

These pages use offensive terminology such as: ‘pikey’ or ‘gypo scum’; a recently uploaded (now deleted) page contained comments calling for encampments to be petrol bombed. Whilst we accept that one of the key under pinning principles of social networking sites, and indeed the internet itself, it to enable a free flow of information, we do not accept that information that openly incites racial hatred and/or violence falls within these core principles.

Indeed, Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, sub section Safety, would appear to agree with us: You will not post content that: is hateful, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence, You will not use Facebook to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory. Given the above statement, it is difficult to understand why Facebook is not exercising its responsibility to protect those users who are abused and offended by such pages or why, despite repeated reports by users, there is such a delay in these pages being removed. As a company recently valued at $50 billion,

Facebook could easily absorb the cost of installing software that would enable ‘instant’ deletion of pages which are clearly designed to incite racial hatred or at the very least a system which enables people to disable offensive and criminal content immediately which could then be reviewed by Facebook moderators at a later date. This petition is designed to remind Facebook that they have a duty to uphold every individual’s right to be protected from discrimination and physical harm and to urge Facebook to take all steps necessary to demonstrate that their company is not a ‘third party promoter’ of bigotry and prejudice.

Please sign this petition – say no to hate pages on Facebook http://www.petitions24.com/facebook__no_place_for_gypsyromatraveller_hate_pages

I am writing to you to advocate for the new campaign of La Drom Kotar, which aims to have October 8th officially declared the “International Roma Women’s Day”, in recognition of the work of all Romani Women. The idea behind the campaign was conceived at the above mentioned congress. Please feel free to check out the website of the campaign (http://dromkotar.org/en/) or to go directly to the campaign page to sign the petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/8octubre/). La Drom Kotar believes that education is a tool for social change and I stand right along side this idea. Please help and sign the petition. By signing, it allows for 1. International Recognition that allows for organizations to apply for grants to continue their efforts 2. Allows the international community to see that the Roma people are organized and trying to change their future. If we receive 250,000 signatures the Spanish and Catalan Government will listen and declare the 8th of October International Roma Women’s Day. I ask you because I think you would not only be interested in this information and campaign, but perhaps could help us spread and share the news.

PLEASE take a moment to look at the website of La Drom Kotar Mestipen (http://dromkotar.org/en/ )and decide for yourself if you would like to support their efforts. If you feel like signing the petition, please visit (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/8octubre/). Also, I would like to highlight that the petition has been translated to various language: Spanish, Catalan, Romany, Romanian, Turkish and Italian. Thanks again and please know that I am here for ANY questions you might have.

Rosamaria Cisneros-Kotic

By Marie-Francoise

Created 17/12/2010 UA: 256/10

Index: EUR 39/007/2010

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 DECEMBER 2010.

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

The authorities in Cluj, a city in north-western Romania, are preparing to carry out the forced eviction of Roma communities living in Coastei and Cantonului streets by the end of December. Amnesty International is concerned that reportedly houses will be demolished, and some families will be moved to new housing units that do not meet the criteria of adequate housing while others may face homelessness.

On 15 December, families in Coastei street received oral notifications indicating that they have to remove their belongings by 17 December, when the municipality will move them to alternative housing. According to the municipality, there are an estimated 345 people living in Coastei street, including an estimated 140 people who do not have residency in Cluj, and who are at risk of being sent back to their place of residence, raising concerns over their right to freedom of movement.

The authorities have not consulted the affected community on the eviction plans in a full and participatory way. The Mayor announced that 40 families will be housed in new housing units constructed on the outskirt of the city in the Pata Rat area and that those who refuse to be moved will not be provided with alternative housing. This area, according to information received by Amnesty International, is in the proximity of a garbage dump and separated from the rest of the city and the residents will face difficulties in accessing work opportunities and public services, including education and health.

An estimated 429 people (around 100 families) residing in houses, improvised shacks and containers in Cantonului street are also likely to be evicted. The number of alternative housing units which is being proposed by the city authorities is limited and is expected to accommodate only 40 families, which raises serious concerns that a number of people may be made homeless if they are evicted.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:

- Urging the city authorities to ensure that any evictions of the communities currently living in Coastei and Cantonului streets are carried out only as a last resort and in full compliance with international human rights standards;

- Urging them to ensure that the eviction is put on hold until genuine consultation with the Roma community of Coastei and Cantonului Streets to identify all feasible alternatives to evictions and on resettlement options has been conducted;

- Urging the city authorities to provide adequate alternative housing, compliant with requirements under human rights law and that people are not forcibly moved to their original places of residence and prevented from returning.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 31 DECEMBER 2010 TO: Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Mayor of Cluj-Napoca

Sorin Apostu

Str. Motilor 5

Cluj-Napoca 400001,

Romania

Fax: +40 264 599 329

Email: sorinapostu@primariaclujnapoca.ro  



Copies to:



Prime Minister

Emil Boc

Guvernul Romaniei

Piata Victoriei nr. 1,

Sector 1, Bucuresti

Romania

Fax: +40 21 313 98 46

Email: drp@gov.ro  



President

Traian Basescu

Palatul Cotroceni,

Bulevardul Geniului nr. 1-3

Cod postal 060116

Sector 6 - Bucuresti

Romania

Fax : +40 21 410 38 58

Email: procetatean@presidency.ro  

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

Ambassade de Roumanie

Rue Gabrielle 105

1180 Bruxelles

eMail: secretariat@roumanieamb.be  

Fax 02.346.23.45

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Amnesty International visited Cluj and the Roma communities living in Coastei and Cantonului streets in December 2010. The Roma communities were anxious about the threat of possible eviction. They told Amnesty International that – in the past several months - the city authorities had announced that they were to be evicted. The community in Coastei is situated about a five-minute walk from the city centre. The households receive mail to their address and at least some of them are connected to the electricity supply.

The city authorities confirmed - during a meeting with Amnesty International on 8 December 2010 - that they plan to move the families from Coastei Street to new housing units in Pata Rat area. According to the Deputy Mayor, construction of five units accommodating 20 families should be finished by 15 December. He stated that the future tenants would receive short-term rental contracts which may be extended. The municipality quoted multiple complaints from the staff of the nearby public library and an office of a multinational company in the proximity of the Coastei Street as the reasons for the eviction.

Under international law, evictions may be carried out only as a last resort, once all feasible alternatives have been explored in genuine consultation with the affected communities. The authorities then have a duty to provide them with adequate notice; legal remedies, adequate alternative housing and compensation. They must ensure that persons are not rendered homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights as a consequence of eviction. According to international standards, evictions should not be carried out in particularly bad weather or at night and the authorities have a duty to provide those affected with adequate notice.

As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Romania is also under an obligation to ensure to everyone lawfully residing within its territory the right to move freely and to choose his or her place of residence. Amnesty International is therefore concerned at the allegations that persons who are not originally from Cluj will be sent back to the places of their original residence, as this would violate their right to freedom of movement and to choose their place of residence.

Romania is a party to a range of international and regional human rights treaties which strictly require it to prohibit, refrain from and prevent forced evictions. These treaties include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Revised European Social Charter. The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has emphasised in its General Comment 7 that evictions may be carried out only as a last resort, once all other feasible alternatives to eviction have been explored. Even when an eviction is considered to be justified, it can only be carried out when appropriate procedural protections are in place and if compensation for all losses and adequate alternative housing is provided.

UA: 256/10 Index: EUR 39/007/2010 Isavelives.be: le site d'action de la section Amnesty International Belgique francophone - Rue Berckmans, 9 - 1060 Bruxelles. Tel: 02/538.81.77

Source URL: http://www.isavelives.be/en/node/6297

Kedves Támogatónk, kedves Barátunk!

Amikor petíciót fogalmaztunk Sólyom Lászlónak, nem gondoltuk, hogy több mint kétezer aláíró gyűlik össze néhány nap alatt – ekkor született meg a Méltóságot Mindenkinek Mozgalom és a meltosag.net. Amikor valamivel később a „Nem az én nevemben" akciót elindítottuk, magunk sem számítottunk arra, hogy több mint tizenhétezer aláírás érkezik majd a nemazennevemben.eu oldalra és a képek száma is meghaladja a több ezret! Pedig ezen az oldalon látszólag semmi sem történt, s az aláíráson, képfeltöltésen kívül semmit nem is lehetett kezdeni vele. Mégis rendületlenül klikkeltetek, nézegettétek a képeket, húsz nyelven olvastátok az oldalt és gyönyörködtetek Oláh Jolán mozaikjában. Úgy gondoltuk, ennél sokkal többet érdemeltek – hiszen éppen azokban az időkben látogattatok rendre hozzánk és vállaltátok névvel, képpel a szélsőjobb előtörése miatti rosszallásotokat, amikor az ország többsége visszavonult vagy belesimult az arctalan tömegbe. Ezért hoztuk létre a www.coMMMunity.hu oldalt – ahol már nem csak nézelődhetsz, olvasgathatsz, képet tölthetsz fel és gyönyörködhetsz, hanem számos más dolgot is csinálhatsz: aktívan építheted az emberi méltóság tiszteletben tartását vallók közösségét. Gyere, regisztrálj, posztolj, blogolj, oszd meg velünk és másokkal gondolataidat, képeidet, filmjeidet és persze hozd el barátaidat is. Ez az oldal a Te oldalad! Egy olyan oldal, amilyen eddig még nem létezett. Nálunk bárki újságíróvá lehet, aki regisztrál és hisz abban, hogy a publikálással visszaszoríthatja a gyűlölködést.

Építsünk együtt egy közösséget, és mutassuk meg, hogy a szabad szónak ereje van!

Szeretnénk veled is megosztani örömünket. Gyere el a nyitóbulijára október 17-én 18.00-tól a Gödör klub kávézójába.

Program: a TÁP színház színház-koncertje, beszélgetés, végül tánc Dj Clairvo lemezeire.

coMMMentezz, ne háborúzz!

PS: Tegeződni és magázódni egyszerre nem szeretnénk - a tegező forma tehát a bizalom és nem a bizalmaskodás jele.

Dear Madam/Sir,

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights - giving the same rights and freedoms to 800,000 million Europeans - the Council of Europe (www.coe.int) set up a panel consisting of high-level personalities to answer questions related to human rights issues.

The Directorate of Communication is pleased to invite human rights activists and large public to submit questions to DC_paneldiscussion@coe.int by 13 October 2010.

To promote this important treaty and the discussion panel, we would be most grateful if this information could place on your website.

Thank you very much for your interest and co-operation.

Kind regards

Barbara Orkwiszewska

Public Information & Publishing Directorate of Communication Council of Europe

Tel.: 00 33 (0)3 88 41 38 36

www.coe.int

please include rss feature on the page(s) thanks

I am seeking contact with NGOs and Roma working on issues related to informal settlements in urban and peri-urban areas of Macedonia, BiH, Serbia, Montenegro, and/or Croatia. I am specifically interested in progress of stated objectives within their Decade action plans. You can reach me at mhughes2@uno.edu. I look forward to hearing from you!

We are pleased to offer what is probably the largest working reference library of books about Gypsies remaining in private hands – almost 400 items running to about 500 volumes, for sale as a collection. The collection reflects the previous owner’s interest in Asia and is particularly rich in linguistic research, tracing the origins of the Romany language in India through their movements in Eastern Europe, up to the present day in Britain and the United States. Many books concern folklore and history, including a number of foreign language publications, and many of the items are of the utmost rarity, including several that I have never handled before. Many items are association copies, some including letters or interesting inscriptions, and many were formerly owned by important scholars or luminaries in the Gypsy Lore Society, which is itself represented by a complete run of its august journal – often found in parts on the market but rarely complete. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information. http://www.gyork.co.uk/

A SOTE-n orvos egyetemi felvételi előkésztőt vezetek szeptembertől, ehhez keresek 15-20 érettsgizett roma fiatalt az egész ország területről, akik orvosok szeretnének lenni, s VISSZA AKARNAK MENNI ORVOSNAK A SAJÁT LAKHELYŰKRE!

