The romantic image of the Gypsy dancing in flowing skirts on the forest clearing is a concept most are familiar with.  Unfortunately, fewer are familiar with the very real issues of the real “Gypsy” population, the Romani and Sinti. Extensive human rights violations in areas such as education, health care, housing and employment continue to be a serious problem in Central and Eastern Europe. The Advocacy Project together with Prague-based Dženo Association are working together to combat this issue and bring attention to the real “Gypsy” population of the region.  

The Advocacy Project’s 2007 Fellow for Peace, Chanele Brothers Muntean, is traveling to Prague, Czech Republic this summer to work with the Dženo Association. Dženo is an independent Romani media news and information service, as well as an advocacy and research organization.  Emphasis is placed on influencing international actions concerning the Romani, and increasing global awareness of Romani issues. 

The organization serves as an information center on the national and international level, helping to promote Roma human rights and an end to discrimination and racism.  Local activities include those that support the education of Romani youth, such as establishing scholarships for gifted Romani students in order to deepen the professional knowledge and capabilities they will need as local Romani activists. Dženo also provides assistance to regional Romani organizations by organizing regional events and transferring experience and skills to local groups.  

Chanele will be a useful and resourceful addition to the staff of Dženo, providing English language support and research skills combined with knowledge of Romani issues. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, working on a Masters in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies with a certificate in Romani Studies. Her research areas have included Romani women’s health care, the Romani in Holocaust and discrimination of Romani in Romania and the countries of the former Czechoslovakia.  You can reach her at Chanele [at] gmail [dot ] com

Help Chanele, AP and Dženo with this very urgent and important issue!