Roma Solidarity News

Advertisers Withdraw From Hungarian Newspaper Over Anti-Roma Statements – ERRC.org

romasolidaritynews — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:26:22 +0000

“Budapest, 5 March 2013: Five companies have said they will no longer place advertising in a Hungarian newspaper that published extreme anti-Roma statements.

The withdrawal follows a campaign by 24 NGOs, who contacted 15 companies that advertise with Magyar Hírlap, a right-wing Hungarian daily newspaper. The NGOs asked the companies to consider suspending their advertising activities in the newspaper until it distances itself from the racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic views expressed by Zsolt Bayer, who compared Roma to ‘animals’ and called for a solution, saying “This must be dealt with – immediately, and by any means necessary”.”

via Advertisers Withdraw From Hungarian Newspaper Over Anti-Roma Statements – ERRC.org.

CMAJ: Health care organizations wait to talk to citizenship minister about

romasolidaritynews — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:35:37 +0000

“Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has so far failed to agree to repeated requests by national health care organizations for a meeting to discuss cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program IFHP providing health benefits to refugees.”

via CMAJ: Health care organizations wait to talk to citizenship minister about.

Roma in France Face Multiple Evictions – ERRC.org

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:32:50 +0000

“Budapest, 8 March 2013: Roma from Aubervilliers have faced multiple evictions, with disproportionate use of police force, after their settlement was burned down last month. The European Roma Rights Centre and Médecins du Monde sent a letter to French authorities asking them to provide assistance for the families.”

via Roma in France Face Multiple Evictions – ERRC.org.

Canada took fewer refugees last year, despite pledge to increase numbers

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:51:20 +0000

“OTTAWA – Refugee groups are accusing the Conservatives of backtracking on a pledge to increase the number of refugees resettled to Canada.

Statistics show the number of refugees resettled in Canada in 2012 was down 26 per cent from 2011, despite repeated claims by the government that it`s aiming to increase refugee levels by 20 per cent.

The figures also show the government didn’t meet its own target for the number of refugees it planned to resettle.

What was supposed to be an intake of between 7,500 and 8,000 ended up only being 5,412.”

via Canada took fewer refugees last year, despite pledge to increase numbers.

Greece: Golden Dawn Threatens to ‘Turn Migrants into Soap’ – IBTimes UK

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:45:25 +0000

“Greek police have launched an investigation into the country’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party after one of its members threatened to turn immigrants “into soap” and put them in “ovens”.

In the Channel 4 television documentary shot by Konstantinos Georgousis, Alexandros Plomaritis, who ran for parliament in last year’s election, is seen calling migrants living in Athens “miasma” and “subhuman”.

“We are ready to open the ovens. We will turn them into soap … to wash cars and pavements. We will make lamps from their skin,” Plomaritis said.”

via Greece: Golden Dawn Threatens to ‘Turn Migrants into Soap’ – IBTimes UK.

OPRE ROMANI WOMEN ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY | ROMEDIA FOUNDATION

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:39:26 +0000

““There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women.” These were the words of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, known as the father of Pakistan, who died in 1948.

Sixty-five years on, we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 to pay tribute to all women across the world of every colour, of every religion. US First Lady Michelle Obama will award ten women with the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award and recipients this year include a Tibetan poet, a Syrian human rights lawyer and a Somali peace activist among other fearless women striving against adversity and/or oppression.

But the strength of which Jinnah spoke is particularly abundant among the women of the Romani communities whose determination to succeed against not only racial but sexist stereotyping is an inspiration to women everywhere.”

via OPRE ROMANI WOMEN ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY | ROMEDIA FOUNDATION.

Der Spiegel: Germany doesn’t want Romani people in Schengen – Romea.cz

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:37:43 +0000

“The latest issue of Der Spiegel magazine reports that while no one in the German government has ever officially stated the policy (and probably never will), it is completely evident whom it targets: Germany has been rattled by the immigration of Romani people from Bulgaria and Romania, which is why it doesn’t want to open its doors to citizens from the two poorest states on Europe’s border.

The aim is clear: Don’t let Romani people into Schengen. What’s more, Great Britain is even changing its social welfare legislation to address the issue.”

via Der Spiegel: Germany doesn’t want Romani people in Schengen – Romea.cz.

Hostile crowd greets Jobbik MP | The Budapest Times

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:31:58 +0000

“Opposition Socialist MPs, mayor Tivadar Puskás of the Christian Democrats, which is junior partner in the ruling alliance, and renowned pianist Tamás Vásáry were among 300 or so who turned out in Szombathely on Saturday to protest against Jobbik.”

via Hostile crowd greets Jobbik MP | The Budapest Times.

CMAJ: Doctors promise protests along with court challenge to refugee health cuts

romasolidaritynews — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:48:44 +0000

“Canadian doctors who have launched a legal challenge against the federal government’s cuts to health benefits for refugees promise further protests and disruption of federal Cabinet ministers’ announcements, starting this spring.

Medical students and residents who have “never been in the streets before, never protested” are rallying around this issue and will join other health care professionals to hold the government accountable for the effect its cuts are having on refugees’ health, says Dr. Philip Berger, head of family medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, and a leader in Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care.”

via CMAJ: Doctors promise protests along with court challenge to refugee health cuts.

Authorities in Rome deny social housing to Roma communities | Ekklesia

romasolidaritynews — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:49:49 +0000

“The new Italian government and municipal authorities in Rome must act urgently to end discriminatory policies which deny Roma communities access to social housing, Amnesty International says.”

via Authorities in Rome deny social housing to Roma communities | Ekklesia.