A következő emailen várjuk a jelentkezst: buraikatalin@gmail.com 

Az Amaro Trajo „Életünk” Roma Kultúráért Alapítvány a Romani Divat Stúdióval együttműködve kreatív, készségfejlesztő képzést hirdet a roma kultúra és motívumok iránt érdeklődő kézügyességgel rendelkező fiatalok számára.

A képzés gyakorlati beállítottságú, célja, hogy a jelentkező fiatalok olyan divat termékek (ruhák, kiegészítők, ékszerek, használati tárgyak) tervezzenek az alkotóműhelyben a képzés időtartama alatt szakértők iránymutatásával és segítségével, amelyek hagyományos roma mesterségeken, illetve roma motívumokon, színvilágon alapulnak. A képzés egy vizsgamunka elkészítésével zárul.

A képzés része, hogy a fiatalok saját otthonukban, szűkebb, vagy tágabb környezetükben kutatómunkát folytassanak, egy-egy hagyományos roma motívumot, forma- vagy színvilágot magán hordozó tárgynak a képzésen való bemutatásával ötleteket merítsenek az általuk elkészített terv megalkotásához, és ezzel a többi részt vevőt is inspirálják. A képzés keretében lehetőség van a ruhatervezés, ékszertervezés, vagy lakberendezési tárgyak tervezésére irányuló foglalkozások látogatására. Egy tematikus képzés 6 alkalomból áll.

A képzésen elkészült vizsgamunkákat a Romani Divat Stúdió elkészíti, és a legjobb terveket egy nagyszabású divatbemutatón fogjuk felvonultatni ezév őszén, szeptember 21. napján az Iparművészeti Múzeumban. A divatbemutatón emellett bemutatásra kerülnek az Alapítvány által meghirdetett nyilvános pályázatra beérkezett tervek is (www.romanidesign.hu Design Pályázat menüpont).

A képzés helyszíne: 1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 76.

A képzésen való részvétel ingyenes.

A képzésre jelentkezni lehet: a jelentkezési lap elküldésével a kepzes@romanidesign.hu email címre és személyesen a 1072 Budapest, Akácfa utca 20. szám alatti üzletünkben a jelentkezési lap leadásával (a jelentkezési lap letölthető: www.romanidesign.hu  jelentkezési lap menüpont alatt)

The dearth of acivity surrounding education and human rights as they involve the Roma has seemed to greatly suffered due to the current economic climate here in Romania. Any thoughts as how a Ph.D reseracher may address this problem?

2010. május 14-én 13 órakor megalakul az új Magyar Országgyűlés. Egy országgyűlés, mely nemhogy nem „forradalmi”, hanem sokkal inkább retrográd. A Jobbikkal olyan erő került a parlamentbe, mely az európai történelem leggyötrelmesebb, legfájdalmasabb korszakát idézi. Olyan eszmék jelentek meg és kaptak támogatást a legutóbbi demokratikus választáson, melyekkel nem lehet és nem érdemes vitatkozni. Eszmék, melyek haladás helyett visszalépést, épülés helyett rombolást hoznak. Eszmék, melyek valójában sohasem voltak korszerűek.

Mi, demokraták, ebben a helyzetben egyet tehetünk: megmutatjuk, hogy ezen eszmék már rég kimentek a divatból. Megmutatjuk, hogy ezen eszmék és hirdetőik a Haza és Haladás ellen valók. Megmutatjuk, hogy ezen eszméket minden demokrata érzelmű hazafi elutasítja, képviselőit pedig nem hajlandó komolyan venni és igyekszik kívül tartani a politikai divatszalonon. A Méltóságot Mindenkinek Mozgalom a Jobbikot és annak a magyar parlamentbe kerülését a „helyén” kezeli. Nem tiltakozunk, nem demonstrálunk, nem szervezünk politikai tűntetést, mert nem a Jobbikkal van vitánk. Velük nem vitatkozunk, mert még tiltakozással sem kívánjuk politikai jelenlétüket tudomásul venni, elismerni. Nem tesszük, mert a mesékből megtanultuk, hogy az ellenség a mi dühünkből meríti erejét.

Mi nem dühöngünk, nem háborgunk. Nem harcolunk, hanem görbe tükröt állítunk eléjük.

Éppen ezért 2010. május 14-én 13 órára villámakciót szervezünk a Kossuth térre. Ha te is úgy gondolod, ahogy mi, akkor valamilyen számodra kedves (kockás vagy csíkos, kötött vagy horgolt, sárga vagy rózsaszín, bőr vagy papír, cipzáras vagy gombos, szőrme vagy hasított bőr, feliratos vagy jeltelen) mellénytölts magadra és sétálj egyet velünk csendesen, transzparensek nélkül. Üzenjük együtt minden Jobbikos képviselőnek: Mi ismerjük a helyes mértéket, és látjuk, hogy TÚL NAGY A MELLÉNYük. Mi, velük szemben tudjuk, hogy a fekete gárdista egyenruha és a Jobbik már rég KIMENT A DIVATBÓL.

Várunk:

12:40 - Kossuth tér - Szalay utca sarka

12:45 - A 2-es villamos Szalay utcai megállója (a Vágóhíd utca felé közlekedő)

12:50 - A Parlament előtti, Alkotmány utcával szemközti terület

12:55 - Báthory utca - Kossuth tér sarka

13:00 - Vértanúk tere Mellénnyel a mellényúlás ellen!

www.nemazennevemben.eu

www.meltosag.net/  

The UK Association of Gypsy Women would like to renew our appeal to all Gypsy Roma Traveller NGOs and individuals to help us to keep up the pressure on those European Governments who are forcibly returning the Roma community back to Kosovo. Thomas Hammarberg has condemned Governments of those countries that are indulging in this inhumane practice and so should we.

Please, support the Commissioner when he speaks out against such disgraceful practices by European Governments by writing to them. The returnees have no safe place to go some live in disbanded derelict properties without food, money or prospects of work, some have no choice but to return to live on the poisoned Toxic Waste Camps where death is probably the only possibility of their future that is guaranteed. Kosovo cannot be called a ‘Sanctuary’ but rather a return to a life of living hell. Please see a report below sent to UKAGW by a colleague from the Kosovo Medical Emergency Group

A personal report of the founder of the NGO Hope and Aid

I want to just refer to one other incident that had an effect on me, and about which surely someone in the Political arena should care? I and the 'Robin Hood' team were distributing aid to a Roma community in Fushe Kosova, on the outskirts of Pristina. A reasonably well dressed man stepped forward and tried to speak to me with a few words of broken English, and pulled out of his pocket a single sheet of paper. It had an official stamp, and I quickly recognised it as a repatriation paper. The man was born in Kosovo, and he is now 35. He hadn't lived in Kosovo since he was taken to Germany by his parents at the age of 17.

He has now been made to return (forced repatriation) from Norway (he also mentioned Germany) and was very keen to show me where he was living. I agreed to go with him after we finished, and he waited very patiently. When we arrived, we found a house of brick that had been built by his late father in the early 90's, but was never finished. His father died in the 90's. The house had no kitchen or bathroom, indeed nothing other than brick walls, concrete and rubble floors, and a tiled roof; no electricity, windows, or doors, and it has clearly been used by animals in the intervening period. The man has been sleeping on a piece of foam covered by a single blanket, and his smart travel suitcase stood beside it with all his worldly possessions contained therein, (which were actually just a few other clothes).

He has lived in Germany and I think Norway for 18 years. Having become used to western European living standards, it was clear that he had simply no idea how to now live on nothing!

I was shocked, he showed me a photograph of himself taken previously, looking smart and well dressed, and despite his relatively smart clothes, the difference was 'worlds' apart. He was desperate for me to help him get back to Germany where he had been forced to leave his girlfriend and his children, but the best I could offer was to get his message to MTS to properly investigate his circumstances, and to try to raise his plight, and that of so many others who are being forcibly repatriated from Europe.

I have no wish to accuse, or to pass judgment, but I'm told that many thousands of similar repatriations are being made to Kosovo, daily, and weekly, from across the EU, sometimes with promises of being met and looked after at the airport on arrival. Just yesterday Wednesday 14th April, Germany and Kosovo agreed on the return of some 14,000 former refugees, yet the Municipalities and our friends in MTS are overwhelmed and totally unable to cope properly with assistance for all of these 'human beings' who are largely being consigned to an existence on 'nothing'!

Milan, April 15th, 2010

In spite of the recent resolution issued by the European Parliament reasserting the illegality of the camp clearances without alternative lodgings; despite the warning from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that Roma settlements must be protected and the forced evictions stopped, the Milanese local authorities, undaunted, are still persecuting the Roma and Sinti communities present on its territory. On April 9th, a deployment of 30 local police officers cleared the three settlements in Via Siccoli, Via Guglielmo Pepe and Ponte delle Milizie. More than 100 Roma citizens living in conditions of extreme hardship (among them sick and handicapped people, pregnant women and children) were charged with illegally occupying private land and forced to leave their makeshift shelters despite having nowhere else to go, or being offered any social assistance. The huts the families were living in were bulldozed, while the areas will soon be “secured” to prevent the Roma or homeless returning to the site. While Riccardo De Corato, the deputy-mayor, gives interviews to newspapers and TV channels boasting about the operation that has led to the umpteenth humanitarian crisis, Milan has also adopted repressive measures against the Roma who live in “authorized camps”. Before next summer, in fact, twenty surveillance cameras will be installed over the entrances to the settlements in Via Triboniano, Via Idro, Via Chiesa Rossa and Via Martirano. The cameras will be linked up to police and Carabinieri stations to control the families living in the camp around the clock; families who have already suffered the humiliation of having to adhere to “a sociality pact”, which are special laws very similar to the rules in force in the ghettoes during the Nazi period. The project, initiated by the local authorities, has been approved by the City Police Chief, Gian Valerio Lombardi. The cost of installing these cameras amounts to 479,000 Euros - an astronomical sum, 24,000 Euros per camera ! “With this amount, added to the other 12 million Euros that Milan spends every year on clearing Roma settlements,” say EveryOne Group's co-presidents, Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau, “our organization could have funded thirty factories in the “Romasia Project”, and this would have provided a home and work for all the Roma families present in Milan today. Instead, these policies, which are prompted by racial hatred, have led to a huge waste in public money; offered a terrible image to the world of a city that claims to be a European metropolis - and caused a disastrous situation of hardship and marginalization for more than one thousand human beings”.

For further information:

EveryOne Group

+39 340 8135204 :: +39 331 3585406

info@everyonegroup.com :: www.everyonegroup.com

Let’s share about the European Convention on Human Rights' impact on Europeans everyday lives, its achievements and shortcomings. Let's debate about how we perceive our rights to life, liberty, security, a fair trial, family life and freedom of conscience, religion and expression.

By becoming a fan of the Convention’s Facebook page, you will have the opportunity to view topical movies, access pictures, leave comments on the wall, get to know with numerous multimedia resources as posters, animated brochures and podcasts, follow discussions and keep up to date with the latest events! Last but no means least, here you can get in touch with human rights supporters from all around Europe.

Our rights, our freedoms - Our Convention on Facebook - see you there!

