Stories, News
UNICEF Fantasia

If I could cry out in the name of all the suffering children in Romania and elsewhere, loud enough for all the world to hear, I would do it. I want to shout at the top of my lungs: "Stop whatever you are doing and reinvent yourselves, because business as usual just isn't working." More children are born into poverty every day than the number of children saved by UNICEF over a period of ten years.

I couldn’t cry out, and so I created a work I have titled UNICEF Fantasia. From the outset, I want to say that the imaginary character, the UNICEF unicorn, is a symbol that would stand equally well for other similar international and local organizations.

I decided on UNICEF for two reasons. Firstly because UNICEF is the organisation from which I have the greatest expectations. It is the gold standard for both what the humanitarian industry has aimed to be and what it has become.

Secondly, in the seven years since I first witnessed the terrible abuses to which tens of thousands of Roma children are victim, I have to conclude, with sadness, that I have never met a UNICEF employee on the ground. I haven’t seen anybody from UNICEF either before or during such abuses, nor have I seen anybody from UNICEF take a stand when hundreds of thousands of children were left homeless because of abuses on the part of the authorities.
If UNICEF does not manage in the short term to protect the rights of children who find themselves in vulnerable situations because of attacks on the part of the authorities, what can you expect from their various medium- and long-term programs?

After the country joined the EU, UNICEF Romania ceased to be funded by the network and had to seek alternative sources of funding. This is how it came to develop various partnerships with the Romanian Government and other state institutions.

In partnership with the biggest abuser of the Roma, UNICEF was only partly able to defend the rights of Roma children, let alone promote them.
Lack of funding is always blamed, but budget limitations cannot justify the abandonment of hundreds of thousands of children who have been evicted from their homes, a widespread abuse.

According to the World Bank, more than sixty per cent of the families that live on or below the poverty line in Romania do not have ownership documents for the land on which they have built their hovels or houses. Not even the rate of illiteracy is so high. But who could think about schooling when permanently threatened with eviction by the mayor?

From my seven years experience of social work, I can say that not much remains of the noble idea of protecting children: on the one hand, Romania has the worst rate of children not receiving an education, the highest number of child pregnancies, and so on, but on the other hand, it’s trendy, glamorous even, to work for UNICEF.

A lot of the time, the people who end up working for organizations such as UNICEF are the friends and relatives of politicians. The salaries, offices, trips abroad, sumptuous conferences, and above all status it brings make it a highly attractive world. Compassion and above all efficacy take second place to communications budgets and posh ambassadors. Not voluntary work with children but celebrity recommend you as an ambassador.

Rivalry over budgets and positions in the hierarchy, fundraising, and advertising have all but wiped compassion off the agenda.  Strangely, in the UNICEF mission statement there is no specific mention of Roma children, Romania’s most vulnerable group, although it makes reference to children from other vulnerable minority groups.
You might say that they want to talk about children in general. I would even believe it if on their website there were a single mention of the UNICEF Photo of the Year prize I won in 2011: coincidentally or not, the winning photograph shows a Roma child.

Ultimately, my concern is not UNICEF or other similar organizations, but the children they fail to help, citing self-imposed limitations. It is unjust to talk about the well-being of every single child and then abdicate that statement, promoting only the well-being of the children featured in your own campaigns. It is unjust that your partnerships with the state should oblige you not to take a stand against the grave infringement of children’s rights by the Romanian state itself.
In this series, I aim to draw attention to all these things and to make people think. I hope that in the end, based on this constructive criticism, such organizations will re-evaluate their work and make children their priority once more.

It is possible that they may try to block the dissemination of this humanitarian manifesto on the grounds that permission to use their name and logo has not been granted. But it is wrong not to have the right to criticize a humanitarian trademark that relies on the state budget and charitable donations, but to have the right to make jokes about Jesus or Mohammed. It would be even more wrong for them to demand compensation from me for tarnishing their image. In the name of the children and in order to help them, I declare myself guilty from the start, and I request that as a punishment I be made to do voluntary work for UNICEF.

