Slovakia: Romani children from excluded communities sing Romani national anthem at the Presidential Palace

Slovak President Andrej Kiska posted the following message to his Facebook page about why he celebrates International Romani Day:  “If no politicians have said anything about this to you today, I’m not surprised. You can’t score points with this subject – rather the opposite. That’s why it’s safer to be quiet. Today is International Romani Day. In years past I have visited communities, schools, and projects working with Romani people and doing a good job of it on this day. This year I have decided to receive Romani children from Košice and Moldava nad Bodvou in the Presidential Palace so they could sing the Romani anthem there. It was a very impactful experience for me personally.”

“We have more than 400 000 Romani people in Slovakia. Of the children who are born in excluded communities in Slovakia, almost half remain among the poorest of the poor all their lives. We must end this vicious cycle of poverty. The only way out is education,” Kiska posted. 

“In my reports on the state of the republic I have spoken of this year after year. It is possible, we just have to want to make this subject a priority. Political leaders pay almost no attention to this topic, and I explained why at the opening of this post,” the outgoing President of Slovakia said.