A Council of Europe Newsalert

Milan, March 25th, 2010

From the fire in Livorno to the murders of Abdul Salam Guibre, the Romanian Ionut Cristian Birzudel, and the Moroccan Yussuf Errahali, there have been many murders committed for racist reasons - murders that are often (when there are no witnesses or surveillance cameras present) reported in the newspapers as “a settling of accounts between immigrants”. If we then consider the number of attacks, attempted murders, rapes and beatings, the numbers grow out of all proportion, placing Italy at the top of the list in the European Union for xenophobic and racist violence. EveryOne Group is carrying out some research into this incredible aspect of Italian society and collaborating on the same delicate topic with important international organisms. It is a difficult investigation which far too often has seen our activists/scholars hit by intimidation and serious forms of institutional repression (this in spite of the fact that we are carrying out our research on behalf, or in collaboration with, the most important international agencies and institutions). In Italy the politicians, authorities and media generally try to prevent the crimes committed against immigrants and Roma being reported as xenophobic crimes - which is what they are. This is because they wish to give the Italian people the impression that the security policies against foreigners are not identifiable with negative phenomena such as racism and xenophobia. As a result the present emergency is not considered the spread of racial hatred, but instead the inborn “anti-sociality” and criminal tendencies of non-Italians. It is no coincidence that the anti-immigrant, anti-Roma policies are put forward as policies for legality, security and against social and urban decay. It is a media strategy which also prevents the news getting out of Italy about the climate of racism that is now present on all levels of society. And this is one of the tasks our group has taken upon itself: to stop a curtain of silence and disinformation falling on the tragedy of racial violence and abuse. As well as the better known cases, it is important to point out that a great number of murders of immigrants are taking place without the culprits ever being brought to justice. We only have to search Google for “immigrant murdered”, “corpse of an immigrant found”, “immigrant’s body found without ID” etc. to realise how widespread this phenomena is and the extent of the political and media censorship of those who want it kept quiet.

If in 2008 25% of the victims of violence in Italy were foreigners (http://ilsecoloxix.ilsole24ore.com/p/italia/2009/12/03/AMFascAD-omicidi_maggior_famiglia.shtml), today the percentage is even higher and very often the media does not even mention the presumed nationality of the murder victims. These are very high numbers which are unequalled in the European Union, because in Italy foreigners make up only 6.7% of the population. In the photo, young Abdul Salam Guibre, known as Abba, victim of racial hatred

EveryOne Group +39 393 4010237 :: +39 334 3449180 :: :: +39 331 3585406

www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com

Petíció Erzsébetváros Önkormányzatának Képviselő-testületéhez

A Roma Sajtóközpont eddigi működése és felbecsülhetetlen gyűjteménye Budapest és az ország egyik büszkesége, munkatársaik áldozatos tevékenységének köszönhetően az emlékezés és a demokratikus jogállamiság, a civil szemlélet meghatározó példája. Függetlenségével és szabadságával a magyar kultúrában, civil mozgalomban, médiában megkerülhetetlen értéket teremtett. Alulírottak támogatásunkról biztosítjuk a Roma Sajtóközpontot és munkatársait, társadalmi szempontból különösen fontosnak tartjuk további működésének biztosítását. Felhívjuk a VII. kerület illetékeseit, hogy döntésüket vizsgálják felül, a hatályos jogszabályok és rendelkezések figyelembevételével, illetve a Roma Sajtóközpont társadalmi súlyára és értékére tekintettel biztosítsák és támogassák eddigi tevékenységét.

A petíciót itt írhatod alá: http://www.petitiononline.com/2010rsk/petition.html

We would like to introduce our new web portal that has been jointly developed by young people and adults from five European countries. Young Civic Radio - Europe (YCR-E) is an interactive learning and entertainment medium for education and entertainment. The project contributions on www.ycr-e.eu show how language learning, Civic Education, democracy skills, intercultural learning and the acquisition of so-called soft skills can be connected with each other to qualify the youth for (working) life. The premiere in Europe in this context is the inclusion of "brain-compatible learning”. That’s why our teaching, learning and entertainment offers are quite different in structure and design rather than teaching materials that are in general in use. In addition contributions can be downloaded for free!

Italy, February 18th, 2010

ITALY, TWO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS FROM EVERYONE GROUP RECEIVE A PENAL ORDER (A CRIMINAL CONVICTION WITHOUT GOING TO TRIAL) FOR THEIR HUMANITARIAN WORK: "IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD "

THE NEWS GIVEN BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION: "A CONVICTION BASED ON INACCURATE EVIDENCE GIVEN BY A POLICE OFFICER. IT IS THE UMPTEENTH EPISODE OF ABUSE OF POWER BY THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES "

EVERYONE GROUP APPEALS TO THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE FRONTLINE FOUNDATION: "WE ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, VICTIMS IN ITALY OF VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION AND JUDICIARY ABUSE OF POWER, A WORSE SITUATION THAN IN TOTALITARIAN REGIMES WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL IS AT LEAST GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF

On February 12th, 2010, Roberto Malini and Dario Picciau, co-presidents with Matteo Pegoraro of EveryOne Group, international human rights organization based in Italy, received notification of a penal order, with the prison sentence commuted into a heavy fine. In the decree, issued on 5/11/09 by the Pesaro Justice Court - Office of the Magistrate for Preliminary Investigations – condemns the activists for the offence punishable by art. 110, 340 of the Italian Criminal Code, because on December 20th, 2008 "in complicity with each other, they caused the interruption, or at least disturbed a police operation aimed at identifying three foreign citizens, and used abusive and disparaging language towards the officers from Pesaro-Urbino Police Headquarters, and interfered in the carrying out of their duty. "

"It is the umpteenth episode of abuse from the authorities (and in particular from the Police Headquarters) we have been subjected to in Pesaro and in Italy " say the co-presidents of the Group. "Throughout 2008 and in the early months of 2009 we were repeatedly summoned to police headquarters because of our humanitarian work in defence of the Roma community living in our Country ".

After the protests of our Organization for the endless camp clearances of Roma families (without any offer of assistance) and after our protests over the illegitimate expulsion of a group of Afghan refugees who had applied for asylum, the Pesaro Police Commissioner issued Roberto Malini a verbal warning on the following grounds: "Seeing the Roma are notorious criminals, I consider EveryOne Group part of a criminal organization and I invite it to cease its activity ". Following this warning, the activists of EveryOne Group were subjected to various episodes of intimidation and provocation, while the brutal operations aimed at driving the Roma out of the city continued. The attitude of the Police Commissioner and the anti-Roma programme carried out by the Pesaro authorities have been the subject of various Parliamentary questions, leading to the transfer of the Police Commissioner to a different detachment.

Following the camp clearance (in mid winter) of the last Roma families to take refuge in Pesaro, EveryOne Group filed a complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office at the same Pesaro Justice Court - reporting both the violation of human rights and the open hostility shown towards human rights defenders.

"We were expecting the Prosecutor's Office to investigate the abuse committed by the local authorities towards the Roma community ", say Malini, Pegoraro and Picciau, "actions that have led to several deaths (due to the hardship suffered by seriously ill people, who were suddenly left without a shelter over their heads), miscarriages (due to the stress and fear experienced by the pregnant women faced with so many armed police officers) and serious humanitarian emergencies.

Instead, the same authorities made use of a legal instrument that exists only in Italy, an instrument that violates article 24 of the Italian Constitution. We are talking about a conviction without a trial, yet another intimidatory tool used against human rights defenders which allows an untrue statement made by a police officer to become law without the accused being given the opportunity to contradict him.

We are aware that there is a danger of falling into a legal ‘black hole’, but we have decided to oppose the sentence and we will continue to oppose it on all levels, even if this means taking the case before the European Court of Human Rights. It is a fundamental principle of civility and democracy which does not only concern this episode, but international activism as whole, and the endless obstacles and dangers involved in defending the lives and the dignity of our most vulnerable citizens ".

As for the case in question, Roberto Malini and Dario Picciau say "on the evening of December 20th, 2008 a police officer was talking in an arrogant manner to a young Roma man, while his colleague waited in the patrol car in front of the bar to be served with sandwiches and drinks. We greeted the young man, Nico Grancea, who we knew very well seeing we had been offering him assistance for over year. In answer, we received from the first officer a brusque and threatening invitation to show some identification. We have had dealings with the police force for years and therefore have sufficient experience to know not to rise to the bait. The police officer took down our details without issuing any notification. The magistrates investigating the case did not listen to what the owner of the bar, Mr. Grancea, or the EveryOne activists had to say. The Pesaro investigating magistrate then decided for "a conviction without a trial ".

"Through our appeal and the relevant procedures for defending our humanitarian work" says EveryOne Group,"we intend to bring the case to the attention of the authorities in charge of protecting human rights defenders, in order for them to establish efficient organisms that defend the work of activists who are forced to operate in extremely difficult conditions ".

On February 14th, 2010 Malini and Picciau's case was brought up by the co-president of EveryOne, Matteo Pegoraro, in Dublin, during the 5th Frontline Platform for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, which EveryOne Group (the only European organization) had been invited to attend along with 99 other human rights defenders from all over the world – activists who have received several threats during the course of their human rights activities. "We are appealing to the Frontline Foundation (which protects human rights activists all over the world in cooperation with the United Nations and European institutions) to take up our case. We hope too that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, - always very alert to episodes of this kind - to immediately intervene against this judiciary abuse, which has no precedent in European activism. We will fight " says Pegoraro, "to ensure that these two human rights defenders – who have been involved for many years in difficult campaigns in defence of minority groups – are not subjected to this violation, even more so if we consider that as co-presidents of EveryOne, they were operating in Pesaro and on Italian territory on behalf of the European MP, Viktoria Mohacsi with the precise aim of investigating the behaviour of the authorities towards the Roma people in Italy.

On behalf of our group, we invite civil society, the politicians who are more alert to matters of fundamental rights, the human and civil rights associations and organizations and the European and international institutions and authorites, to express their criticism of an action that goes against all the charters on the human rights of the individual – as well as violating the international laws on the protection and freedom of action and movement of human rights defenders ".

For further information:

EveryOne Group

+39 393 4010237 :: +39 334 3449180 :: +39 331 3585406

www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com

http://www.meltosag.net/uccu-informalis-roma-oktatasi-projekt/

Sosem volt még Magyarországon akkora igény a társadalmi gondolkodás megváltozására, annak fejlődésére, mint napjainkban.

Többek között ez az igény hívta elő az „Uccu” projektet.

A civil kezdeményezés célja, hogy lehetőséget teremtsen a találkozásra és a dialógusra roma és nem roma fiatalok között. Reméljük, hogy ez a lehetőség tágítja a fiatalok gondolkodását, és egyúttal csökkenti a diszkriminatív, előítéletes gondolkodást. A program lényege, hogy középiskoláknak kínálunk az informális oktatási módszereire épülő, 90 perces, a roma társadalommal kapcsolatos oktatási programokat.

Ezekkel a játékos és interaktív foglalkozásokkal arra törekszünk, hogy a fiatalok és diákok minél több információra, és személyes tapasztalatra tegyenek szert a romákkal kapcsolatban és minél nyitottabbá váljanak egymás iránt.

Az „Uccu” projekt egyik legfontosabb eleme a személyesség és az interakció, ezért alapvető fontosságú, hogy ezeket a foglalkozásokat roma fiatalok tartsák, önkéntes alapon. Az élesben történő oktatási programok megelőzően a projekthez csatlakozó roma fiatalok részt vesznek majd egy felkészítő tréningen, ahol elsajátíthatják az informális oktatás módszereit, valamint egyéb szükséges technikákat és tartalmakat tanulhatnak meg.

A civil kezdeményeséshez hosszútávú partnerként csatlakoztak a Haver alapítvány, az OSI, a Kurt Lewin alapítvány, valamint magánszemélyek.

Hogyha kedvet érzel ahhoz, hogy önkéntesként csatlakozz az „Uccu” csapatához, és egy oktatótárssal interaktív foglalkozást tarts diákcsoportoknak arról, hogy mit jelent romának lenni, akkor keress fel minket, hogy megbeszélhessük a továbbiakat.

A jelentkezésed nem kötelez semmire, sem Téged, sem minket! Mindennek a személyes beszélgetésen kell eldőlnie.

Információ és jelentkezés:

László Flóra, program koordinátor

Email: flora.laszlo@gmail.com

Valaki vagy valakik megint meggyalázták a Roma Holokauszt emlékművet a budapesti Nehru parton. Ezért, immáron harmadik alkalommal, jórézésű budapesti polgárok ismét letakarítják.

Felhívunk minden jó érzésű embert, hogy február 13-án, szombaton, 15.00 órakor jöjjön a budapesti Nehru partra a Roma holokauszt emlékműhöz vödörrel, szivaccsal és vízzel, hogy közösen mossuk le a gyalázatot!

