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Roma M igration to and from the Czech Republic since the 90’s P hDr. Laura Laubeov á Charles University Prague. 15 March 2004. Resources (general). WB (2003) www.worldbank.org/eca/roma UNDP (2003) http://roma.undp.sk Liegeois, Jean-Pierre (1994) Guy, Will (2001, 1975) Acton, Thomas
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Roma Migration to and from the Czech Republic since the 90’sPhDr. Laura LaubeováCharles University Prague 15 March 2004
Resources (general) WB (2003) www.worldbank.org/eca/roma UNDP (2003) http://roma.undp.sk Liegeois, Jean-Pierre (1994) Guy, Will (2001, 1975) Acton, Thomas Okely, Judith http://www.tolerance.cz/courses/monnet/monnet.htm
Resources on migration to and from CZ Bratinka Report (1997) http://www.vlada.cz Conception of Roma integration (2002) Lee, Ronald (2000) Gabal, Ivan (2000) http://www.gac.cz The Czech Helsinki Committee (2002) http://www.helcom.cz/ IOM report on Slovak Roma migration to CZ (Nov. 2003) http://www.iom.cz
Outline Who are the Roma/ Roma political participation Roma in CZ pre 89 After 89 (discrimination + denial) Exodus to Canada, Summer 97, and Cz. Government reaction, Fall 97 Migration research (GAC/IOM, Ministry of Interior) Slovak Roma Immigration, 2000-03
Who are Roma Origin: linguistics vs Judith Okely Language Romanes /Romani (Punjabi or Hindi) Sg. Rom, Dom; pl. Roma; adj. Romani (Romany) Heterogenous communities (Romungre, Vlach, Sinti,) 12 million Roma throughout the world, 8 -10 m. in Europe, 200 000 in CZ
Slovakia 10% 480,000-520,000 Hungary 5% 550,000-600,000 Czech Rep. 2% 250,000-300,000 Bulgaria 8% 700,000 -800,000 Romania 6% 1,800,000- 2,500,000 (in EU 2007) Source: ERRC Population numbers
Political participation World Romani Congress, London in 1971: 16-spoked wheel as their international symbol, flag (green and blue), anthem (Roma arise), proclaimed April 8 international Romani day Europe's largest transnational minority; Declaration on "non-territorial" nation
Weblinks: European Roma Information Office http://www.erionet.org/Home.html European Roma Rights Centre http://www.errc.org European Roma Forum http://www.europeanromaforum.org/ Czech Radio http://www.romove.cz
History Maria Tereza and Joseph II. (1760- 1784) assimilation, sedentarisation 1927 Act on Nomadic Gypsies (identity cards) Nazi holocaust (200,000 - 1.5 m. died) after WWII: Slovak Roma brought to Sudetenland 1958 Act on settlement of nomadic persons (repealed only in CZ in 97) 1965 policy of dispersion and displacement 1968 Association of Gypsies/Roma in CS 1978 Charta 77 document 1989 recognised as national minority
After 1989 1993 Citizenship Law (de facto discrimination), put most Roma in position of aliens 1997 Emigration to Canada, UK → Bratinka report (www.vlada.cz) 1998 UN CERD Concluding observations on CR, "de facto” segregation in edu (article 5 ICERD) 1999 Concept of Romani integration - adopted in 2000 2001 UK Immigration officers in Prg Airport (CHC Statement 29 Aug. 01), Guy Goodwin-Gill 2002 "Conception on Romani Integration", no quota but equalising measures 2003 Denial by pres. Klaus, BBC Hardtalk
“Exodus” to Canada 1996: 150 Czech Roma claimants 6 Aug. 1997: TV documentary 6 Aug.–8 Oct. 97: 1500 claimants/ “Invasion” , i.e. 6% of all refugee claimants in 97 Re-introduction of visa requirement Migration to UK and other EU countries Bratinka report and Concept of Romani integration
Overview of research on migration tendencies from CZ GAC 2000 for IOM; Ministry of Interior, Autumn 2002 1. Main motives for migration 2. Who leaves 3. Relation of Roma towards migration 4. How well are Roma informed about situation abroad and asylum procedures in the target country 5. Forecast of further development 6. Number of persons who migrated
GAC 2000 Bad social situation of Roma in the CR They do not feel secure in the CR Government 2002 Economical reasons Hopeless economical and social situation in the CR Discrimination and unequal behaviorExtortion 1. Main motives for migration
