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Porajmos
The Porajmos known as "The Devouring" occurs during World War II. Approximately 250,000 to 500,000 Roma were murdered at the same time as the Jewish Holocaust. -
The Fall of the Iron Curtain
As the Iron Curtain falls across Eastern Europe, reawakened nationalism leads to rising ethnic tensions, and are pushed to the margins of society. Source: The Romani Archives and Documentation Center -
International Roma Day
International Roma Day was first declared in Poland during the fourth World Romani Congress.
The day celebrates Roma culture and raises awareness about the challenges they face. Source: Organization for Organization and Security in Europe
http://www.osce.org/odihr/117171 -
Political Representations
Only two Roman were elected to the Hungarian National Assembly as members of parliament. Source: Hungarian Election Resources
http://www.electionresources.org/hu/ -
Roma Flee Yugoslavian War
1992 was an unstable time for the Roma. When war started in Yugoslavia many fled to other parts of Europe, where they continued to face persecution. In many European nations, Roma are seen to be taking advantage of social welfare programs. Source: BBC: "Analysis. Gypsies caught in the middle."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/386945.stm -
Education in Macedonia
The Roma language is officially recognized in the Macedonian school system. Schools are mandated to provide two hours per week of native language instruction to Roma children in Grades 1 through 8.
Source:The Minorities at Risk (MaR) Project
http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/mar/chronology.asp?groupId=34303 Source: -
Hădăreni Riots in Romania
A riot broke out in the village of Hădăreni, Romania, when a group of Romanians attacked four Roma men. Three of the men were killed during the riots and 18 Roma houses were set on fire.
The police were implicated in the event for not stepping in to stop the violence.
Source: European Roma Rights Centre
http://www.errc.org/article/9-years-later--romanian-government-hasnt-kept-its-promises/4308 -
European Roma Rights Center
The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) is founded by Hungarian human rights activist Ferenc Koszeg.
Through civil lawsuits, policy development, advocacy and education, the Center has fought against racism and human rights abuses of the Roma in 27 countries. It has won 255 of its 300 human rights cases.
Source: European Roma Rights Center -
Asylum in Canada
Between August and October, over 1,000 Czech Roma seek asylum in Toronto and other cities in Canada after a Czech television program suggests Canada is a safe place to seek refugee status. Source: http://www.errc.org/article/asylum-news-on-czech-hungarian-and-slovak-roma/1790 -
Roma Elected to European Parliament
Lívia Járóka is elected into the European Parliament as part of the Fidesz - Hungarian Civic Alliance party. She is the first Romani woman ever to be elected into the European Parliament. Juan de Dios Ramírez Heredia was the first person of Romani descent to be elected as member of the European Parliament from 1986-1999. Source: European Parliament/MEPs
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html?id=1329&language=EN -
Magyar Gárda Mozgalom
Magyar Garda Mozgalom, the Hungarian Guard Movement is a nationalist organization, formed with members taking an "Oath of Loyalty" to defend Hungary. Magyar Garda is allegedly funded by the far-right Jobbik party.
In 2009, a Budapest Tribunal expunged the party. -
Germany Pays Romani to Leave
Germany pays 100 Roma to leave Germany and return to their native Romania. Finland follows suit in 2010 after public condemnation of the Roma . Source: European Roma Rights Centre
http://www.errc.org/cms/upload/file/factsheet-roma-rights-record.pdf -
The Rise of Jobbik
Far right-wing and anti-Roma party Jobbik increases in popularity. Jobbik receives 14.7 per cent of the votes in the 2009 European Parliament Elections, securing three seats. In 2010, it becomes the third-largest party in parliament, gaining 16.6 percent of the vote in the Hungarian national election. Source: Report: Hungary’s Jobbik Party,the Challenge of European Ethno-Nationalism and the Future of the European Project.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rj -
French Deportation
SourceFrench President Nicolas Sarkozy begins a program to deport 3,000 Romani immigrants without residency permits, back to their native countries, (most from Romania and Bulgaria.) In the wake of recent confrontations between Romani protesters and police over the killing of a young French Romani who evaded a police checkpoint, and the proliferation of Romani squatter camps throughout France, the government vos to shut down the camps and offers 300 Euros to each Romani adult who leaves voluntarily. -
Framework for Roma Integration
The EU signs and adopts the EU Framework for National Roma Integration in the hopes that all EU countries would create their own platform to ensure inclusion for all members of the Roma community. The framework highlights the great need for access to education, healthcare, employment and essential services.
Source: European Public Health Alliance
http://www.epha.org/a/4500 -
Hillary Clinton Makes Promotes Romani Rights
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks of the U.S. commitment to protecting and promoting the human rights of Romani people throughout Europe : Source: https://blogs.state.gov/stories/2009/04/08/secretary-clintons-message-international-roma-day -
Surveying the Anti-Roma Sentiment
A survey in Hungary finds a substantial number of Hungarians share anti-Roma sentiments. 60 per cent believe criminality is inherent in "gpsy" blood. And 40 per cent of people believe it's acceptable to exclude Romanis from certain bars and clubs. Source: http://www.tarki.hu/hu/news/2012/kitekint/20121122_bernat_kreko_prezentacio.pdf -
The Evacuation of Gyöngyöspata
After weeks of intimidation by various right-wing militant groups in Gyöngyöspata, a town in North Eastern Hungary, 270 Roma women & children are evacuated by the Red Cross for fear of their safety. Three people are injured in an attack. Of the 2,800 people in Gyöngyöspata, 450 are Roma. It's also one of the many towns & villages where the uniformed right-wing radical group Szebb Jövöert would march through intimidating Roma inhabitants. The group has ties to Jobbik.
Source: Budapest Times -
Hostility in Hungary
SurveyA report published by Harvard University found that Roma in Central Europe are widely discriminated against and face an unprecedented amount of violence. The report concluded that while racism is rampant throughout Europe, Hungary is more hostile toward minorities than other countries. -
Mob attack in Paris
A 16-year-old Romani boy was abducted from his home in a makeshift camp in suburban Paris and then beaten and left unconscious by a gang of 20 masked vigilantes. The teen was beaten in retaliation for a suspected theft nearby. The brutality of the attack on the Romanian national highlighted the social and political stigma the nearly 20,000 immigrant Romanis face in France and the squalor in which they live.
Source: http://fxb.harvard.edu/report-growing-patterns-violence-roma-hungary-sou