SM628 European Policy and Practice towards Ethnic Minorities Department of Public and Social Policy, ISS FSV UK Fall Lecturer: Antonin Mikeš Roma 1

The Roma/ Gypsies/ Travellers -Political mobilization at the European level. Readings: Benhabib, Seyla (2002) The Claims of Culture. Equality and Diversity in the Global Era. Princeton, USA- Woodstock, UK: Princeton University Press, preface plus pp Bagihole, Barbara (1997) Equal Opportunities and Social Policy: Issues of gender, race and disability, London: Longman, Chapter two: What is Equal Opportunities? pp

Video “Romano Drom” 3

The Roma now and then Laura Laubeova 4

Presentation structure Terminology Language, identity and culture. Ethnic group? Roma and non-Roma Multidisciplinary approach International Romani movement. Resources and links Case study: Czech Republic Historical background Education 5

Terminology The Roma/The Romani people/The Romanies  (12 m Worldwide)‏ Rom (sg.) (husband; Dom, Domari), Romni (she),  Roma (pl.) or Romanies (pl.) accepted by Sinti (prof.Hancock) - a Romani (sg.)‏ Example: She is a Roma (sic.), Romani, a Romni  Adjective: Romani (international documents), Romany (literature)‏  Gentiles: Gadje, gadjo, gorgio (gaujo, gawjo, gawja Hancock)‏‏ 6

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Language The Romani language or Romani or Romanes (in a Romani way, Romanily)‏ Vakares Romanes? Do you speak in the Romani way? Kiravel Romanes. She is cooking in the Romani way Sanskrit origins:  1760 Valyi Stefan, Univ. of Leiden, NL  Vienna Gazette 1776, 9

Identity, culture, politics Identity - Reflects attitudes of majority-  Withdrawal and separation (protect values and culture)‏  Internalisation of stereotypes Culture & values - cleanlines, eating, treatment of animals, funerals, sexual behaviour, extended family, etc Romani organisations: Intl. Romani Union; Roma National Congress  European level ERRC, ERIO, ERF 10

Roma as an ethnic group National minority (CEE), ethnic minority group (UK - RRA). Community / communities. Heterogeniety-  Roma (Rumungro, Vlach, Romanichal, Kalderash, Kale, Kalo, Lovari), Sinti, Travellers, playground and circus people, bargee people, new age travellers etc “Gypsy is not a lifestyle” but race/ ethnic group (Hancock)‏ Minorities autochtonous, immigrant Roma as European minority vs Roma as European nation Europe's largest transnational minority; Declaration on "non-territorial" nation (2001)‏ 11

Roma in society Discrimination, racism, anti-Gypsyism, denial of racism, reversed racism Majority relations twds the Roma:  (annihilation/extermination, persecution, segregation; assimilation, integration, accommodation, inclusion)‏ 12

Roma in society- Cont. Major point of departures for Romani studies:  a) history – migration from India, early persecution in cent., assimilation under Habsburgs and in Portugal; Porrajmos – Romani holocaust (0,5 m)  b) family and values;  c) Romani language, identity and self- determination of Romani nation  But: 13

Romani Studies / Romology Linguistics (Indology)‏ History (of repression)‏ Cultural and social antropology / ethnology Culturology, Musicology International Relations (UN, EU…)‏ International law (HR, minority rights law)‏ Public and social policy Political economy (WB, UNDP)‏ Sociology (power issues)‏ Social psychology (in-group, out-group dynamics)‏ Psychology (of prejudice, stereotyping) etc. Multi-disciplinary approach 14

Key Romani movements, Politics and Policy Actors International Romani Union Roma National Congress European Roma and Traveller Forum (CoE)‏ European Roma Rights Centre (US Law)‏ World Bank Decade of Romani Inclusion

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz dined with seven young Roma leaders on February 27 in Prague to get their views on efforts to empower the Roma

World Romani Congresses (IRU)‏ The first World Romani Congress, London, 1971: 16-spoked wheel as their international symbol, flag (green and blue), anthem (Roma arise), proclaimed April 8 international Romani day 2 nd 1979 Geneva (Jan Cibula)‏ 3 rd 1981 Gottingen Ge (Rajko Djuric) 4 th 1990 Warsaw (Rajko Djuric) 5 th 2000 Prague (Emil Scuka)‏ 6 th 2004 Lanciano Italy (Stanislav Stankiewicz)‏ 17

