Romani in Europe

1
Romani in Europe

• French and Hungarian Approaches

Dez Hill Slav 467 Fall 2006
2
Introduction to Romani

• Brought to Europe 600 years ago
• Roma originally from Indian Subcontinent

• Indo-Aryan
• Related to
• - Punjabi

3
Romani in Contemporary Europe

• Romani speakers in every European country
• Concentrated in Eastern Europe
• Speakers add up to about 5 million

4
Problems Facing the Roma

• Variation in Language
• Will there be a Romani that is mutually
  intelligible across Europe in 50 years?
• No nation of its own
• No national government/representation
• Persecution faced by Roma
• Stigma attached to being Roma across Europe

5
Stigma of being Roma in Europe

• Problems with Self-identification
• The Roma Stereotype in Europe
• Rooted in History
• Promoted by Media
• Unchallenged by Govt.
• Political ramifications for
• going against prevailing
• sentiment

6
Roma in the News

• Slovene Authorities Capitulate to Mob
• UN Presses Czech Republic on Coercive
  Sterilization of Romani Women
• Germany Forcibly Expels Suicidal Woman to
  Belgrade

7
Romani in France Hungary

• About 300,000 Roma in Hungary
• Approx. 50 of which speak Romani
• About 250,000 Roma in France
• Approx. 70 of which speak Romani
• However, there are problems with measuring the
  Roma people

8
Romani in Hungary

• Harsh 19th Century assimilation policies
• Halved number of Romani speakers
• This discrimination continues today, with a lack
  of support for the Roma community

9
Romani in Hungary

• Anti-Roma Hatred promoted by TV
• Restricted access to jobs
• Due to discrimination on behalf of employers
• Restricted access to
• Education
• Segregated schools in
• some cities

10
Roma in France

• Lack of support for Roma
• Must carry travelers documents
• Denied right to equal treatment
• Hindered right to vote
• High of Roma children do not receive education
• Live in slum conditions
• Continuously evicted and forced to move on

11
Roma in France

• Public Expressions of Anti-Gypsyism
• Even by French Governmental Officials
• Gendarmes make illegal raids on Roma settlements
• Anti-Roma sentiments on TV
• France compared to Belgium
• Story of a Romani speaking family in France

12
The Way Forward - Hungary

• Entry into the EU highlights treatment of
  minorities
• Courts are starting to uphold legislation against
  discrimination

13
The Way Forward - France

• UN Anti-Racism Committee
• Concerned about Roma rights in France
• Courts also starting to uphold anti-racism
  decisions
• More enforcement of anti-discriminatory laws at
  local level

14
Positives for Romani and the Roma

• Progress being made in the framework of EU
  membership
• Non-governmental Romani support groups
• ERRC
• Romani Secondary
• School of Social Work

15
Conclusion

• Some Positives for Roma in both countries
• EU expansion will address treatment of minorities
  in Europe
• Still wide-spread anti-gypsyism and a lot of
  work to do
• Difference in Eastern/Western Europe Approaches?

16
Bibliography

• Project on Ethnic Relations USA. Roma and
  Statistics. October 2006
• http//www.per-usa.org/reports/PERStrasbourg.pdf
• Bakker, Peter. The Other Languages of Europe
  Clevedon 2001
• Fishma, Joshua. Handbook of Language and Ethnic
  Identity. 1st Ed. New York Oxford University
  Press 1999
• Fischer, Steven. A History of Language. 1st Ed.
  London Reaktion Books Ltd 1999
• Bonk, Mary Rose. Worldmark Encyclopedia of
  Nations Volume 5. 11th Ed. Thompson Gale 2004
• Gall, Timothy C. Worldmark Encyclopedia of
  Cultures and Daily Life Volume 4 Europe Gale
  Research 1998
• The European Roma Rights Center
• www.errc.org