The paper “The impact and challenges of the Covid-19 for the Roma community in Europe” presents just a small part of the challenges that the Roma community are facing and how they were exacerbated by ...the apparition of the Covid-10 pandemic. Even before, the Roma people were a vulnerable group, having problems integrating because of the discrimination that brought forth other inequalities that they face in the society. Therefore, a special attention must be paid during this period of crisis in order to prevent further unreplaceable losses.
This research aims to determine the significance of the progress in the first and second language acquisition by Roma-Slovak bilingual children in their first year of schooling, differentiated by ...three types of Roma communities (type 1, type 2 and type 3) at the beginning of the school year (test) and the end of the school year (post-test). The partial aim is to analyze the context and relationships of the progress in the first and second language acquisition by Roma children, determined by the type of Roma community in which individual children live. The research set as a whole (n = 68) consists of Roma-Slovak bilingual children with Romani as their native language and Slovak as their second language in their first year of schooling. Subsequently, the research set is differentiated into three groups by the type of Roma community in which the children live, namely: type 1 - municipal and urban concentrations (n = 22); type 2 - settlements located on the outskirts of a city or municipality (n = 23); and type 3 - settlements spatially remote or separated by a natural or artificial barrier (n = 23). We used a standardized research tool, OOS Test - image-vocabulary test (Kondáš, 2010). We conducted the research in two phases, at the beginning of the school year (test) and the end of the school year (post-test). To analyze the data statistically, we used the SPSS 20.0 statistical program. As one of the important findings, this study has shown statistically significant differences between Roma-Slovak bilingual children from type 1, type 2 and type 3 Roma communities in L1 and L2 at the beginning and the end of the school year.Moreover, the research has shown statistically significant differences in the acquisition progress in L1 and L2 between children from the type 1, type 2 and type 3 communities at the given time. The main research problem arising from the findings is that the progress in the first and second language acquisition by Roma-Slovak bilingual children is determined by the type of Roma community in which the Roma children live. Furthermore, the findings show a relationship and connection between the first and second language acquisition development and the type of Roma community in which the children live.
Acknowledgments
This paper is an output of the research project "Language and Communication Problems in Slovakia and their Management" funded by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-17-0254 (2018 – ).
It is the continuation of the research project "Language competence of the Romani pupils in the first grade of primary schol" funded by the same agency under the contract No. VEGA 1/0845/15 (2015–2017).
Roma living in marginalized communities often face poor living conditions and material deprivation, which may negatively impact parenting. Our aim is to compare the parenting behavior (support, harsh ...discipline, and stimulation) of mothers from marginalized Roma communities and the majority population in Slovakia. We also examine the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and related worries in the differences in parenting behavior between these groups.
We obtained cross-sectional data from mothers of children aged 14-18 months using the first wave of the longitudinal RomaREACH study dataset. Two groups were included in the sample: 93 mothers from MRCs and 102 mothers from the majority. We performed multiple regression and mediation analyses to assess whether the educational level of mothers, the degree of poverty, and poverty-related feelings of stress and worries explain parenting behavior differences between the groups of mothers.
We found significant differences in parenting, especially in harsh disciplining and stimulation. These two domains were significantly associated with maternal education, degree of poverty, and poverty-related stress and worries. The degree of poverty partially mediated stimulation differences between the two groups of mothers.
Parenting in MRCs seems harsher and less stimulative than parenting in the Slovak majority. These differences are associated with the socioeconomic disadvantage of mothers. The degree of poverty partially explains why parenting in MRCs is less stimulative. These results may inform intervention efforts aimed at disadvantaged families.
The article discusses the legal protection of the rights of the Roma community and its members enshrined in the existing international instruments and mechanisms, particularly those concerning the ...protection of minorities and human rights, and in the Slovenene legislation. It critically analyses the applicable legal sources, state practice and jurisprudence in order to prove the hypothesis that autochthony, as a criterion for recognising the special rights of the members of the Roma community in Slovenia, is not imbedded in the relevant international or Slovene law and is even incompatible with international legal obligations in the field of human rights. It criticizes the suggested amendments of the Roma Community Act, which are likely to result in a regression of the status of Roma community members in Slovenia and increased non-compliance with Slovenia’s international legal obligations.