RNC Rom & Sinti Union in Hamburg (80s) -> RNC, Rudko Kawczynski Grassroot, militant, Romani refugees from Eastern Europe – basic human rights approach  Pan-European Romani Identity vs  nationalist “Zentralrat “ of German Sinti and Roma (81)‏ 18

Useful links and resources European Roma Rights Centre European Roma Information Office European Roma and Traveller Forum WB UNDP 19

Roma in the Czech Republic Background, Present situation, Issue of Education Useful links and resources Romea Czech Radio 20

Maria Theresa and Joseph II. ( ) assimilation, sedentarisation 1927 Act on Nomadic Gypsies (identity cards)‏ Nazi holocaust PORRAIMOS ( –1.5 m. victims)‏ Ctibor Nečas, Paul Polanski Concentration Camp Lety History 21

Communism Enforced + voluntary relocation to Sudetenlands from Slovak shanty-town settlements (after removal of Germans 1945)‏ 1958 Act on settlement of nomadic persons (repealed in CZ in 97)‏ 1965 policy on transfer (from Sk) + dispersal, displacement 68 federalisation; Association of Gypsies-Roma (73)‏ 1978 Charter 77 Document 23: Information on situation of Gypsies-Roma (warning if economy modernises) 22

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Roma gained status as a national minority, Romani MPs Bogardus scale of social distance – high hostility Beauty Queen racist utterance, Racist attacks Unemployment; stereotype of self-chosen unemployment Criminality (20% vs. national 3%) – criminalisation Citizenship law 93 (de facto discrimination), put most Roma in position of aliens, 96, 2000; led to 97 exodus Housing ghettoisation (barren flats), educational segregation 24

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present  97 Emigration to Canada, UK → Bratinka report on situation of R. community in CZ  98 UN CERD Concluding observations on CR, "de facto” segregation in edu (article 5 ICERD)‏  April 99 Draft Concept of Romani integration  “Conflict-free co-existence of the R. community with the remainder of society“  Safety, non-discrimination, improving social sit (employment, housing, health)‏ 26

“Exodus” to Canada 1996: 150 Czech Romani claimants  6 Aug. 1997: TV documentary  6 Aug.– 8 Oct. 97: 1500 claimants/ “Invasion”, i.e. 6% of all refugee claimants in 97 Re-introduction of visa requirement Migration to UK and other EU countries 27

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After cont UK Immigration officers in Prg Airport  (CHC Statement 29 Aug. 01), House of Lords Dec "Conception on Romani Integration",  (2004 reformulation/revision)‏ 2003 Denial by pres. Klaus, BBC Hardtalk 29

Education and Roma in CZ Push factors for systemic change  97 Canada visa imposition  EU accession, Criticism by US Gov., UN, CoE  Role of NGOs, e.g. ERRC:  Ostrava region, 27 times more in Special Schools, 5% population, 50% in special schools  Cf. Brown vs Topeca Board of Education in USA, 50yrs ago 30

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Achievements Romani teacher assistants (introduced in 1998) communication barrier, partnership teaching, small group work, contact with families, etc not systemic, inferior status, no educated R. teachers, if not successful ‑ blaming the victim Preparatory classes (since 1994) cf Headstart USA Multicultural/ intercultural edu. Programmes -NG0s, community schools 34

Threats: Re-standardisation of psychological testing in the age of 6 - doubts about the concepts itself Subtractive versus additive bilingualism, irreversible cognitive damage (abstract thinking concepts - Piaget) Institutional, unwitting, indirect racism+ denial of racism 35

D.H. and Others v. Czech Republic first challenge to systematic racial segregation in education in Europe brought by 18 Roma children from Ostrava; placed in “special” remedial special schools (ss)‏ complaint filed in 2000 by ERRC - intensive qualitative and quantitative research that revealed racial disparities. 7 February 2006 European Court on HR ruled in favour of the Czech State (improvement)‏ Final announcment – fined Cz State 36