GAC 2000 More active Roma, who are informed about asylum procedures Those who have family abroad Government 2002 Roma who have rather better than worse position in the social hierarchy. 2. Who leaves
GAC 2000 Positive, even in case of unsuccessful result, with which they count and keep social ties in the CR Government 2002 Positive, even in case of unsuccessful result 3. Attitudes of Roma to migration
GAC 2000 Roma will continue to solve the unsatisfactory state or affairs in the CR through emigration Government 2002 Roma will continue to migrate, because it is not possible in the short-term perspective to make provisions, which would improve their status in the CR. 4.Forecast of further development
GAC 2000 Very well, information is being spread within Roma communities Government 2002 Very well, in some aspects Roma migration has elements of organized work, especially in giving information and know-how on asylum procedures. 5. How well are Roma informed about situation abroad and asylum procedures in the target country
GAC 2000 Not known, Czech public administration does not enough information, Roma keep their departures secret Government 2002 Not known, none of competent offices has idea how many Roma emigrated, which among other means that state is nor prepared for their massive return. 6. Number of persons who migrated
Slovak Roma migration 00-03 1. Situation in Slovakia, Impact on Czech Republic 2. Migration types 3. Push factors 4. Pull factors 5. Hindering factors 6. Starting migration factors: non-asylum vs asylum 7. Proposed solutions
1. Situation in Slovakia and CR 380 000-500 000 Roma in Slovakia 127 tho in Slovak colonies, shacks ECRI 3rd country report (27 Jan 04) > 1000 asylum claimants in CZ in 2003 + Non- asylum migration Estimates: 10-14 000 of Slovak immigrants in CR - not confirmed
ECRI In Slovakia, racially-motivated violence, including serious acts of police brutality continues. The Roma minority remains severely disadvantaged in most areas of life, particularly in the fields of housing, employment and education. ECRI also calls for a full, transparent and impartial investigation into the recent allegations concerning sterilisations of Roma women without their full and informed consent http://www.coe.int/T/E/human_rights/Ecri/
2. Migration types • Unregistered migrants • Temporary employment migration • Asylum seekers • Multiple and variable
3. Migration push factors • increased numbers of the Roma settlements and their expansion; high birth-rate • reduction of the maximum level of social benefits provided to one assessed family to 10,500 Slovak crowns (£200/month) • escalation of the usurious practices and their toleration from the part of the state administration bodies • unrealistic expectations based on the approaching EU accession
4. Migration pull factors in CZ • family solidarity • increasing number of spatially segregated localities with a predominantly Roma population (ghetoisation) • opportunities to find employment, including illegal practices • shelter and food provided in the asylum camps
5. Factors hindering migration • decreasing kinship solidarity • unimplemented liberalization of the housing market which might offer more affordable accommodation • stagnation at the labour market, especially that of construction work and trenching • continuing competition at the labour market, caused especially by foreigners from the former Soviet Union (in spite of the introduction of visa requirements for the Ukraine) • presence of foreigners in the asylum camps who may incite cultural conflicts
Joining the family/ seeking partner Return to Bohemia Loss of housing Employment migration Better life prospects Domestic violence Usury (“Loan-sharking”) “Loan-sharking” connected with loss of housing Loss of housing Discrimination Return to Bohemia Domestic violence 6. Starting migration factorsnon-asylum asylum
6. Proposed solutions • Partial absorption (social fieldwork) • Partial repatriation - IOM