Roma in Central and Eastern Europe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Roma people in Central and Eastern Europe often live in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment, while only some are fully integrated in the society. However, in some cases—notably the Kalderash clan in Romania, who work as traditional coppersmiths—they have prospered. Although some Roma still embrace a nomadic lifestyle, most migration is actually forced, as most communities do not accept Roma settlements.

Many former Eastern bloc countries have substantial populations of Roma. The level of integration of Roma into society remains limited. In these countries, they usually remain on the margins of society, living in isolated ghetto-like settlements (see Chánov). Only a small fraction of Roma children graduate from secondary schools, although during the Communist regime, at least some of these countries forced all children to attend school, and provided them, like other citizens, with all required basics such as textbooks and the compulsory uniform. Usually they feel rejected by the state and the non-Roma majority, which creates another obstacle to their integration. Many Roma have faced discrimination and prejudice from both private groups and national Governments. According to The Guardian (January 8, 2003):

"In the Czech Republic, 75% of Roma children are educated in schools for people with learning difficulties, and 70% are unemployed (compared with a national rate of 9%). In Hungary, 44% of Roma children are in special schools, while 74% of men and 83% of women are unemployed. In Slovakia, Roma children are 28 times as likely to be sent to a special school than non-Roma; Roma unemployment stands at 80%." [1]

In some countries, dependence on social security systems is part of the problem. For some Roma families, it may be preferable to live on social security than on low-paid jobs. That creates anger against Roma, conditions that produce crime, and extreme sensitivity to changes in social security. A good example of the latter is Slovakia, where reduction of social security (a family is paid allowance only for the first three children) led to civil disorder in several Roma villages.

In most countries within or applying to join the European Union, Roma people can lead normal lives and may integrate into the larger society. Nevertheless, the Roma most visible to the settled community are those who perpetuate the negative image of the Roma. The reasons include that Roma avoid non-Roma because they traditionally consider them "mahrime" (spiritually unclean), avoid them out of fear of persecution, still live in shacks (usually built ad hoc, near railways) and beg on the streets. The local authorities may try to help such people by improving infrastructure in their settlements and subsidizing families further, but such aid is mostly viewed by the Roma as superficial and insufficient. Begging with pre-school children is sometimes practiced by the Roma, despite its illegality in many countries.

In 2004, Lívia Járóka and Viktória Mohácsi of Hungary became the two current Roma Members of the European Parliament. The first Roma MEP was Juan de Dios Ramirez-Heredia of Spain.

Seven former Communist Central European and Southeastern European states launched the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative in 2005 to improve the socio-economic conditions and status of the Roma minority.

In Kosovo, the Roma are seen by many Albanians as being allied with Serbian national interests. The Kosovo Liberation Army has targeted Roma as well as Serbs. During the Yugoslav wars, Roma were often victim to discrimination and violent attacks from all sides, although relations were friendliest with the Serbs [2].

Contents 1 Bulgaria 2 Russia 3 Romania 4 Hungary 5 Republic of Macedonia 6 References

[edit] Bulgaria

Main article: Roma in Bulgaria

Roma people constitute the second largest minority and third largest ethnic group (after Bulgarians and Turks) in Bulgaria. According to the 2001 census, there were 370,908 Roma in Bulgaria, equivalent to 4.7% of the country's total population.^[1]

Noted Bulgarian Roma include musicians Azis, Sofi Marinova and Ivo Papazov, surgeon Aleksandar Chirkov and politician Toma Tomov.

[edit] Russia

Main article: Roma minority in Russia

An official 2002 census in Russia lists the Roma population as approximately 183,000 (0.1% of the population).^{[citation needed]} However, this census was based on a verbal declaration of nationality. Many Roma may have declared other nationalities (Russian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, etc.) in fear of discrimination. The census also didn't always reach people in obscure areas and didn't include people living in Russia illegally. Some estimate their actual population to be anywhere from 600,000 to 1 million. The term Roma (Rus: Ромá) is not generally used, accepted or understood in Russia, even by the Roma themselves. They are referred to by the generic term "Tsyganie" (Rus: Цыгáне).

