Introduction of Roma Virtual Network
The Roma Virtual Network (RVN) is a public grass-roots initiative aimed to provide the international Roma community and friendly non-Roma organizations and individuals with useful information on Roma issues in variety of languages via the Internet. Since its` establishment on 19 July 1999 its` activity is actively helping to facilitate the cooperation and exchange of information within Roma organizations and individuals, between Roma and non-Roma organizations and individuals and also between Roma NGOs and official institutions. It deals with a variety of Roma-related political, cultural, economic and social issues on local and international levels. It aims to support the improvement of the Romani situation in Europe and other parts of the world. It contains 33 electronic mailing lists in 20 languages (including Romani) with a total membership over 10 800 e-mail addresses.
The RVN wants to stimulate the progress of all Roma, especially the ones involved in the international Romani movement, with a focus on the emerging strata of young Roma leaders and public diplomats, some of whom are working in EU-level and national governmental institutions. Beside these categories, it serves as a source of comprehensive and up-to-date information on a wide range of topics and aspects connected to the Roma issue (education, employment, housing, equality, women rights, anti-trafficking, Romani language, cultural life, etc.) for EU-level policy-makers, civil servants, human rights activists and media. It also is a reliable electronic archive of Roma-related news items posted on-line since the year 2001.
Read more on http://www.romavirtualnetwork.
Roma Virtual Network (RVN) was launched on 19 July 1999 by it`s current editor Valery Novoselsky. This network was established and keeps working thanks to initial support of Romani activists, such as Ian Hancock (USA), Viktória Mohácsi (Hungary), Amoun Sleem (East Jerusalem), Dragan Jevremovic (Austria) and Emil Scuka (Czech Republic).
It was started as a private initiative of a person from a Romani background who was born in Ukraine, but resides in Israel. This initiative had been initially supported by the small group of Roma who immigrated to Israel from the countries of ex-USSR as the members of mixed Romani-Jewish families. Shortly the initiative gained the recognition of many national and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with Roma issues, especially in Europe.
One of the reasons for such recognition is the fact that RVN started to address the need of Roma and Roma-friendly audience in timely and non-biased information on Roma issues. Since the very beginning this public media initiative did it`s best in turning the chaotic and biased Internet into Roma-friendly sphere.
Read more on http://www.valery-novoselsky.
Testimonials of the supporters of Roma Virtual Network (RVN)
“I am deeply convinced about the necessity and importance of Roma Virtual Network. I proudly announce the use on daily basis of the information’s of RVN – because it has a bright and neutral scale of information. The author and editor of it, Valery Novoselsky is very committed and hard working person.” – Agnes Daroczi, scientific researcher and activist (Budapest, Hungary).
“As a researcher in these issues, I hail the RVN both as a rich source of information and a communication space which has allowed me to conduct different research into the experience of its early years on Portuguese gypsies. Daily insights from different parts of the world on social and government policies, situations of discrimination, exclusion and marginalization, conditions, strategies and (re)actions of the Roma individuals or groups in the face of such situations, consultation with (new) projects covering fields such as culture, history, justice, education or economy are only some of the information that I find in RVN. Simultaneously, this network promotes the interconnection of different Romany and non-Romany individuals considering their comments and suggestions, contributing to social science researchers’ entry into the universe of Roma issues.” – Ana Brinca, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, New University of Lisbon (Portugal).
“Gypsy Roma Traveller communities continue to suffer from acute exclusion and xenophobia, in these troubled times the information service and platform for advocacy provided by RVN is of paramount importance and is delivered by the RVN in a professional and efficient manner. Given the critical stage we are at in the development of the EU Framework for National Integration Strategies it is evident that the RVN will play a key role in enabling a range of stakeholders including researchers to observe and compare the progress of this initiative.” – Dr. Andrew Ryder, Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary).
Read more on http://roma.idebate.org/
