Slovakia: Discrimination as a wall for Roma inclusion

Date 19 August 2015 Author Tomi Doggy Category Youth

During this year, many situations happen in our country that were not in compliance with standards and freedom of citizens. Discrimination is reflected in the interaction and participation of the Roma people in mainstream society and it became the phenomena despite the legal framework.

Currently, the focus is on the the problem , which relates to pupils of primary schools where Roma children mostly attend special schools . Our country is monitored because of the possibility of segregation, the infringement in proce which can lead to a case before the European Court. Children are placed in special schools even though they have no mental or other disability, which would deprive them of education in primary schools, and so have a greater chance of further education at secondary school or university . We participated in the program “Teach for Australia “, which should help Roma children in education. Kristina Uhlikova is a mentor that prepares teachers to work in the field of education , and she says that to improve the situation and to achieve solidarity with the minorities is a long journey- ,, It takes a lot of patience and wisdom in how to talk with people who have a negative experience with the Roma minority . I see it so that it takes a really long time , more positive experience for people to see that there are children who are equally good , equally eager for education than ours , but since their birth they are facing obstacles that our children do not . We want to do something about it.

Speeches by some political parties are questionable and not in accordance with the laws , which the government approved. In Slovakia there was elected Ing. Marián Kotleba , who became President of the Banská Bystrica Region and he was the leader of thPeople´s party. In his election campaign, the leaflet said that  he will get rid of ” the unfair favoritism ” of Gypsy parasites. Of course, civil society made a legal case of his campaing for the defamation of nation, race and conviction – but the prosecution has been stopped from unjustified prosecution. His leadership of the county, according to some mayors, is meaningless due to the fact that decides based on his ideology and not by democratic principles , which rules in Slovakia .

Issues concerning Roma in our country and other countries are also dealt with their housing conditions that are currently critical . Several times we met that some communities living in the village had to be destroyed due to the fact that their homes are built on illegal land not belonging to them. People living in setlements in Slovakia are facing unhuman conditions with no legal protection, often being subjects to the police brutality and their access to services is completly cut.