For almost eight years I have fought to place on the public agenda the need to stop forced evictions and to adopt a solution regarding property rights to the land on which thousands of homes have been built. The lack of any clear legislation and above all any knowledge of the existing legislation make this an extremely difficult task. Above all, it is an extremely unpopular task, which I have to fund from my own resources. Everything I could otherwise put aside for my family, foregoing holidays and personal expenses, I spend on helping and promoting the cause of Roma children. If not even this work brings about a change of priorities–a home and an education rather than education without a home–I will admit defeat and give up this Sisyphean labour.
Finally, I invite you to reflect: if tomorrow all the employees of the NGOs and humanitarian organizations began to be paid based on performance alone (without a basic monthly salary), how many of them would carry on working for the good of the children?

PS: you should check this out too: https://www.unicef.de/informieren/aktuelles/photo-of-the-year/contest-2011/-/mugur-varzariu/107580

UNICEF Fantasia
✖
Roma girl, playing hide and seek, jumps off the window of the ground floor of a social housing complex, in Baia Mare, July 7, 2011. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the roms, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by romanian citizens of roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayorÍs eyes, by the bad behaviour of the roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Memet Ali (L), Memet Ebru, Iaia Leila and Iaia Geana, Roma of Turkish origin seeking cover under an improvised shelter to protect from heavy rain, as seen in Eforie Sud, Romania, on September 29, 2013. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud, Romania, proceeded to forcibly evict more than 60 Turkish Roma families, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Carmen, a 10 years old Roma girl, seen in front a social housing complex, in Baia Mare, July 14, 2011. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the Roma, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by Romanian citizens of Roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayorÍs eyes, by the bad behavior of the Roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Romanians of Roma origins chased by the France police as seen in Belleville, Paris, on September 28, 2010. The Roma where offered money, by the french authorities, in return for their 'voluntary' deportation back to Romania.
Roma boy posing on his family horse in Baia Mare (Pirita informal Roma settlement), September 24, 2011. On 23 August 2011, in an interview for an online newspaper, eMaramures , the Mayor of Baia Mare announced a plan to evict hundreds of Roma and other socially disadvantaged people from four areas of Baia Mare. The Mayor stated that: latest next week we will proceed with the action of removing those from Craica, Pirita, Ferneziu, even Horea, who are not from Baia Mare and live illegally in our city. Their number is quite high, some hundreds. The Mayor added that these evictions would involve the demolitions of houses in order to prevent other people from moving in. According to media reports, individuals and families who are not registered in Baia Mare will be sent back to their places of origin and prevented from returning back to town.
Romanian of Roma origins bringing his horse to the only improvised water source as seen on November 24, 2013, Pirita, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare, abusively demolished by the local authorities at the end of 2012.
Roma kids, helping the adults clean the staircases of a social housing complex, in Baia Mare, July 8, 2011, as instructed by the mayor. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the Roma, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by Romanian citizens of Roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayor’s eyes, by the bad behavior of the Roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Cobzaru Cami, a Romanian girl of Roma origins playing with a balloon inside a Roma social housing complex on Negru Voda Street, as seen in Caracal on March 13, 2014. On March 15, given the eviction notification received from the local authorities in Caracal, approximatively seventy Roma people where suppose to evict the apartments they occupied in a social complex on Negru Voda Street in Caracal, most of them for more than thirty years. By issuing the eviction notice, local authorities didn't consider any alternatives nor the right to adequate housing.
Roma kid standing on his had, as seen inside a Roma social housing complex on Negru Voda Street in Caracal on March 13, 2014. On March 15, given the eviction notification received from the local authorities in Caracal, approximatively seventy Roma people where suppose to evict the apartments they occupied in a social complex on Negru Voda Street in Caracal, most of them for more than thirty years. By issuing the eviction notice, local authorities didn't consider any alternatives nor the right to adequate housing.
Romanian kids of Roma origins passing by, on their way to gather water, as seen on November 20, 2013, on Craica, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare.