There are a number of different groups of Roma throughout Russia. They include the following:

• Russian Gypsies (Russian: русские цыгане), whose ancestors arrived in Russia in the 17th century. Many of these Roma occupy urban areas, and often live in apartments. Others live in villages and lead a semi-nomadic lifestyle, spending winters in cottages. They all speak Russian and many also speak Romani.
• Lotva (Russian: лотва), Roma from Lithuania and the Pskov Oblast, who are also considered Russian Gypsies.
• Kalderash (Russian: Кэлдэрари/Котлари/котляры), part of the largest existing group of Roma.
• Modyars/Mogyars (Russian: Мадьяры/Магьяры), who used to reside in an area of the Carpathian Mountains that was annexed to the Ukraine in 1945. Most of these Roma speak Hungarian, as well as Ukrainian, Russian and Romani.
• Lyuli (AKA: Mugat) (Russian: Мугат), are originally from Central Asia. This group is Muslim, as opposed to the other groups occupying Russia, who are primarily Russian Orthodox.

The history of the Roma in Russia is different from that of Roma in other European countries, in that they were treated relatively well^{[citation needed]}. In Czarist Russia there were no laws discriminating against the Roma, as there were towards Jews. They did suffer, however, as did other ethnic groups, during the Soviet period, especially under Stalin. Today, Gypsies continue to suffer from discrimination in Russia, despite the profound influence Roma culture has had on Russian culture through their music and dance.

[edit] Romania

Main article: Roma minority in Romania

There is a sizable minority of Roma people in Romania, of 535,140 people or 2.5% of the total population (2001 census). Some groups claim, however, that there are up to 2 million ethnic Roma in the country.^{[citation needed]} The Roma are the most socially-disadvantaged minority group in Romania, even though there is a variety of governmental and non-governmental programs for integration and social advancement, including the National Agency for the Roma and Romania's participation in the Decade of Roma Inclusion. As an officially-recognised ethnic minority, the Roma people also have guaranteed representation in Parliament.

In 1997, the self-proclaimed emperor of the world's Roma, Iulian Rădulescu, announced in 1997 the creation of Cem Romengo - the first Roma state in Tirgu-Jiu, in southwest Romania. According to Rădulescu, "this state has a symbolic value and does not affect the sovereignty and unity of Romania. It does not have armed forces and does not have borders".

[edit] Hungary

Main article: Roma minority in Hungary

The number of Roma people in Hungary is disputed. In the 2001 census only 190,000 people called themselves Roma, but sociological estimates give much higher numbers, about 5%-10% of the total population. Since World War II, the number of Roma has increased rapidly, multiplying seven-fold in the last century. Today every fifth or sixth newborn is Roma. Estimates based on current demographic trends project that in 2050, 15-20% of the population (1.2 million people) will be Roma.

Romas (called cigányok or romák in Hungarian) suffer particular problems in Hungary. Many Roma children have learning disabilities, slightly more than 80% of Roma children complete primary education, but only one third continue studies into the intermediate (secondary) level. This is far lower than the more than 90% proportion of non-Roma children who continue studies at an intermediate level. The situation is made worse by the fact that a large proportion of young Roma are qualified in subjects that provide them only limited chances for employment. Less than 1% of Roma hold higher educational certificates. Their low status on the job market and higher unemployment rates cause poverty, widespread social problems and crime.

[edit] Republic of Macedonia

Main article: Roma minority in the Republic of Macedonia

According to the last census from 2002, there were 53,879 ethnic Roma in the Republic of Macedonia or 2.66% of population. Municipality Šuto Orizari is the only municipality in the country (and, in fact, in the world) where Roma make up a majority of the population. Due to the demographics, both Romani and Macedonian are official in Šuto Orizari, the municipality being officially bilingual. The mayor of the municipality, Erduan Iseini, is an ethnic Rom.

[edit] References

1. ^ Population as of 1 March 2001 divided by provinces and ethnic group (Bulgarian). National Statistical Institute (2001). Retrieved on 2006-06-18.