Project Summary
Roma are the least popular national minority in our country. Its difference and airtightness greatly exacerbate this problem. Born of ignorance and fear stereotypes and prejudices rooted in the consciousness of society turn into intolerance and reluctance. In extreme cases it leads to discrimination, racism and xenophobia. Polish Roma Union has created an effective tool to prevent this.
Fashion Tolerance is an innovative project was implementing by Polish Roma Union from March 2014 until December 2015. This project was designed to monitor and combat acts of discrimination and intolerance against the Roma minority in Poland. We set twoobjectives: a response to discrimination and hate speech on the Internet and public space and immediate interventions that will lead to draw consequences for the offenders.
From April 2014 to November 2015 were registered 29 cases involving acts of discrimination, racism, xenophobia, hate speech against Roma from all over the country, where a lawyer in collaboration with the monitoring specialist undertook a series of steps to fight with it. Out of finally established 29 cases, 21 were closed, while the rest is in progress –law enforcement bodies took control of them.
As a result of actions, taken by the discrimination consultant, consisting of the Internet monitoring for hate speech against Roma, 173 cases were referred to the intervention of a lawyer. All of thempertained found and archived 10566 entries on the Internet.
As a result of the intervention of the lawyer 4529 entries were removed. The vast majority of cases concerned comments that directly or indirectly violate Polish criminal law and contained articles or video materials concerning the Roma (including the most famous websites in Poland such as: wp, onet, interia, youtube, cda, facebook, gazeta, wykop, sfora).
The effects of our actions strengthen the fight against acts of intolerance and discrimination, as well as contribute prevention of further promotion and expansion of racist views against Roma. However, in order to effectively combat and prevent hate speech against the Roma on the Internet it is needed to continue such activities.
The project was co-financed with the funds of EEA under the program Citizens for democracy.
Summary of November 2015
In November we were monitoring previously founded cases concerning abusive content, which occurred on the Internet. Since the beginning of the project implementation (04.01.2014) until 30.11.2015 the network discrimination consultant established 173 cases referred to the intervention of a lawyer. These cases involved 10566 entries insulting the Roma minority and inciting hatred against Roma.
In addition, we received a reply from The Correctional Facility from Brzeg indicating that there have been so far no cases of maltreatment of Roma by the staff. In this reply we read that "every convicted is treated in a humane manner, respecting their rights and dignity - regardless of nationality, religion or belief". We addressed a letter to the Department of Control, Complaints and Petitions of MSWiA asking to take immediate action to clarify the situation and supervision.
We checked also issues related to inscriptions on walls, damages to vehicles and hate speech against Roma in Limanowa. We made a project report, in which we have analyzed achieved results, pointed out unexpected difficulties during the project implementation and put recommendations for the future.
Summary of October 2015
In October we established 6 cases of abusive content that occurred on the Internet. We recorded 552 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project to the end of September we reported a total of 10 566 such entries.
The National Broadcasting Council informed us that they do not find reason to violate by the broadcaster Article 18 paragraph 1 of the Act of 29.12.1992 of Broadcasting and Television pertaining the program “Rozmowy w toku” (episode: “Our house is not a social agency, son!"). It has been handed down to us the broadcaster’s position on this issue.
We monitored also the matter related to the restoration of care of the minor grandson by his grandmother, who was in foster care Brzeg. On 27 November 2015 The District Court in Opole, having finished the proceedings by a final judgment ruled that the grandson Władysław will return to his grandmother Zofia to a family house in Brzeg.
Summary of September 2015
In September we recorded 3cases of abusive content which occurred on the Internet and we worked on the case from last month. We noted also 555 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project implementation to the end of September we reported 10014 such entries.
We sent a complaint to The District Police Office Warsaw II about the decision to not to initiate an investigation on hatred on national, ethnic and racial field in the series “Służby specjalne” broadcasted by TV. We were informed by The District Prosecutor's Office Warsaw-Mokotów to refer the appeal to The District Police Office Warsaw II.
We have received a notification pertaining discrimination against Roma in Correctional Facility in Brzeg.We sent a letter to the director of CF asking for intervention and an explanation on this issue.