Tapasztalataink szerint egyre többen és többen érezték szükségét, hogy maguk is tevékenyen hozzájáruljanak az emlékezés méltóságának helyreállításához. Míg az első alaklommal pár ember, addig másodszorra már több tucatnyian mosták és fényesítették a gránit tömböt, így a mostani alkalommal joggal számíthatunk közel száz fő részvételére. Ezért akciónkat, a törvényi előírásoknak megfelelően, a rendőrségen bejelentettük.

Kezdeményező Clemens Prinz, a Tilos Rádió német nyelvű műsorának munkatársa, műfordító, valamint a Tilos Rádió sok más munkatársa.

Az esemény szervezésében kizárólag pártoktól független magánszemélyek vesznek részt. Felkérünk mindenkit, hogy megjelenése esetén tartózkodjon a pártokhoz köthető szimbólumok használatától. Köszönjük.

Előzmény

2009. november 29-én néhány jóérzésű ember letisztította a Roma Holokauszt emlékművet a Nehru parton, melyet valakik fekáliával szennyeztek be. http://www.noltv.hu/video/2065.html

2009. decemberben 17-én, miután másodszor is meggyalázták az emlékművét, 30-40 jóérzésű ember ismét letakarította. http://www.168ora.hu/itthon/allatszarral-mocskoltak-be-a-roma-holokauszt-emlekmuvet-48359.html  

Kérjük, hívd meg ismerőseidet, vagy oszd meg az esményt az üzenőfaladon!

Köszönjük!

2 February 2010 Dear Colleagues The UK Association of Gypsy Women has embarked on a campaign that will call on the UN for immediate evacuation and re-settlement of the Roma community residing on lead contaminated camps in Kosovo. We are appealing for the support of Romany/Roma/Traveller NGO’s, individuals and all human rights organisations that will use their influence to lobby European and US Governments, not least Antonio Guterres UN High Commission for Refugees and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon regarding the plight of the Roma community residing on the Osterode and Cesmin-Lug refugee camps in Northern Kosovo.

The families’ original homes were at the “Roma Mahalla”, on the southern shore of the Ibar River, part of the oldest Mahalla in the Balkans, having thrived for almost 150 years. The homes here were burned by Kosovan Albanians in an attempt of ethnic cleansing as the conflict for Kosovo was ending: The families were packed into the contaminated camps by the UNHCR with an assurance their stay would be for just 45 days until a safer place could be found, however that was more than a decade ago.

The Roma refugee camps were built close to the Trepca lead mine and smelting works. The factory was closed by order of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UMIK) in 2000, but the slag heaps were never cleaned up.

Osterode camp is overlooked by a 200 metre high mountain of 100 million tons of toxic lead waste. Deadly grey dust blows continually down on the camp below, subjecting the families on a daily basis to toxic lead poisoning on an unprecedented scale.

There are some 650 families, with around 400 children, 200 of which are under the age of ten, residing on Osterode. So far 77 deaths to date in the camp, their organs have simply packed up. Furthermore, even if an immediate evacuation-re-settlement is orchestrated, it will take up to 10 years of intensive medical treatment to rid their blood of the poison. Meanwhile, as many as 200 children are forgotten and abandoned by the UNHCR.

The lead blackens the children’s teeth, blanks out their memory and stunts their growth: mood swings from nervous hyperactivity to something akin to coma; epileptic fits etc, every child conceived on the camps will be born with irreversible brain damage. Armed with this knowledge then and the evidence of the highest levels of poison in the blood ever recorded in history on humans, self affected abortion is preferable.

Dorit Nitzan of World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office, Belgrade, warned this is the worst lead poisoning that they know of in Europe. Lead in the blood is measured in micrograms per deciliter, measured in tens. More than 100 mg/dl in the blood is considered a catastrophically high level. (WHO tests showed the children had so much lead in their blood that medical equipment could not measure it accurately. It should be noted allegedly, that the Kosovo Force (KFOR) soldiers working in the contaminated areas were frequently tested for lead poisoning and were relocated to other parts of the province if the results were above acceptable limits.

Medical treatment, known as “Chelation”; was given to some of the children to clear the blood of the lead- sponsored by WHO but, the success of the treatment assumes that the children have been removed from the source of the pollution. Only one family is known to have left the camp, they were taken to Germany for their child to receive treatment and re-settled there.

Leading toxicologist Professor Alistair Hay, UK Government advisor, said he had never encountered a situation in all the years he had been looking at lead where the situation is as catastrophic as it is for these children.

In 2008 the UNHCR and its sister organisation, UNMIK, abandoned the people on the camps and handed responsibility of them over to the Kosovan Government. The WHO, International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have called for immediate evacuation and proper medical treatment for the people on the camps.

Roma families are being ‘voluntarily’ and forcibly returned from European Countries back to Kosovo steadily, it seems with utter disregard to the lifethreatening situation in which they may find themselves. Widespread discrimination against Roma people in Kosovo and the political, security and economic situation is not conducive to their return, moreover, one would imagine, that obtaining documentation and the repossession of property would prove to be extremely difficult for them.

We believe, the Dutch and Norwegian Governments have funded the rebuilding of the Roma Mahalla in Southern Mitrovica, the US Government have also launched a new project to re-house 50 families from Cesmin Lug where children go barefoot even in the winter on the polluted earth, however, the Roma people cannot be expected to feel safe going back to live in the Kosovan Albanian majority south after what happened in 1999, nor should they be encouraged or forced to do so.

Paul Polansky: Author, Historian, Poet, and Former Advisor to the UN on Roma in 1999, and Human Rights Activist, has tried in vain to get the refugees human rights recognised, has recently returned from a week in the camps.

He told me of nine year old Ergin who is suffering from Kidney Failure and his seven year old brother, who shares Ergin’s special diet, he is five years old and is in an even worse condition than Ergin. Although, Ergin has been hospitalised six or seven times during the past year, he will not survive without his special diet. Neither will his brother.

Ergin was taken off the special diet last September by the Kosovo Agency for Advocacy & Development, who are a Pristina-based Albanian NGO that has a contract with the Minister of Communities and returns to administer the Romani camps in north Mitrovica, KAAD said: the government could no longer meet the cost of the 7 euro’s a day for the special diet. Theirs will be probably be, the next two deaths in Osterode. It appears then, that the Kosavan government can find a better use for that 7 euros a day, other than to spend it on rescuing two little children from the jaws of death.

As Paul Polansky said, we have already lost an entire generation of Romani children to irreversible brain damage’, his contention is that it is doubtful, that they will be able to father another generation We strongly feel that the situation of the Romany/Roma/Traveller people across the whole of Europe today, especially that of Ostrode and Cesmin Lug camps are frighteningly reminiscent of events preceding the holocaust and can no longer be ignored. An article in 1996 in the Observer, by Nick Cohen, stated ‘Gypsies have become the Jews of Europe’. It drew comparisons with the attitudes towards the Jews of the 1930s and the Gypsies of the 90s, comparisons that in UKAGW view remain unchanged today. The situation in Kosovo needs intervention as a matter of urgency.

In 2000, the EU leaders pledged to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty by 2010, mindful of this then, the time is now for all human rights activists to lobby for the immediate evacuation and re-location, of the Roma community from the living hell that they are forced to endure on a daily basis on the toxic waste camps in Kosovo.

Rachel Francis-Ingham | ukagw@ymail.com

Activate yourself! Present making and postcard writing night for Ketrin.

January 12, Tuesday 5 p.m.- 7 p.m.

AIHU Office 1064 Budapest, Rózsa utca 44. 2 em. 15

We provide: stationery, color paper, glue, ideas (origami, drawings etc.), tea, music, etc.

You provide: yourself.

We are looking forward to seeing you! Are you coming?

Participate in the currently ongoing international solidarity action organized by AI with the victims of violent attacks against the Roma in Hungary. The aim of this is to express our solidarity with the survivor of the latest attack, Ketrin Balogh, whose mother was shot dead (http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/romani-woman-shot-dead-hungary-20090804). The incident is being treated as a racist attack.

Since the launch of the solidarity action at the end of November Ketrin received 30-40 letters or postcards. She was really happy to receive these. The arrived mostly from Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, UK and the US. She has for far received only 2 messages from Hungary. Write to her! Please send messages of support and solidarity to Ketrin, through cards, letters, children’s drawings at the address of the family’s lawyer who will regularly deliver your messages to Ketrin. Please do not send fresh flowers as they may not be delivered in time for Ketrin to enjoy them. You may include a religious message.

   Ketrin Balogh, C/O Dr. Árpád Csonka

   3100 Salgótarján

   Március 15. út 4., 3/52

   Hungary

Ketrin prefers Hungarian, so if you want you can also write a message in Hungarian: "Gondolatban Veled vagyunk!"("We are thinking of you")

This action will be a first step in a wider country strategy for Hungary, and will be framed in the scope of the work on Roma within the Non-Discrimination Campaign in Europe: 

* Attacks by non-state actors against racial and religious minorities will be included in a report in late 2010, providing a regional perspective on this question. 

* The Hungary team at the IS will visit Hungary in the New Year to research this issue, meet with civil society and families of victims of attacks as well as the authorities in order to make recommendations for effective action against the attacks in spring 2010. Please watch out for the campaign in February!

__________

Aktiváld magad! Ajándékkészítő és levélíró este Ketrinnek.

Január 12, Kedd 17:00- 19:00

AIM Iroda gyere és írj te is Ketrinek!

1064 Budapest, Rózsa utca 44. 2 em. 15.

Amit mi adunk: kellékek (színes papír, olló, ragasztó, matrica etc.), ötletek (origami, rajzok etc.), tea, zene stb.

Amit te hozz: magadat!

Várunk. Jössz?

Az Amnesty International Nemzetközi Titkársága szolidaritási akciót szervezett a Romákat ért erőszakos támadások áldozataiért Magyarországon. Az akció célja, hogy együttérzésünket fejezzük ki a legutolsó, 2009. augusztusi támadás túlélőjével, Balogh Ketrinnel akinek édesanyja a történtek következtében meghalt (http://web.amnesty.hu/h%C3%ADrek/agyonlttek-egy-roma-nt-magyarorszagon ). Az incidens rasszista indíttatásból elkövetett tettnek minősül.

Ketrin eddig 30-40 szolidaritási üzenetet kapott, aminek nagyon örült. Ezek főleg Németországból, Ausztirából, Hollandiából, Nagy Britanniából és az Egyesült Államokból érkeztek. Magyarországról eddig 2 üzenetet kapott. Kérjük, hogy Te is küldj Ketrinnek szolidaritási üzenetet még ma! Írhatsz neki hosszabban, de egy pár sornak is nagyon örül.

Cím:

   Balogh Ketrin (Dr. Csonka Árpád )

   Március 15. út 4., 3/52

   Salgótarján 3100

Ez az akció egy átfogóbb magyarországi stratégia első lépése lesz az európai Diszkrimináció Mentességi Kampány romákra kiterjedő munkájának keretein belül. Az Amnesty International Nemzetközi Titkárságának Magyarországért felelős csapata várhatóan január 29. és február 8. között hazánkba látogat majd a kérdést vizsgálandó. Kérjük, figyeld a februári kampányt!

Csatlakozzon társadalmi célú kampányunkhoz! 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stastny-novy-rok-Slovensko-Boldog-Uj-Evet-Magyarorszag/181696465145

A látszólag egyre súlyosabbá  váló szlovák-magyar ellentét, és az ebből adódó feszültség oldására társadalmi célú kommunikációt tervezünk megvalósítani többek között valamely, nézettségét tekintve kiemelkedő szlovák, illetve magyar televíziós csatornán és egyéb kommunikációs csatornákon. Minél nagyobb média lefedettség elérése a cél marketing és pr eszközökkel. 

