Slovakia plans to remove Romani children from their families

[azurnoir]

Amnesty International has warned that establishing boarding schools for Romani children "and gradually detach them from the way of living they currently experience in the settlements" is discriminatory and a blatant attack on the Roma way of living.

The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday that the government proposes a system, in which Romani children will be taken from settlements and be placed in boarding schools.

"The idea that Romani children have to be removed from their families and put into boarding schools, when they could be educated in normal schools near their homes, is clearly against the best interests of the child. Uprooting them from their surroundings and removing them from their families, is an attack on their identity," said Halya Gowan, director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia programme.

"Isolated from the outside world, Romani children will find it more difficult to fully participate in Slovak society. The government's proposal will perpetuate the segregation they experience now. In fact it will make it official," Halya Gowan said.

"The government's proposal is completely out of tune with developments in the European Union. If adopted, it will be in absolute contravention of both Slovak law and international human rights standards on non-discrimination by which Slovakia is bound."

Amnesty International has previously voiced serious concerns about the discrimination and segregation Romani children experience in Slovak schools, including through their placement in special schools and classes for pupils with mental disabilities.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU2010030915715&lang=e&rss=recentnews

the treatment of Roma is horrendous through out the EU, but this move takes it to a new low and is reminiscent of past treatment of Native children in the US and Aboriginal children in Australia

[Orrex]

1. Well, if nothing else...

This fucked up policy will put to rest the old scare-story about children being stolen by Gypsies.

[Jim__]

2. Some information on the Romani.

Here. I didn't know who they were.

I agree with the article though. Removing children from the care of their parents based on ethnicity is a horrendous crime.

[Mari333]

3. same thing we did to native american children. nt