Pavee Point welcomes many of the commitments regarding Travellers and Roma outlined in a draft Programme for Government agreed and published today – but highlights the challenges of implementation. “The Coronavirus pandemic has shown that we can achieve things that previously seemed impossible,” said Ronnie Fay, Co Director Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre. “Travellers […]
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Pavee Point very much welcomes the appointment of Traveller woman Rosaleen McDonagh as a commissioner to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Rosaleen is a Traveller woman with a disability, playwright and IHREC Disability Advisory Committee member and will bring a wealth of experience and analysis to her work with the Commission. Rosaleen was […]
read more →Joint statement from Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Irish Traveller Movement, National Traveller Women’s Forum, Minceirs Whiden,Exchange House Ireland, Involve, The Parish of the Travelling People, Traveller Mediation Service, Traveller Counselling Service and National Traveller MABS: We as Traveller organisations are outraged by the death in police custody of George Floyd and by the ongoing responses of his country’s leadership. We express […]
read more →This week, Traveller men take to social media to speak up against domestic violence during Covid-19/Coronavirus Pandemic. The messages are by Traveller men, for men, reminding them that domestic violence, no matter the circumstance, is never OK. “It’s great to see Traveller men taking a lead on a global issue, especially during Covid-19” said Tessa […]
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Like many Irish people I am outraged by the death in police custody of George Floyd and by the responses of his country’s leadership. Yesterday’s minutes silence in Dáil Éireann was a good gesture of our national solidarity with his family, community, African Americans, and people everywhere experiencing racism. It also needs to reflect a […]
read more →Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre stands in solidarity with all who are outraged by the death of George Floyd. In particular, we want to express our condolences and solidarity with his family, to members of his community in Minneapolis, Minnesota and to all who assert, as we do, that Black Lives Matter. “This should […]
read more →Critical to mitigating COVID19 within the Traveller and Roma communities during this crisis has been the partnership approach adopted by the HSE, government departments and Traveller organisations. The level of interdepartmental work now underway had not been seen before COVID19 and has enabled some timely and effective responses. “This combined action around COVID19 is […]
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Gabi Mutean, Community Development Worker talks about Roma Resistance Day “We commemorate the uprisings at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp of Roma prisoners. The SS came to the Gypsy Camp to send all the prisoners to the gas chamber . “The Roma prisoners armed themselves with stones and tools and barricaded themselves in the barracks so […]
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Pavee Point highlighted mental health inequalities for Travellers and the impact of COVID19 on Travellers mental health at a conference with policy makers on mental health yesterday. We outlined our concerns around an increase in racism and discrimination towards Travellers and Roma during this time. “We are worried about the further impact that this will have on […]
read more →Pavee Point and the National Traveller Women’s Forum have written to Education Minister, Joe McHugh TD to urge the Minister to ensure that cancelling the Leaving Cert will not impact negatively on Traveller and Roma students. Reports from Traveller and Roma Groups around the country is that students face considerable difficulties with emergency home schooling […]
read more →Traveller men in North Dublin are taking advantage of this week’s 5k travel limit to raise funds for HSE Heroes – https://ie.gofundme.com/f/run-for-our-hse-heroesExercise not only keeps you physically fit but helps keep you mentally fit as well say Michael Collins, Men’s Health Worker with the Traveller Health Unit as he launches the challenge on Facebook
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More than 1 in 10 women worldwide experience mental health issues during and after pregnancy. We know Traveller women are disproportionately affected by poor mental health and suicide so it’s really important to support Traveller women during this time. Pregnancy affects different women in different ways, both physically and emotionally and these are challenging times for […]
read more →Traveller Community Health Workers act as liaison between the Traveller community and health service providers. During COVID-19 their work is vital in mitigating the impact of the virus. “It’s important to build up trust with the Traveller families you work with,” says Nancy Collins, “That way when it comes to a crisis like this one, […]
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On Poetry Day (30 April) we are reproducing a poem ‘The Lane’ by Traveller poet Helen Hutchinson. Photo: Helen Hutchinson reading her poetry at the Lived Lives exhibition, Pavee Point 2015. Photo by Derek Speirs.
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Playwright Rosaleen McDonagh is among 100 writers asked to participate in The Abbey Theatre – Dear Ireland – theatrical postcards during COVID19. These are rapid response monologues written and recorded in self-isolation and are The Abbey Theatre’s way of supporting theatre during this crisis while also capturing this moment in our history. Rosaleen’s piece will […]
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Pavee Point today joined with other human rights organisations to highlight the need for a human rights response during COVID19. This arises out of our concerns for communities and people who have been particularly affected both by the virus itself and/or by the new emergency regulations. A rights-based response requires an approach that prioritises protecting […]
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Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre today lodged an official complaint with OFCOM, the UK Broadcast regulator in relation to Channel 4’s Dispatches programme which was broadcast on 16th of April. Our complaint outlines the reasons why this programme is irresponsible, discriminatory against Travellers and promotes negative stereotypes that feed into hate speech and possibly […]
read more →We appreciate how difficult funerals are for families and communities at this time but here we see some good examples of maintaining social distance during a Traveller funeral in Dublin today. We all need to work harder at staying safe and we are working closely with the HSE, Traveller communities and organisations and An Garda Síochána to support people […]
read more →Statement Released: 17th April, 2020 Traveller organisations around the country are calling on Travellers to fully adhere to COVID-19 public health measures, including restrictions on funerals. In this way people can show the deceased the respect and dignity they deserve. Both the Government and the Catholic Church have stated that only immediate family members – up […]
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As we go through this Covid19/Coronavirus crisis, thank you for your show of solidarity with Travellers and Roma on Wednesday 8th of April – International Traveller & Roma Day. This crisis presents extra challenges for many Travellers and Roma who live in already vulnerable situations in cities and in rural settings around the country. Overcrowding […]
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