Meggyőződésünk, hogy a feszültséget elsősorban az aktuál-politika generálja, ezért úgy véljük, hogy a két ország civil társadalmának nagy részét pozitívan befolyásolhatja az általunk tervezett gesztus értékű kampány. A két országban egyidejűleg zajló média kampány 2010 januárjának első felében egy egyszerű, mindkét fél számára eljuttatott üzenettel kívánja a megbékélést előmozdítani:

Štastný nový rok, Slovensko! / Boldog Új Évet Magyarország!

http://boldogujevetmagyarorszag.sk / http://stastnynovyrokslovensko.hu

A Magyarországon terjesztett társadalmi hirdetést szlovák civil szervezetek, a szlovákiában sugárzott “Štastný nový rok, Slovensko”-ot pedig magyar civil szervezetek dedikálják.

Vagyis kezdjük az új évet új lappal, új párbeszéddel, a párbeszédet pedig jókívánsággal!

A projekt alapfontosságú részét képezi továbbá egy weboldal, ahol többet is meg tudhatnak az érdeklődők a kampányról, valamint egy blognak is helyet adna a site, ahol a kampány eredményessége is lemérhető. 

A megvalósítás tervezett ideje: 2010. január 

A kampány politikai ideológiáktól és pártoktól független, a kezdeményező öt magánszemély.

Kérjük, amennyiben szervezete csatlakozna a kezdeményezéshez, küldje el a boldogujevet@gmail.com

* e-mail címre szervezete pontos nevét

* kapcsolattartó nevét

* telefonos

* és e-mail elérhetőségét.

Kérjük, továbbítsa a felhívást partnereinek! Kérjük, amennyiben kapcsolatban áll szlovákiai civil szervezettel, értesítse a kezdeményezésről!

A kampányhoz kizárólag civil szervezetek jelentkezését várjuk, a honlapon azonban lehetőség lesz magánszemélyek és egyéb szervezetek csatlakozására is.

A honlapok indulásának várható időpontja 2009. december 15.

További információért keresse a szervezőket a boldogujevet@gmail.com vagy a novyrok10@gmail.com e-mail címen.

Várjuk csatlakozási szándékukat, üdvözlettel,

a szervezők:

Bakos Gábor | Bindics Gábor | Juhász Péter | Lippai Hunor | Nagy Patrik

Kedves Barátok, Érdeklõdõk!

Ha nem a szokványos jótékonysági adományozásban szeretne részt venni, és ha többet akar tudni a Hétesi modell programról kapcsolódjon be a gyûjtésbe, valamint nézze meg a

www.hetes09.blog.hu

www.cseppgyerek.blog.hu

www.irodalmicentrifuga.hu (folyóiratban a hétes, bódis kriszta cimkefelhõ alatt)

Arra gyûjtünk, hogy karácsony elõtt egy nagy szállítmányt vihessünk Hétesbe, és hogy minden család a lehetõ legoptimálisabban kapjon. A hétesi modell program részét képezõ, már hagyományos telepi karácsonyi ünnepséghez és közös fõzséhez pénzadományoknak is örülünk:

Interkulturális és Irodalmi Centrifuga Alapítvány

10700440-44513106-52000001

ezért:

1. Úgy kérnénk a csomagokat, hogy külön legyenek felcimkézve a gyerek ruhák (korosztályok szerint) illetve a felnõtt ruhák és a cipõk, valamint külön az ágynemük, függönyök, abroszok ilyesmik.

2. Gyûjtünk még tárcsás mosógépet (automaták nem jók, mert nincs vezetékes víz), centrifugát, babakocsit, kiságyat, használható állapotban levõ kerékpárokat, játékokat

3. Higiéniai eszközöket: folyékony szappan, sampon, fogkrém, fogkefe (lehetõleg 'utazós',azaz amit tokba lehet tenni), vitaminok, hipo, pelenka és intim betét

4. karácsonyfa díszeket, szaloncukrot, édességet, vitaminokat Szállítani sajnos nem tudunk.

Önkéntesünkkel kell felvenni a kapcsolatot,és vele idõpontot egyeztetni, nála gyûjtünk:

Hámori Éva

30/4477036

szeretettel:

Bódis Kriszta

író, rendezõ, pszichológus

Dear friends and colleagues,

Please note that Amnesty International is looking for a Hungarian-speaking volunteer to assist the EU team at the International Secretariat in London with the work primarily, but not exclusively, regarding human rights violations against Roma in Hungary and Romania.

Romani and Romanian languages are desirable.

If you know somebody who may be interested please forward them the advert.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/jobs/volunteer-opportunities/europe-and-central-asia-programme-eu-team-hu-ro-20091019

Best regards,

Barbora Cernusakova

http://www.ertf.org/referendum 

ERTF Charter of Rights for the Roma

Why a Charter specifically for the Roma?

With regard to the situation of Roma in terms of human rights in Council of Europe member states, the Forum has agreed to develop a country-by-country approach, and following the analysis of the situation, make suggestions and proposals as to how the problems of racism and Anti-Gypsyism identified in each country might be overcome.

Existing recommendations and resolutions have two weaknesses: Firstly, inter-governmental bodies, such as the OSCE, the UN-Commission on Human Rights, or the Council of Europe, tend to work in a vacuum and their conclusions are sometimes diluted as a result of negotiations. Participation of representatives of the Roma community in the preparation of these texts would resolve part of this problem.

Secondly, these recommendations and resolutions are usually not binding; and often not applied by member states. If improvements are to be made to protect the human rights of the Roma, a binding European Charter on Roma Rights needs to be drafted and ratified by member states. This would enable the Roma and their representatives to use all legal means to ensure the implementation of measures.

The Plenary Assembly of the European Roma and Travellers Forum in November 2006 entrusted its Executive Committee with the preparation of a draft of this charter which would bring together all the existing recommendations on the situation of Roma into a single binding legal instrument. The Plenary Assembly adopted a document which would serve as a basis for drafting such a charter.

In 2007/08 the Forum’s Directorate on Human Rights and Directorate on Migration organised several discussion groups with Roma and non-Roma experts on Human Rights and International Law to examine a first draft of the text which was prepared in early 2007.

A legal expert has also provided a second draft which was discussed at the Plenary Assembly of the Forum in November 2008.

A Charter of Rights for the Roma have been created based on this analysis.

The final version of the document is now available for you and we need your vote. We kindly ask you to visit our web-page: www.ertf.org/referendum to have a look at the ERTF Charter of Rights for the Roma and vote either YES or NO.

Each person who feels that he belong to Roma, Sinti, Traveller and all related groups all over the world will have an unique opportunity to express themselves in the next 72 hours starting October the 9th 2009 at 00:00h by entering his/her e-mail address and by clicking the Yes or No button.

Your participation and your vote in this unique e-referendum is vital and will contribute to shaping of the Roma movement.

_________________________

DEN TUMARO VOTO AKANA VASH E ERTF-ski Karta anda e Romenge Chachimata

ERTF Karta anda e Romenge Chachimata Soske jekh Karta specijalno e Romenge?

Pala e situacija le Romengi pala e manushikane chachimata ande thema membre anda o Konsilo la Europako, o Forumo akceptujsardas te buhlearel jekh them-pala-tem dikhipe, thaj pala e analiza le situacijaki, te kerel sugestije thaj propozalura ke sar te phageren pes e problemura le rasismoske thaj Anti-Ciganismoske save arakhle pes ande svako them.

E rekomandacije thaj e rezolucije save si akana si len duj kovlimata:

Anglunes, e inter-governmentalno institucii, sar si o OSCE, o UN-Komisija anda e Manushikane Chachimata, vaj o Konsilo la Europako, si len e tendinca te keren buki anda jekh vacuum thaj lenge konkluzije si butivar dilujme sar jekh rezultato katar e negocijacije. E participacija katar e reprezentative le Romenge ande preparacija kadale tekstongi shaj te reshil jekh rig anda kado problemo.

Dujto, kadala rekomandacije thaj rezolucije maj butivar na-j musaj/obligatorichno; thaj butivar na-j aplikime katar e thema membre. Kana si te keren pes lacharimata anda e protekcija le manushikane chachimatengi anda Roma, jekh obligatorichno Europaki Karta anda e Romenge Chachimata trebul te ramol pes tha te avel ratifikime katar e thema membre. Kado shaj delas voja le Romenge thaj lenge reprezentativenge te len opre sa e legalnb mesuri kash te kerel pes siguro e implemetacija le mesurengi.

O Plenarichno Kidipe katar e Europako Forumo e Romengo thaj e Phirutnengo anda o Novembro 2007 das zor ko Eksekutivno Komiteto kash te lacharen jekh drafto pala kadi karta savo bi anelas khetane sa e rekomandacije save si aba pala e situacija le Romengi ande jekh obligatorichno legalno instrumento. O Plenarichno Kidipe adoptisardas jekh dokumento savo shaj te avel jekh baza kash te ramol pes jekh kasavi karta.

Ando 2007/08 e Forumosko Direktorato pala e Manushikane Chachimata thaj o Direktorato pa Migracija organizisarde maj but diskusijake grupura khetane e ekspertonca Roma thaj Gadze pala e Manushikane Chachimata thaj Internacionalno Zakono kash te eksaminin jekh angluno drafto savo kam avel diskutime ko Plenarichno Kidipe le Forumosko ando Novembro 2008.

Jekh Karta anda e Romenge Chachimata sas kerdi pe kadi analiza.

E finalno versia kadale dokumentoski si kherdi thaj si shutini pe tumaro voto. Akharas tumen te den ande ande amari web-patrin www.ertf.org/referendum te dikhen le ERTF-eski Karta anda e Romenge Chachimata thaj te den tumaro voto Yo vaj Na.

Svako manush so prindzarel pes sar Rom, Sinto, Phirutno thaj aver grupe pashe phanle kadalenca ande sasti luma si len jek uniko sansa pe phenen peskiri opinia ande avutne 71 casuri, o statro si katar 09. oktobro 2009. So trebul te keren si te thon tumari e-mail adresa thaj te pnenen Yo vaj Na.

Tumari participacia thaj tumaro voto ande kado uniko referendumo si vitalno thaj kadalesa ka keren kontribucia ando zuraripe e Romane muvmentosko.

If you wish the information about your organization to be included in the emerging Roma organizations database, please, send a message, which including the following information on your organization:

1. Title.

2. Address.

3. Telephone.

4. Fax.

5. E-mail.

6. Website.

7. Skype or ICQ or Yahoo Messenger.

8. Profile on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn.

9. Areas of activity of your organization.

Send the message to romale@zahav.net.il with the word “Database” in a “Subject” line. All received relevant information will be posted shortly on http://www.idebate.org/roma/.

Looking forward to hear from you!

Mr. Valery Novoselsky, Editor, Roma Virtual Network.

http://www.valery-novoselsky.org/romavirtualnetwork.html 

Kedves Barátunk!

A Méltóságot Mindenkinek Mozgalom csatlakozik a Jöjj és Lásd! roma gyalogos menethez, amely Jászladányból indul Budapestre

A Jászsági Roma Polgárjogi Szervezet elnöke, Kállai László és a hozzá csatlakozó szimpatizánsok gyalog indulnak október 3-án Jászladányból, hogy szót emeljenek a Magyarországon élő romákat érintő hátrányos megkülönböztetés ellen, amely tapasztalható a közoktatásban, az igazságszolgáltatásban, az egészségügyben, a médiában, és számos egyéb területen. A menet október 11-én, vasárnap délelőtt 11h-ra ér a Hősök terére, ahol az eddigi egyik legnagyobb roma tüntetésre kerül sor.

A Hősök terén az ország minden részéről buszokkal érkező szimpatizánsok csatlakoznak Kállai Lászlóhoz és csapatához. Ezt követően a több ezres tömeg együtt vonul fel a Sándor-palotához, hogy átadják Sólyom László Köztársasági Elnök úrnak peticiójukat (kb. 15:30h).

A rendezvény pártpolitikától mentes, a Hősök terén felállított színpadon kizárólag civilek szólalnak fel! 

Fellépnek: Váradi Roma Café | Szilvási Gipsy Band | Romano Drom | Enikő és Ricardo | és mások

Gyere te is! Az MMM kezdeményezői | www.meltosag.net

On September 15th, the U.S. Department of State, with its partners from youth and democracy organizations, academia, and the film/entertainment industry, launched the Second Annual Democracy Video Challenge—a worldwide competition aimed at enhancing the global dialogue on democracy. The Democracy Video Challenge asks filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create short videos that complete the phrase, “Democracy is…” Deadline: January 31, 2010.