We received a letter complaint about the lack of police intervention in Przemków to discriminatory attitudes and hate speech against Roma people perpetrated by two families in the presence of police. We asked for assistance the inspector Krzysztof Łaszkiewicz, Plenipotentiary Chief of Police for the Protection of Human Rights and Deputy Inspector Barbara Lorenc-Żelisko, Plenipotentiary of the Commander of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wrocław for the Protection of Human Rights. We have obtained information that the case leads The Control Department of the District Police Headquarters in Polkowice and the Ombudsman. We constantly monitor this case.
“Fashion for Tolerance” hosted on a conference on "The dimensions of discrimination and exclusion of Romain Poland - language-culture-public institutions", which was held on 24-25.09.2015 in Warszawa and was organized by the Public Dialogue Forum and The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
Summary of August 2015
In August, we recorded 1 case including the abusive content found on the Internet. This case concerns the short movie on YouTube under which there is 6000 comments. We noted 731 illegal entries among them. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of July we reported 9 459 such entries.
We monitored also a proper preparation of 5 round of 1 football league between Miedź Legnica – Wisła Płock. In addition, we checked the preparation and derby match between clubs Miedź Legnica – Chrobry Głogów. During both matches fans were properly prepared. We noticed good effects of cooperation between clubs and supporters' as well as mutual respect and fight against racism.
The District Prosecutor's Office in Warszawa gave our notice of offense to the Prosecutor’s Office of Warszawa Żoliborz in order to investigate agitation to hatred due to the nationality in the series "Służby Specjalne". At the end of the month we received a letter from The District Police in Warszawa II about the denial of investigation. The complaint is going to bemade on this issue.
Furthermore we observe the problem of restoration a child care to a grandmother caring for a minor grandson of Roma origin. The child currently lives with substitute parents in Brzeg and is being prepared for adoption abroad. The District Court in Opole adjourned the case in 08/26/2015. The deadline for a new trial is not yet known.
Summary of July
July, although brings the summer weather to our mind, it was stingy with the high temperature this year. But in the world of “Fashion for Tolerance” the temperatures did not decrease even for a moment - it was hot and hectic.
We noticed 8 issues of abusive content that appeared on the Internet this month. We noted also 506 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of July 8 728 such entries were reported.
In the case of last year's battery of Romni and her daughter in Leszno, the District Court of Poznań handed down the conviction, which found the accused guilty of all alleged crimes.
We have received notification from the District Police Office in Warszawa of the crime investigation on public insult of the Roma community due to their ethnicity in the program "Rozmowy w toku" broadcasted by TVN. Supervision of the investigation took the District Prosecutor's Office in Downtown of Warszawa.
The first football league will begin in August. In the past there have been recorded acts of racist intolerance between the supporters of clubs. Among others being attacked was also the Roma minority. Due to these incidents we sent a letter to the clubs with request to provide proper preparation and security. Clubs assured us about the campaign against all acts of intolerance, racism and hate speech which will be implemented before matches.
“Fashion for tolerance” was one of the topics being often mentioned during the generational workshop, which took place in Brok (July 28 - August 1 2015). Workshops were combined with the solemn commemoration of the Roma and Sinti murdered in Nazi Labor Camp and Extermination Camp in Treblinka.
Summary of June
There is a summary of the holiday month prepared for you. We invite you to read.
In June, we recorded 13 cases of abusive content found on the Internet. We noted also 506 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of May we reported 8 222 such records.
On the basis of events with hooligans’ participation in Legnica was created the art scenario "Romville" as a part of the new Polish theater project "Interventions". The project according to theauthors can also be a tool for deep radical and social change. In this play participate Roma as well.
Together with Wojciech Kondusza, Director of the Department of Organization, Personnel and Audit of the City of Legnica, including Management of Public Library in Legnica, we organized conference "Myth of journey.The issue of the Roma identity" on June 19 in the Public Library of Legnica. It was also an opportunity to remind the audience of the need to hold back hate speech. Besides that werecall the project "Fashion for Tolerance." After the conference, a meeting was held with representatives of the Roma in Legnica and officials dealing with Roma issues in the city and county.
During a visit in Legnica our monitoring specialist had met with the President and Spokesman of the football club Miedź Legnica. It helped us to becomemore familiar with the activities of the club to fight attitudes of intolerance, racism and hate speech among the local community and students.
We registered an issue of Romni in Brzeg which has been deprived of the care of his grandson. The case went to the Court of Appeal; the trial will take place at the end of August.