Roma girl trashing a wedding dress in the courtyard of a social housing complex, in Baia Mare, November 22, 2013. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the Roma, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by Romanian citizens of Roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayor's eyes, by the bad behavior of the Roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Wall carpets hanging to dry, as seen on Craica, an informal roma settlement in Baia Mare, May 2, 2012. On May 11, the mayor started his eviction plans by moving the first families to Cuprom and demolishing their dwellings.
Roma kids playing in Eforie Sud, as seen on May 22, 2016. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict the remaining Roma people, one year after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 Turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Romanian kids of Roma origins playing inside a social housing complex, in Baia Mare, July 05, 2011. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the Roma, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by Romanian citizens of Roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayor's eyes, by the bad behavior of the Roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Roma kid eating what his father was able to salvage from the dumpster in Eforie Sud, as seen on July 28, 2014. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict the remaining Roma people, one year after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 Turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Romanian girls of Roma origins living in the village of Tinca near Oradea, as seen on March 18, 2015. Originally clay bricks makers, most of the Roma villagers today struggle to find work as demand for such products have drastically decreased over the years.
Mihai, a Romanian of Roma origins with baby girl, poses for camera in front of his ramshackle dwelling, as seen on Craica, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare, September 25, 2011. On 23 August 2011, in an interview for an online newspaper, eMaramures , the Mayor of Baia Mare announced a plan to evict hundreds of Roma and other socially disadvantaged people from four areas of Baia Mare. The Mayor stated that: latest next week we will proceed with the action of removing those from Craica, Pirita, Ferneziu, even Horea, who are not from Baia Mare and live illegally in our city. Their number is quite high, some hundreds. The Mayor added that these evictions would involve the demolitions of houses in order to prevent other people from moving in. According to media reports, individuals and families who are not registered in Baia Mare will be sent back to their places of origin and prevented from returning back to town.
Romanian kid of Roma origins carrying a bag with mud, helping a neighbor, to cover the cracks of his ramshackle dwelling, in preparation for the winter, as seen on November 19, 2013, on Craica, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare.
Roma girl playing in Eforie Sud, as seen on May 23, 2016. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict the remaining Roma people, one year after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 Turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Roma people moving second-hand furniture as seen in Mangalia on September 3, 2014. Local authorities threatens the Roma community living in a social housing complex called 'La Baraci' with forced evictions, a common practice throughout Romania. Either for economical reasons or simply by riding on the hate ticket during elections, more and more Roma communities are forcibly evicted.
Local police forces try to prevent Iaia Leila (M), a Roma of turkish origins, and her daughters Aia Geana and Memet Ebru (R) to defend their home, facing imminent demolition, as seen on Agricola Street in Eforie Sud on October 11, 2013. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict Roma people, two weeks after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Mentally challenged Bora Linda, a roma teenager, seen in front of their still standing ramshackle dwelling on Craica, an informal roma settlement in Baia Mare, facing forced evictions, May 1, 2012. On May 11, the mayor, campaigning on the hate ticked, set in motion the eviction, demolition and temporary relocation plans.
Romanian kids of Roma origins play in the grass, as seen on Pirita, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare, on September 24, 2011. Some of these settlements, like the one on Craica, date back to early 90’s. They where always tolerated by the authorities who verbally encouraged Roma to build in the area while giving reassurance that nothing bad would ever happen to them. Yet, today, while campaigning on a hate ticket, the same authorities are planning forced evictions without other reasons than ethnic cleansing of the cities. 
Romanian girl of roma origins on one of her many daily trips to the water pump, as seen on Craica, an informal roma settlement in Baia Mare, on September 22, 2011. Some of these settlements, like the one on Craica, date back to early 90Ís. They where always tolerated by the authorities who verbally encouraged Romas to build in the area while giving reassurance that nothing bad would ever happen to them. Yet,ætoday, while campaigning on a hate ticket, the same authorities are planning forced evictions without other reasons than ethnic cleansing of the cities.æ
Romanians of Roma origins living in the village of Tinca near Oradea, as seen on March 18, 2015. Originally clay bricks makers, most of the Roma villagers today struggle to find work as demand for such products have drastically decreased over the years.