The winners are selected by the online voting public. Six regional winners receive an all expense paid trip to the United States.

About the challenge

Create a video short that completes the phrase "Democracy is…"

The Prize

- An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood.

- Gala screenings of the winning videos in Hollywood, New York and Washington

- Exposure to filmmakers and the U.S. film and television industry.

- Meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society.

The Timeline

- SUBMISSION DEADLINE - MIDNIGHT GMT JANUARY 31, 2010.

- Challenge semifinalists will be selected on or about March 31, 2010.

- An independent jury will narrow down the semifinalists to 21 finalists on or about May 15, 2010.

- The general public will vote online for the winning videos May 15 – June 15, 2010.

- Seven winners – one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central Asia, East Asia/Pacific and one anonymous winner – will be announced in mid-June 2010. The six publicly identified winners, one from each of the six geographic regions, will travel to the United States to claim their prize in the fall of 2010.

The Details

- You must be 18 or older to enter.

- Videos can be any style: fiction or documentary, animated or live action.

- Videos must be no longer than three minutes.

- Videos must be in English or have English subtitles.

- Contestants may enter anonymously, but anonymous winners cannot collect the grand prize.

- See contest site for a complete list of rules: http://www.videochallenge.america.gov/.

A Contest for young leadership talent from minorities of any kind on www.eurobama.net or www.atmospheuropa.eu  

The AtmosphEUROPA contest is organized by the ICLS (The Intercultural Communication and Leadership School) of Rome – www.intercivilization.net and The Intercivil Society of London. The Contest is supported by the President of European Parliament, leading members of mainstream political groups (left and right) of the European Parliament, the European Commission and a number of civil society partners. The Contest has been inspired by the 21st century social mobilization methods of Barack Obama.

This contest is for you if: YOU ARE less than 30 years old, coming from a minority background and living in Europe and

YOU LEAD on climate protection, on good diversity in society, or on poverty reduction.

YOU WIN this Contest if you mobilize the most people who will vote for you and your ideas on climate, diversity and poverty.

YES. YOU CAN submit your candidacy before 30 September 2009 and the public will vote for you and your leadership ideas on the Internet in October. The 12 most successful candidates (12 stars) will be invited to Brussels for the prime time final on 4 November 2009. Then another public vote will choose the most popular one among the 12 stars.

YES. YOU CAN do this all through www.eurobama.net or www.atmospheuropa.eu.

The Roma residents of İstanbul's Sulukule neighborhood, who now have to empty their houses after losing a legal battle earlier this year to save their quarter from the local municipality's urban renovation project, are making their voices heard on the other side of the world thanks to a new song by the US gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello.

The New York-based multi-ethnic gypsy punk band, best known for its theatrical stage performances, is lending moral support to the residents of Sulukule through the song “Educate Thy Neighbor,” the Anatolia news agency reported on Friday. The group performed “Educate Thy Neighbor” during appearances across the United States throughout the summer as part of their US tour, which wrapped up earlier this month with a concert at the All Points West Festival in New Jersey. “Educate Thy Neighbor” will also be featured on the band's upcoming studio album, set for release next month, Anatolia reported.

Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hütz was inspired to write “Educate Thy Neighbor” during a visit to İstanbul last summer, during which the band's members also visited the neighborhood, billed on the band's Web site as “the oldest Roma settlement in the world.” Through their Web site, http://gogolbordello.com, the band is also lending support to alternative civil society projects to save the area from being demolished.

Part of the lyrics of the song read: “Streets of Sulukule / Are down, down, down / Urban progress bullies / Try to steal its crown / Till first note a-ripples / And street beats erupts / Now you see who's heart and soul / Is bankrupt … Educate thy neighbor / Bout the urban plot / To pave over culture / For new parking lot.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO7cwm98vB8

The Roma Education Fund, a foundation dedicated to closing the education outcome gap between Roma and non Roma, announces an open call for one position of a member of the Western Balkan Selection Board as a part of the REF/ Scholarship Programs for Kosovo.

The position is short term Consultancy based activity and subject to renewal.

Required skills, knowledge and experience:

- Candidates must hold MA, PhD or equivalent degree;

- Be citizens of Kosovo;

- Have at least two years of experience in Academia and/or have good knowledge of the Educational system in the country and the Western Balkan region overall.
Excellent writing and oral skills in English.

- Willingness to contribute a considerable amount of time to familiarize themselves with the Applications/Reports, Selection Guidelines, Program policies, Project plans and other Program related materials.

- Willingness to travel to one of the Western Balkan region for Selection Meeting, as well as attend annual coordination meeting in Budapest.

- Ability and Interest to work in multiethnic environment.

- Good knowledge of issues related to access to higher education for minority in the region

- Knowledge of Roma Education issues represents an advantage.

Individuals identifying themselves as Roma are strongly encouraged to apply.

CV and Letter of Intention in English to be sent on the following email addresses:

Rodica Moroi rmoroi@romaeducationfund.org

and Merziha Idrizi midrizi@romaeducationfund.org

Deadline for submission of applications is August 15, 2009.

Szerdán este agyonlőttek egy roma férfit Tiszalökön. Éppen munkába indult. Az eddigi hírek alapján lényegében izárható, hogy bármilyen személyes indok, üzleti vita, vagy leszámolás állna a háttérben. Ez már a sokadik ilyen merénylet, és eleddig a rendőrség egyetlen tettest sem volt képes elfogni. Vajon mit érezhet ma bárki, lány, vagy fiú, asszony, vagy férfi, fiatal, vagy öreg, aki történetesen romának született? Vajon miként fekszenek le aludni? Miként küldik holnap iskolába a gyerekeiket?

Jó tizenöt évvel ezelőtt az ausztriai Felsőőrön a cigánytelep bejáratánál csőbomba robbant és több gyereket megölt. Másnap reggel valamennyi osztrák iskolában egyperces felállással emlékeztek meg a tanulók és tanáraik az áldozatul esett roma gyerekekről. Mi sem fordíthatjuk el a fejünket e tragédiákat látva. Osztozunk a hozzátartozók gyászában, az áldozatokat saját halottjainknak tekintjük és követeljük a rendőrségtől, hogy minden eszközével azon legyen, hogy a tetteseket kézre kerítse.

Ezért békés megmozdulást szervezünk április 27-én 18 óra és 20 óra között Budapesten, az Országos Rendőr-főkapitányság Teve utcai székháza előtt, a Róbert Károly krt.-Váci út kereszteződésénél, a Magyar Allamkincstár előtti füves területen. Mécsessel, gyertyával rójuk le kegyeletünket az ártatlan áldozatok emlékére.

Méltóságot Mindenkinek Mozgalom
http://www.meltosag.net/

"I held my son Robi's head in my lap. He kept trying to say that they, they, they, that they had shot him, but he was not able to say it. My little grandson wasn't really conscious, he gasped for air, lying there with closed eyes, and the tears just ran from his eyes" - On February 23, Csaba Csorba and his wife Erzsebet lost their firstborn son, 27-year-old Robi, and their four-year-old grandson Robika. They were escaping from their home, which had been set on fire, when they were shot down from behind. Little Robi would have been five years old on June 8: he wanted a bicycle for his birthday.

Roma and non-Roma mourn together with the Csorba family. We will stand behind them at the funeral. Together we will see father and son off on their final journey. It is the responsibility of all of us that events have reached this point.

We will not allow further innocent victims to die in Hungary. We will be there in Tatárszentgyörgy on Tuesday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m.

The organizers are private individuals. Questions may be addressed to Bence Békés at 06-20-329-7711.

In the early hours of Monday, February 23 a new violent act has taken place causing the death of a five years old child and his father. Most recently the brutal murder of Marian Cosma, a member of the Romanian national handball team, shocked the whole country. But in addition to these tragic events, there are other crimes taking place, too, day by day which get less attention. However, the fact is that the police and the judiciary in general are unable to cope with their duties and in some cases they made striking mistakes in between the investigation and the verdict. The picture that comes through to the large public from these events is that while during the turmoil some members of the police - sometimes breaking the law and ultimately backing each other - apply unjustifiable violence even against innocent bypassers. They do not take measures against organized criminal groups and ethnic based attacks even if they have all necessary information at their disposal. The criminal gangs in the environs of Veszprém, a town in Hungary, have led an obvious illegal way of life in the front of local authorities. Following the tragic events in Tatárszengyörgy the authorities ignored the obvious fact of perpetrators. All these experiences inflamed popular feelings to an unprecedented degree, the process is being even more intensified by everyday problems stemming from the economic meltdown and the instigative behavior of extremist groups.

Therefore, we civilians, members of the Action Against Violence movement, are asking the Government and all competent authorities to re-establish trust in jurisdiction. Put the existing law in operation in all its rigor now, before the large public demands the application of more severe punishment and the introduction of inhuman punitive sanctions that would only result the spread of violence and injustice. Authorities should make clear that all citizen regardless of the color of their skin are entitled to protection while all perpetrators have to assume the consequences of their deed.

Furthermore, we ask that the Government should take genuine measures for the radical settlement of the situation of millions of people living in deep poverty. The increase of social problems – besides ongoing disadvantages – is considerably contributing to the intensification of the tensions.

We are aware that the solution of the situation does not depend solely on the government. Therefore at the same time we are appealing to every one of our fellow citizens. Although the increase in number of violent acts during the last couple of weeks and the exasperated opinions that followed them have saddened us very much, we are pleased to find out also about many new initiatives within which Hungarians, both from majority and Roma communities, have stood by a country that should be built on reconciliation and cooperation.

More and more people realize that the real difference is not between Roma and non-Roma but between honest and dishonest people which has nothing to do with the color of the skin. Even in the midst of ever increasing tension, more and more people dare give voice to their conviction that stigmatizing an entire ethnic group with collective guilt is unacceptable and is extremely harmful. The clash between different ethnic groups would equally harm all Hungarians: both Roma and non-Roma. Only extremist groups would benefit of it, therefore they use all possible means to intensify artificially the tensions.

Therefore we are asking all Hungarian citizens regardless of their ethnic background to stand for peaceful coexistence, to respect the laws in force and to seek non-violent and non-partisan solutions. We are asking all citizens to give voice to their conviction in this regard and to assist the immediate and larger community by offering alternative solutions to exclusivist and violent acts. And last but not least support all those groups and initiatives which are actively striving to achieve these goals!

Common Action Against Violence Civic Movement

movementagainstracism@gmail.com

Kedves Barátunk, kedves Kollégánk!

A Roma Kutatási Hálózat néhány résztvevője az alábbi nyílt levelet szövegezte Sólyom Lászlónak, a Magyar Köztársaság Elnökének. Örülnénk, ha az alábbi levélben megfogalmazott kezdeményezésünkhöz csatlakozna. A levelet a Köztársasági Elnöknek, az MTI-nek, az országos napilapoknak és a mérvadó elektronikus hírportáloknak, továbbá televíziós társaságoknak kívánjuk eljuttatni.

Köszönettel,

Feischmidt Margit, Fleck Gábor, Kóczé Angéla, Kovács Éva, Messing Vera, Michael Stewart, Neményi Mária, Szalai Júlia, Szuhay Péter, Vidra Zsuzsanna, Virág Tünde és Zentai Viola
__________

Tisztelt Köztársasági Elnök Úr!

Az elmúlt hetekben - különösen a miskolci és a veszprémi események után - elszabadult indulatok veszélyeztetik az amúgy is sok nehézséggel terhelt együttélést Magyarország nem roma és roma népessége között. Úgy látjuk, hogy a mérvadó politikai személyiségek és a média ezen indulatok csillapításában erőtlennek mutatkoznak. Ezért kérjük Önt, hogy - amiként hasonló esetben a francia, német, brit közméltóságok - tegye nyilvánvalóvá, hogy aki a romák ellen fordul, az egyszersmind a magyar nemzet ellen fordul.