We continue to monitor the problem ofRomni and her daughter who had been beaten in Leszno. Poznan District Prosecutor's Office of Downtown drew up an indictment against 20-year-old resident of Leszno, accused of insulting two women (with injury of one of them) because of their ethnicity.
Additionally, we received a letter from the Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on broadcast in the TVN program "Rozmowy w toku". In one of the episodes there were emitted offensive terms about Romni. The District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw gave notice to the Prosecutor's Office Warsaw of Downtown in order to carry out the procedure.
A summary of May
May this year did not pamper us with aura, but it has no impact on our work. This month we noticed 5 issues of offensive content that appeared on the Internet. We noted also 524 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of May we reported 7 708 such entries.
In May our monitoring specialist undertook efforts to fight hate speech and stereotypes in the media: the series "Służby specjalne", which was broadcasted in March 2015 by TVP 2 and in "Rozmowy w toku" (the episode broadcasted in 04/28/2015) where hateful offensive expressions appeared, related to the Roma women spreading a negative stereotype of the Roma.
We also follow the situation in the football club Miedź Legnica. We still stay in contact with it. We appreciate the dedication of this club to fighting and preventing intolerance. Recently the club has organized an art competition - "Stadium for everyone. I support – I tolerate".
We keep in contact with the association "Project: Poland" based in Warszawa as well. We will jointly monitor public space during the upcoming parliamentary elections in order to avoid incidents of hate speech and spreading stereotypes as it happened in the last year's local government campaign.
Director of Labour Market Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in order to keep quality of service of all employment agencies accepted our letter about professions which are prohibited by the Roma tradition, with attached to it a list of these professions to all the regional and district labor offices as well as to Social Policy Departments of all Voivodeships.
A Summary of April
The past month was very busy for us. Our team noticed 6 cases of abusive content that occurred on the Internet. We noted 500 illegal entries as well. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of April we reported 7 184 such entries.
The Roma community living in the neighborhood of Białystok was aghast at the decision of the court on persons found guilty of racist and intolerant behavior towards the young Roma. The District Court in Białystok found these people guilty, while conditionally discontinuing proceedings. By staying in contact with the Prosecutor's Office and the District Court in Białystok we managed to get anonymous reasoned judgment.
We continue to monitor the issue in Legnica. We contacted the president of the football club MKS Miedź Legnica SA to get to know about any present results about the "I support with class" action. We asked also if any preventive measures were being carried out to protect the derby match, which will be played in Legnica on the last weekend of May.
In addition, we still work on the conference in Legnica devoted to the history and identity of the Roma. This conference is also about combating hate speech, intolerance, discrimination against the Roma community and will be held in June.
We have received information about the racist notice about the Roma community appeared on the one of the buildings in Poznań. We are making efforts to remove promptly this notice from the stairwell.
We still work on comments of Councilor of the City of Puławy – Paweł Maj. His abusive comments were being made during the City Council Session of Puławy on January 29th.
We have obtained protocols from the meeting of the Committee for Social Policy of Families and Public Order of the City of Puławy, where issues about the Roma community were discussed.
A Summary of March
In March we established 13 cases of abusive content appeared on the Internet. We recorded 512 illegal entries. Since the beginning of the project implementation until the end of March we reported 6 684 such entries.
Our monitoring specialist took steps this month to further monitor and explain cases from Legnica, Strzelin near Wrocław, Szczecin, Leszno, Gdańsk-Jelitkowo.
We have obtained information that the proceedings made about racist scarves from Legnica is slowly coming to an end and soon a hearing in the Court of Głogów will be held.
The case of Strzelin near Wrocław finally went on trial. We have received confirmation that the offender has been sentenced to a year in prison.
We maintain contact with the Wielkopolska Governor Plenipotentiary for the National and Ethnic Minorities on improving the situation of Roma in Leszno.
The Roma community of Lubań has been reported to our association. The lawyer gave them legal advice. We remain the constant contact with this community.
We also have been carrying out activities regarding the discontinuance of the proceedings by the public prosecutor in Gdańsk on encampments in Gdańsk-Jelitkowo. We received an answer from the Association of Nomad in Wrocław, which resigned from complaints about the decision of the prosecutor's, office after legal consultations. We continue to monitor this case.