News

Roma role models and the media image of Roma were the main topics of the round table “Roma positive” organized by the British Embassy in Prague and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Czech Republic on November 5. It brought together around 30 Roma activists and journalists all over Europe to discuss the future steps necessary for supporting successful Roma become role models, for linking Roma movement with Roma community and for changing the negative media image of the Roma.   

In the eve of the event, on November 4 all the participants had the chance to see Requiem for Osvientum performed by the Roma filharmony orchestra in the Rudolfinum concert hall. Hundreds of visitors apploaded the briliant interpretation that “touched the soles” presenting one of the most sorrow times in the history of Roma.

The young people from deprived communities, such as Roma, need positive Role models to show what they can achieved, said HMA Sian MacLeod during the opening speech of the round table on November 5. The majority also needs them in order to challenge their stereotypes. Mrs. Monica Simunkova,  Human Rights Commissioner of Czech Republic explained that overcoming the negative media image of Roma is one of the main priorities in the work of her institution and Roma role models are very strong tool for this.

The meaning of “role model” in Roma community as well as the obstacles Roma role models meet were discussed during a session moderated by Orhan Galjush, prominent Roma activist and journalist. Speakers were Zdenek Horvath, Irena Bihariova, Gelu Duminica and Deyan Kolev. The chairman of Amalipe stated that Roma community is passing important and painful transition from patriarchal, traditional to modern type of community and this transition stresses the importance of the individuals, including the role model. The Roma role models should work simultaneously in two directions: to change the perception of the majority that perceives Roma as traditional and even inferior “tribe” denying that the well-educated modern Roma are Roma and at the same time to convince the traditional parts of Roma that modernization is unavoidable and would not lead to assimilation. That is why the work of Amalipe is developed under two streams: introducing intercultural education (Roma culture as elective subject, etc.) and forming Community Development Centers, explained Kolev.

The presence of Roma in media was discussed in another session moderated by Jarmila Balazova, prominent Roma journalist in Czech Republic. Speakers in the session were Jake Bowers from UK, Jozsef Rostas from Hungary, Hana Capova from Czeck Republlic and Ciprian Necula from Romania. They presented interesting facts and statistics about the presence of Roma in the national media and how media could be incluenced.