Bibó István szavait idézve: „A magyar demokrácia válságban van. Válságban van, mert félelemben él.” Hogy ezt a félelmet roma és nem roma honfitársaink legyőzzék, kérjük Önt mint a nemzet egységét megjelenítő legfőbb állami méltóságot, hogy foglaljon állást azokról a társadalmi és gazdasági dezintegrációs folyamatokról, amelyek magyar állampolgárokat fosztottak meg a méltó emberi élet, közösségeiket pedig a normális együttélés lehetőségétől. Szociológiai kutatások igazolják, hogy ezen kirekesztődött csoportokban a romák felülreprezentáltak. Az oktatásból, szociális ellátásból, legális munkaerő-piacról kiszoruló, társadalmilag megbélyegzett romák nem egyszerűen a legális megélhetés lehetőségeitől, hanem társadalmi tagságuk, állampolgárságuk legitimációs alapjaitól is megfosztatnak. A politikai elit nem hagyhatja, hogy e legkiszolgáltatottabb, legvédtelenebb roma csoportok a társadalmi erőszak prédáivá váljanak.

E levél aláírói több évtizede a romák és más magyarországi kisebbségek problémáit vizsgáló kutatók, valamint a kisebbségek megbecsülése és társadalmi integrációja iránt elkötelezett civilek. Így azt is látjuk, hogy nemcsak romák találhatók az egyre mélyülő gazdasági és társadalmi válság áldozatai között, hanem nagyon sok nem roma él félelemben egzisztenciáját, biztonságát, gyermekei jövőjét illetően. Mindannyiunk felelőssége, hogy ezek a félelmek ne erősítsék tovább a bűnbakképzési mechanizmusokat, és ezzel ne váljanak még súlyosabb társadalmi konfliktusok kiváltójává. Közös feladatunk, hogy honfitársainkat egymásrautaltságunkra emlékeztessük. De ezért Ön teheti a legtöbbet, Elnök Úr.

Ezért nyomatékkal kérjük, hogy szólaljon meg az együttélés és a társadalmi szolidaritás szükségességéről. Erre nagyszerű alkalomnak kínálkozik közelgő nemzeti ünnepünk, március 15-e, mely megérdemli, hogy újra a haladó nemzeti eszmék melletti hitünket fejezze ki, s ne váljék szélsőséges csoportok játékszerévé.

Budapest, 2009. február 19.

Kérjük, hogy írja alá Ön is:
Csatlakozni lehet a www.meltosag.net oldalon vagy az info@meltosag.net emailen.

BELGIQUE/4020 LIEGE
BLD.EMILE DE LAVELEYE 122/11
ASENOV ALEKO-0032/0/496488672

European Roma and Travellers Forum
Press Release

Strasbourg, 16 January 2009: Today, in a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon the European Roma and Travellers Forum expressed its indignation at the decision to exclude the Roma Holocaust from the commemoration ceremony.

Mr. Kawczynski, president of the European Roma and Travellers Forum said this decision did not honor the United Nations, which should be at the forefront in respecting the memory of persecuted populations.

“The Holocaust was the implementation of the Final Solution, Hitler’s genocide programme intended to eradicate the genetic contaminants in his plan to create a master race. Only Jews and Roma were subject to the Final Solution, and both peoples lost the same percentage of their total number. However, since the end of the war in 1945, nothing has been done to acknowledge the Romani survivors” said the ERTF president.

Mr Kawczynski reminded United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon of his statement at a Press Conference on 14 December, 2006 where he strongly maintained that “Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any State or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected both in rhetoric and in practice by all the members of the international community”

He added that the United Nations’ decision to exclude Roma from Holocaust remembrance therefore clearly contradicted his views and only perpetuated the marginalisation of the Roma people in the historical record. The Roma continue to face exclusion and discrimination at all levels.

Mr. Kawczynski asked the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon for a meeting to discuss the increasing discrimination and marginalisation of Roma in member states.

* * *

The European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF), which has a partnership agreement with the Council of Europe and a special status with this institution, is Europe’s largest and most inclusive Roma organisation. It brings together Europe’s main international Roma-NGOs and more than 1,500 national Roma organisations from most of the Council of Europe’s member states.

For further information please contact:

European Roma and Travellers Forum
c/o Council of Europe
F – 67 075 Strasbourg
Tel.: 00 33 3 90 21 53 50
Email: ertf@ertf.org or ertf@coe.int

Dear Sir, we ask you to immediately act against the dramatic eviction of one thousand Travellers at Dale Farm (Essex) to avoid a true humanitarian tragedy. Thank you for your attention and support, Roberto Malini, Mateo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau, Glenys Robinson - Gruppo EveryOne

Dale Farm, Essex (United Kingdom): a dramatic appeal against the persecutions of the Travellers (English Gypsies) and the eviction from their own land

Tuesday 13, 2009. A dramatic and urgent appeal for help, like a cry for freedom, has reached EveryOne Group from the United Kingdom: “Dear EveryOne, we have just read your appeal to the European Union reporting the situation of the new “untouchables” - the Roma people - both in Italy and in the EU, and asking the international institutions to intervene as soon as possible to stop the persecution. Here in Great Britain, thousands of Roma people, also called “Gypsies” and “Travellers”, have been evicted from their own land. The institutions of my country have acted on what they call “the planning laws” which are really just a form of ethnic-cleansing. The authorities are asking for a clearance of the area which will leave entire families without a home, rights and a future. At Dale Farm, here in Essex, a thousand people, both Roma and Travellers, live in prefabricated housing, but the Basildon Council wants to bulldoze all our homes. We are fighting back and will resist any attempt at violent eviction by the police and bailiffs. Next week, the Court of Appeal will rule whether Basildon Council can launch its eviction operation - investing in the purge of my people (including many families) three million Euro. This money could be better spent in building homes for the Roma and Travellers instead of razing everything to the ground. We are appealing to your group to come here and monitor and the situation in order to observe and report on what is taking place to the international community. It is necessary to stop this tragic abuse, which would quash the human rights and the lives of hundreds of innocent families.”

EveryOne Group takes up the appeal and will be contacting the local institutions, the British Government, the European Commission, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the European Court of Human Rights. We will bring to their attention the laws that protect the rights of Roma and Travellers in the United Kingdom and the EU, as well as the rights of children and adults to a home, schooling, socio-sanitary assistance and the possibility of taking an active part in society - not to mention the right to live in conditions of safety and dignity. Any attempt to clear the area would be an unacceptable racist pogrom, in sharp contrast with the British Constitution and Laws, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European directives and the charters that protect peoples and individuals. At the same time, we are preparing a dossier on the Roma and Travellers of Dale Farm, on their history and the importance of protecting their presence and ways of life in the United Kingdom. In the event of brutal action being carried out by the police force, members of EveryOne will join the Roma and Traveller families of Dale Farm in their peaceful resistance against this persecution.

The Dale Farm background

by Grattan Puxon, secretary of the Dale Farm Housing Association

Dale Farm is the home of some one thousand Travellers, recognized an ethnic group under UK law. Roma (English Gypsies) began establishing homes in UK in the l960s and were joined by Travellers in the l990s, especially after the l994 Criminal Justice Act increased the powers of police under s62 to “move on” those who, having nowhere else to legally place their caravans, attempted to camp on roadsides and car parks. At the same time, the new Act removed the duty on local councils to provide municipal caravan parks for Gypsies and advised our people to buy their own land. Many families have done so only to be refused planning permission to live on their own properties. Hundreds have since been evicted, often with great brutality, caravans and chalets being bulldozed and burned, property set on fire. Additional land was purchased at Dale Farm, mostly a former scrapmetal yard.

This has been subdivided into 52 plots or yards which are presently occupied by about 90 families. Planning permission has been refused. In May 2005 basildon council decided to take direct action and set aside nearly five million Euro to clear one thousand Travellers from the district. Already 25 “illegally camped” families have been forced to leave and some dozen families on plots at Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, have seen their properties bulldozed. Basildon wish to bulldoze Dale Farm but have been prevented by a High Court ruling. This ruling has been appealed against by the council and a decision by the Court of Appeal is expected shortly.

The decision to “clear” so-called illegal Travellers from the district has been condemned by the Labour party as a racially tainted policy. The Liberal Party is against force being used to evict families from Dale Farm. We experience the their policy as a form of ethnic-cleansing. The eviction operation is likely to meet with resistance as families forced out on the road with nowhere to go face further police harassment under s 62. There is also the danger of vigilante attacks, instigated by the British National Party which is very active in the area. Children will lose their education, the sick proper medical care. At present more than 80 Dale Farm children attend the Crays Hill Primary School. This will close if the eviction takes place. Another 50 children of secondary school age benefit from activities at the Saint Christopher Centre, built at Dale Farm with funding from Essex County Council. The young people have formed the Dale Farm Chaveys Youth Club and plans are in hand by Prof Stephen heppel of Anglia Rauskin University to set up a programme of education for the older children and adults. Basildon have already attempted to remove the Centre and would demolish it if the Appeal Court allows the eviction to go ahead. The community includes many infants, among them newly born triplets. Also a number of severely sick, elderly persons.

Dale Farm Housing Association and the Gypsy Council (which has been fighting evictions since l966) have asked senior police officers and the council to permit the evacuation of infants and sick persons before any eviction attempt is allowed to go ahead. They would be cared for in nearby church halls during the first day of what is expected to be a violent confrontation. The DFHA and GC want to ensure that health and safety regulations are fully adhered to in this operation. But it has not been possible to rreach agreement on the erection of safety fencing (as required by EU law) or a part-evacuation before heavy machinery moves in has yet been. A team of Monitors has been formed, which will be led by Joseph Jones (secretary of the Gypsy Council), expert to the UN Advisory Group on Forced Evictions. Those who have expressed a willingness to act as Human Rights Monitors include Lord Avebury and Nick Harvey MP, as well as members of the clergy.

Essex Fire and Rescue have tried to broker such an agreement. On three occasions council officials and more recently the police have turned down opportunities to discuss these matters. Meranwhile, a 26-page dossier on the past conduct of Constant & Co, the bailiff company contracted by Basildon, has been submitted to Justice Minister Jack Straw. This illustrates how bailiffs who lack certification to work with minors have manhandled and even assualted children during past evictions. The UK Children’s Commissioner has asked Basildon council how it will ensure the safety of of children during the eviction and what alternative accommodation is being provided. The answer is none. Basildon has been told that following an assessment of needs it has a duty to provide 71 additional plots or yards. This would just about meet the requirements of Dale Farm families, who only wish to be left where they are in their own homes. However, Basildon council leader Malcolm Buckley insists they cannot stay here as this is zoned as greenbelt and that there is no other place in the district to which they could move. This despite a recommendation by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott that land be utilized for the purpose at Pitsea. The Gypsy Council has also said that land owned by Travellers in Basildon, and presently used for grazing horses, could be used if planning permission was granted.

See also: http://advocacynet.org/resource/1233 - http://www.echo-news.co.uk/search/3966297.Travellers_told_they_can___t_join_residents__association/

Contact: Gruppo EveryOne Tel: (+ 39) 334-3449180 - (+ 39) 334-8429527 www.everyonegroup.com info@everyonegroup.com

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roma_Francais/files/ a copy of the 2008 report on the situation of the Eastern European Roma people in France, drawn up by the Collectif National Droits de l’Homme Romeurope (National Group on the Human Rights of the European Roma). An introduction summarises all the main points to which we would like to draw your attention.

The Roma people, the majority of whom are originally from Romania, Bulgaria, and, to a lesser extent, ex-Yugoslavia, fled their native countries where discrimination and racism ensured that their existence remained even more precarious. The Roma way of life – having been sedentary for centuries – can in no way be compared to that of French Travelling People.

Similar circumstances for the Roma have been observed throughout France: disgraceful living conditions, mostly in squats or slums, coupled with the permanent threat of eviction, and occasionally surrounded by violence. Such insecurity puts them at risk and results in genuine traumatic experiences, particularly in the case of children whose schooling is chaotic and frequently disrupted by a refusal, more often than not on the part of the local authorities, to enrol them in school.