COVID-19 has played out in Romania in a similar way to that in many other European countries. The government implemented decisive early measures which were able to keep the infection and mortality ...rates relatively low. This paper considers three distinctive aspects of the situation in Romania. First, the situation was complicated by the influence of transnational migrant workers, large numbers of whom returned to Romania when the pandemic started, accounting for distinct geographical variations in the rates of infection. At the same time, large numbers were able to leave the country at the height of the pandemic because they were "needed" for low-paid agricultural/social care work in western European countries. Second, the pandemic placed tension on Romania's relationship with the EU, whilst highlighting a number of existing issues between Romania and its neighbors. Third, Romania's strict lockdown measures exacerbated long-standing internal tensions, particularly with regard to the large and marginalized Roma community. The paper concludes by considering some of the possible longer-term implications for Romania of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new vision of “illiberal democracy” was introduced by the Orbán-led Fidesz government in the 2010s, which marked the end of the welfare state, and the central element of the political discourse ...once again became the creation of a labour-based society. The new workfarist trend in employment indicated a new direction in active labour market policy, favouring public work schemes. However, public work regulations put a disproportionate burden on the Roma unemployed, while disregarding the contributing factors leading to their material deprivation. This paper examines the new direction in employment and unemployment policy measures, a policy terrain where the workfare regime can be best detected. We placed special emphasis on the Roma minority and how their employment situation is effected by the anti-welfare turn.
Library Services to Diverse Communities in Europe Agustín-Lacruz, Carmen; Saurin-Parra, Julia
The International journal of information, diversity, & inclusion,
06/2021, Letnik:
4, Številka:
3/4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Public libraries have developed standards to provide reading and information services to diverse populations. This has helped the public library to fulfil an informal educational and social role, ...particularly in engaging traditionally excluded groups, such as the Roma minority in Spain. However, well-developed library initiatives in Spain are scarce; in addition, culturally sensitive services do not thrive, and research and reflection on this reality from the library standpoint are rare. The overarching goal of this article is to provide librarians with suggestions for improved services for the Roma community in Spain. It is achieved through the critical analysis of public library services to the Roma community that currently exist in the European Union. Based on this analysis, practical suggestions are offered.
Prispevek obravnava pravno varstvo pravíc romske skupnosti in njihovih pripadnikov na podlagi obstoječih mednarodnih instrumentov in mehanizmov, predvsem manjšinskega varstva in varstva na področju ...človekovih pravic, ter v slovenski pravni ureditvi. S kritičnoanalitično presojo veljavnih pravnih virov, prakse držav in judikature zasleduje hipotezo, da kriterij avtohtonosti za priznavanje posebnih pravic pripadnikov romske skupnosti v Sloveniji ni utemeljen ne v relevantnem mednarodnem ne v slovenskem pravu, temveč je celo nezdružljiv z mednarodnopravnimi obveznostmi na področju človekovih pravic. Podana je kritika predlogov sprememb Zakona o romski skupnosti, ki pravice pripadnikov romske skupnosti pogojuje s kriterijem avtohtonosti, kar najverjetneje vodi v nazadovanje njihovega položaja in poglabljanje nespoštovanja prevzetih mednarodnopravnih obveznosti Slovenije.
Actualmente vivimos en una realidad cada vez más compleja y diversa que desafía las formas tradicionales de construir e implementar las políticas sociales. El objetivo principal de esta investigación ...se centra en analizar el impacto multidimensional que la pandemia ha provocado en las familias gitanas de 7 municipios de la Vega de Granada (España), así como determinar, de forma exploratoria, los límites y las estrategias seguidas para afrontar los retos que ha provocado dicha pandemia a cuatro niveles (educativo, laboral, sanitario y de índole social). Los resultados del trabajo se extraen a partir de un estudio inicial sobre el impacto de la COVID-19 en familias gitanas de la Vega. Este estudio fue elaborado por los/as técnicos y técnicas del Plan Integral de la Comunidad Gitana de Andalucía, que gestiona el Consorcio Vega Sierra-Elvira y que comprende los municipios de Atarfe, Íllora, Pinos Puentes, Santa Fe, Fuente Vaqueros, Colomera y Lachar, con investigadores/as del Departamento de Pedagogía de la Universidad de Granada, el Centro Sociocultural Gitano Andaluz y la asociación de mujeres gitanas ROMÍ. Esta investigación, financiada por el programa de Apoyo y Fomento a la Investigación en Materia de Igualdad, Inclusión y Sostenibilidad Social y desde la línea de desarrollo local, de la Universidad de Granada, presenta los resultados obtenidos de la evaluación de los cambios identificados en los niveles estudiados (educación, salud, inclusión, empleo) así como, en las políticas implementadas para paliar la situación provocada por la Covid-19
Despite the existence of official recognition and legislative measures aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the Roma minority in Albania, this marginalized group nevertheless faces adverse and ...challenging living conditions, restricted educational and healthcare opportunities, and a high rate of unemployment. The objective of this study is to analyze the above-mentioned difficulties within the framework of different forms of exclusion and inequality that form a designated regime of inequality, and to provide an overview of the present condition of this system in Albania. The primary theoretical framework applied in the present work is Sergio Costa’s conceptualization of an inequality regime. The objective of this research is to illustrate the universal applicability of this framework by examining its relevance in the context of Roma Albanians. The present research utilizes a diverse range of data, such as reports from international organizations, scholarly assessments, and media reports, in order to conduct a thorough investigation of the unequal system that has affected the Albanian Roma community for the past thirty years.