Chances for the Roma to integrate are slim, as they remain excluded from the job market, particularly as a result of restrictions relating to the transitional period imposed on nationals from new EU member states. France has, moreover, informed the European Commission that it will be keeping these restrictions in place and will not be adopting a more flexible approach from 1st January 2009. The Roma people cannot access the resources and the protection afforded by the social welfare system either, as even more stringent criteria imposed on EU nationals were introduced following the entry of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU. This has resulted in benefits agencies rejecting claims on a virtually systematic basis with no assessment of individual claimant’s circumstances. Some welfare services – state medical aid, child welfare benefits, emergency accommodation, housing, etc. – continue in theory to be open and accessible, but a deplorable number of obstacles and discriminatory procedures continue to exist in these areas too. All these factors combine to give rise to delays in accessing care and treatment and to concerns over the health of the Roma.

The Roma, who are quite unjustifiably presumed to be automatically dependent on state welfare, are regularly served notices of removal. The carrying out of such removals is both absurd and ineffectual given that the Roma have the right to return immediately to France, and indeed do so. Removals rely, in the case of the Roma, on the large-scale implementation of the humanitarian resettlement programme run by ANAEM (Agence National d’Accueil des Etrangers et des Migrations – National Bureau for Settlement of Foreigners and for Migration), which often fails to respect the principle of voluntary participation and fails to incorporate preparation and support into resettlement plans for individuals in their countries of origin.

Whilst it is deplorable that the government and local authorities continue to favour a short-sighted response by evacuating locations where these families reside without offering any alternatives, and thereby merely shifting the problem to neighbouring communities, some in the public sphere have for several years now been behind local moves to provide appropriate housing and to initiate social integration. A sufficiently objective view can now be taken of the experiences detailed in the report for us to confirm that, if the location and precise circumstances of each family is assessed, it is possible to set up appropriate projects. For these projects to succeed, the government must show a positive commitment towards respecting the fundamental rights of the Eastern European Roma who have settled in France.

We trust that you will find this report of interest.

Yours faithfully,

Chloé FAOUZI
Coordinatrice
Collectif National Droits de l'Homme Romeurope

chloe.faouzi@romeurope.org
www.romeurope.org
c/o FNASAT Gens du voyage
59, rue de l'Ourcq
75019 Paris
France.

The Romani Morpho-Syntax (RMS) Database is now accessible online on

http://romani.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/rms

Featuring:

- Comprehensive documentation of over 150 varieties of the language
- Phrase exemplification of all data in sound, transcription, and translation
- Browse, search, and query facilities
- Dynamic map-generating function that plots the distribution of features
- Extensive Help menu
- Link to Romani Linguistics Page with background information on the Romani language
- bibliographical database of Romani linguistics
- downloadable DVD presentation in 17 languages on the historical development of Romani

and more.

Username and Login are NOT required in order to access the database

Note that data entry for some categories and samples is still in progress.

Comments are welcome and can be sent to romani@manchester.ac.uk

Yaron Matras
Professor in Linguistics
School of Languages, Linguistics & Cultures
University of Manchester
Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Jerusalem, 10th January 2009

Dear Friends,

After our letter informing about the situation in Gaza we received many voices of support and willingness to help. I would like to ask you to support our action, and make lives of Gypsies in the Holy Land easier.

Our organization would like to provide the most needy members of Domari community from the West Bank, but also Gaza with food boxes. Lack of food and poverty are one of the biggest problems for our society, and they require an immediate solution. As many as 1000 families need our help, and the estimated cost of one box amounts 200 NIS (equal to 40 Euro or 50 USD). Each box will contain rice, sugar, tea, milk, flour, vegetable cans and other necessary items. For traditionally big Gypsy families (often having as many as 6 children) that kind of help will be of big significance.

We also are in touch with charitable organizations who are able to transport food, clothes or blankets to Gypsy families in the Gaza Strip.

Your contribution can be sent via PayPal to Mr Valery Novoselsky, founder of Roma Virtual Network, our brother and supporter.

PayPal account: nov_val@zahav.net.il

We will be extremely thankful for any kind of help given to us in these difficult times. Let’s do not give up hope of witnessing peaceful days, in the same time working for making our today better.

May God bless you all

Amoun Sleem

Director
Domari Society of Jerusalem
P.O. 51488 Jerusalem (Al Quds)
GSM: +972 (0)54 2066210

Terms of Reference -- Financial Assistant

Background:

The Roma Education Fund (REF), founded in 2005, is a non-profit organization promoting the access of Roma children to quality education in fourteen countries of Europe. It provides grants, technical assistance and policy advice to governments and civil society organizations. The REF Office is located in Budapest, Hungary, with sixteen staff. In addition, five Country Facilitators and a Policy Development Advisors are working for REF in different partner countries.

Objective:

The REF is seeking a Financial Assistant to its office in Budapest, Hungary. The Financial Assistant will work closely with the Financial and Administrative Manager of REF and thus, provide support to the operation of the office.

The Finance Assistant will work full time, according to the terms of his/her employment contract, which includes a three-month probation period as per the Hungarian Labor Law.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

His/her responsibilities will include, but be not necessarily limited to, the following activities:

1. Office Financial Management, including

- paying bills,

- managing petty cash,

- preparing documents necessary for bookkeeping and accounting,

- maintaining contact with accountants and service providers,

- assisting in human resource management issues, including preparation of monthly payroll information for the accountants,

- assisting to develop the internal financial system (manuals, expenses coding),

- preparing contracts for REF suppliers and other partners

- tracking and updating the cash flow management.

2. Projects/Grants Financial Management, including

- assisting in contracting approved grants and releasing disbursements,

- assisting in preparing periodic management reports on finances, expenditures and budget,

- keeping track of project financial management documents to be received from the beneficiaries,

- liaising with the beneficiaries as necessary,

- taking part on financial monitoring of REF projects to check the proper usage if the REF funds based on the REF financial requirements and providing capacity building for the beneficiaries related to finance and administration operation

3. General Office related matters, including

- managing supplies and services for the operation of the office,

- taking charge of maintenance and repair of the office facilities, including the rented office, furniture and office technology equipment

- making regular quotations to reach the best deals among REF existing and possible suppliers.

Required Qualifications:

- BA or MA degree in Finances, Accounting or similar fields.

- Minimum of three years of experience working in any of these or related fields.

- Fluency in English and good English writing skills.

- Fluency in Hungarian, both written and oral.

- Good analytical skills and attention to details.

- Ability to work in a multinational team, under pressure, large number of tasks and meeting tight deadlines

- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office programs

- Knowledge and experience in capacity building with external clients

- Familiarity with the Decade of Roma Inclusion and working with Roma NGOs would be advantage

Starting Date:

March 1, 2009.

Reporting:

The Finance Assistant will work in close collaboration with the Financial and Administrative Manager; therefore, he/she will report to the Financial and Administrative Manager directly.

Application Deadline:

February 1, 2009.

Applications, consisting of a CV and a Motivation Letter with wage level welcome, should be sent to the following email address: jzsiga@romaeducationfund.org, to the attention of Mr. Jeno Zsiga.

Dear Friends,

As the director of the Domari Society of Jerusalem, an organization taking care of Dom people, I would like to give you some insight about the realities of our life.

I am saddened to inform you about the plight of our Gypsy sisters and brothers in Gaza. They live together with Palestinian people, thus also becoming the victims of the conflict. Until now the people in Gaza Strip did not have an easy life, it was riddled with poverty, anxiety and lack of hope.

Recently, the situation is really miserable. We receive a lot of information and alarming signals from Dom families. Many Gypsies have already lost their lives, and many more have been left wounded. Those, who are left live in fear and despair, worrying about what is yet to come. The ones living in Gaza have often lost everything they had. It is heart breaking for us, also because our ethnic group, already small, is decimating. Watching our relatives suffer is not easy as well.

On the behalf of Gypsy community from the Holy Land, I would like to ask you to remember about us, and keep our troubles in your minds. The Gypsies should stand united and supportive of each other, in order to survive and protect our culture.

I do hope and believe something could be done, to make the life of Gaza Gypsies a bit better.

Let’s pray for peaceful times to come, as well as take action to make the world a better place.

We count on you and your support. It is important for us, that the people know the facts and mishaps we face.

May God bless you and keep you safe!

Amoun Sleem
Director,
Domari Society of Jerusalem
P.O.Box 51488, Jerusalem (Al Quds)

GSM: +972 54 206 62 10
Office: +972 2 532 45 10

E-mail: amoun_sleem@hotmail.com

URL: http://domarisociety.googlepages.com/

___________

For the ones who would like to assist the victims practically:

Bank account:

Domari Gypsy Organization of Israel
REG: 580350890
Mercantile Discount Bank ltd.
Sallah Eddin Branch no. 638, Jerusalem
Account No. 503878

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) is an international public interest law organization defending and promoting the human rights of Roma. The ERRC pursues its goals through strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and policy development, and training. Established in 1996 and based in Budapest, the ERRC has an international Board of Directors, employs approximately 20 staff, as well as consultants and interns, and has an annual budget of over US$ 2.4 million. For more information, see the ERRC website: http://www.errc.org

Post Title: Financial Officer (reporting and projects)

Reports to: Operations Director

Annual gross salary: contracted in € (paid in HUF) plus benefits

Purpose of the post:
The Financial Officer prepares key financial reporting documents and for projects handles all financial matters related to projects (including project budget proposals, project expenditure monitoring, project partners financial team coordination, project financial reporting, project cash flow monitoring, project financial forecasts to ensure a smooth financial process in this regard). S/he supports financial reporting towards management and prepares monthly financial overviews, assist the financial team in budget development and core finances by ensuring timely coding of expenditure items and providing feedback to ERRC accountant. S/he ensures compliance with project donor conditions and Hungarian financial regulations.

Areas of Responsibility:

General Tasks include:

- Preparing event related and annual budgets as well as overviews of sub-budgets as required on a monthly, quarterly and/or annual basis
- Preparing financial reports to donors
- Coding all ERRC expenditure items as per the General ledger and ERRC budget ledger numbers and coordinating with ERRC accountant the developments/changes of the GL
- Monitoring and providing budget/expenditure developments to the Operations Director and other Senior Staff
- Providing departmental detailed and itemised expenditure overviews on a monthly basis to heads of departments
- Supporting the Operations Director in the preparation of overviews of staff related costs within the core and project related budgets
- Ensuring financial reporting on external contracts as well as reviewing those contracts with external partners
- Assisting the Operations Director in developing budgets
- Supporting the Operations Director in the preparation of financial reports to the ERRC Board
- Providing suggestions for systematising and harmonising financial reporting
- Taking over tasks of Financial Officer/Cashier at times of his/her absence

Project related tasks include:

- Preparing project budgets as well as overviews of sub-budgets as required in close cooperation with Project Manager and/or Operations Director
- Setting up and utilizing monitoring tools and assisting in the supervision of spending of project budgets
- Controlling and assessing project expenditure against budgets
- Coding project related costs against project cost ledgers
- Monitoring and controlling project related bookkeeping and regularly providing feedback to ERRC accountant
- Ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting on projects run by ERRC
- Providing project reports for auditing procedures and liaise with auditors as required
- Extracting and copying financial receipts with the support of the Administrative Assistant/Librarian
- Preparing quarterly overall projects’ expenditure analysis
- Ensuring that ERRC partners fulfil donor requirements in their financial reporting
- Supporting the Project Manager as required with financial information
- Maintaining regular communication with project partners concerning finances
- Other tasks as assigned by the Operations Director

Essential and desirable requirements for the post are outlined in the person specification and need to be read in conjunction with the tasks listed above. Knowledge of SUN system and/or controller/EU project management experience is an advantage.

Please send applications and motivation letter via e-mail to the attention of Ms. Hajnalka Németh to Hajnalka.nemeth@errc.hu or via fax to +36-1-413-2201.

For more information, see http://www.errc.org

Application deadline: Monday, January 19, 2009

ERRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.