Roma kids playing in Eforie Sud, as seen on May 22, 2016. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict the remaining Roma people, one year after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 Turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Ruxandra, a Romanian girl of Roma origins watches cartoons as seen on Craica, an informal Roma settlement in Baia Mare on November 27, 2013. Early 2012 her home was facing imminent danger of being demolished but her grandmother determination and heroic fight saved it for the time being. Since then, they all leave in constant fear that the authorities will carry out their plans and demolish their home.
Roma kid sleeping in Eforie Sud, as seen on May 23, 2016. Regardless international pressure to stop such practices, local authorities continue to forcibly evict the remaining Roma people, one year after the initial displacement. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 100 Turkish Roma people, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Sasaran Mihaela Adriana with 3 (Sasarean Alexandra, Sasarean Cosmina and Sasarean Cosmin) of her 5 kids in their one room apartment on Horea Street in Baia Mare, September 20, 2011. Following on his pre-electoral racist promises to segregate the roms, Catalin Chereches, the mayor of Baia Mare, a city located in the Northern part of Romania, decided to build a wall around a complex of social houses, mostly inhabited by romanian citizens of roma origins. The initiative was justified in mayorÍs eyes, by the bad behaviour of the roma kids who allegedly throw rocks at the passing by cars and occasional traffic accidents reported in the area. The plan also includes adding video cameras and a police station to monitor the situation in the complex.
Roma woman holding her baby in a community on the outskirts of Bucharest recently threaten by the mayor of sector 3, Mr. Robert Negoita (not present in the images) with forced evictions, as seen near Bratarii Street on March 25, 2015. Most of the Roma living in the area purchased the land, some more than 40 years ago using handwritten notes. Either for economical reasons or simply by riding on the hate ticket during elections, more and more Roma communities are forcibly evicted throughout Romania.
Romanians of Roma origins living in a social housing complex facing imminent forced evictions, as seen in Focsani on June 10, 2015. First round of evictions started on June 4 following a court controversial decision to evict people that had outstanding debts to the water supplier or for the rent. In some cases the court ruled against the people holding them liable for debts exceeding the legal frame. Hundreds of people and children are about to loose their home for debts dating back fifteen years and in many cases belonging to the former tenants of the social housing complex.
Romanians of Roma origins living in a social housing complex facing imminent forced evictions, as seen in Focsani on June 10, 2015. First round of evictions started on June 4 following a court controversial decision to evict people that had outstanding debts to the water supplier or for the rent. In some cases the court ruled against the people holding them liable for debts exceeding the legal frame. Hundreds of people and children are about to loose their home for debts dating back fifteen years and in many cases belonging to the former tenants of the social housing complex.
Roma woman smoking inside a room offered by local authorities to romanian citizens of Roma origins, formerly living on Craica, as seen on June 3, 2012. Few hours after being relocated to Cuprom, on the premises of a former factory laboratory that wasn't sanitised and decontaminated to be compatible with living conditions, more than 20 kids and adult felt sick and they where transported to the local hospital. Campaigning on the hate ticked, Catalin Chereches, current mayor and one of the candidates for the mayor office, made the evictions of several informal Roma settlements like Craica, Pirita, Ferneziu and Garii, his top electoral promise. Roma people on Craica claim that he threaten them into signing the relocation paper, both directly and with the help of informal Roma leaders.
Romanians of Roma origins living in a social housing complex facing imminent forced evictions, as seen in Focsani on June 11, 2015. First round of evictions started on June 4 following a court controversial decision to evict people that had outstanding debts to the water supplier or for the rent. In some cases the court ruled against the people holding them liable for debts exceeding the legal frame. Hundreds of people and children are about to loose their home for debts dating back fifteen years and in many cases belonging to the former tenants of the social housing complex.
Roma boy hanging by the first floor ledge, as seen on Horea Street, inside a social complex in in Baia Mare, on December 3, 2015.
Romanians of Roma origins living in a social housing complex facing imminent forced evictions, as seen in Focsani on June 11, 2015. First round of evictions started on June 4 following a court controversial decision to evict people that had outstanding debts to the water supplier or for the rent. In some cases the court ruled against the people holding them liable for debts exceeding the legal frame. Hundreds of people and children are about to loose their home for debts dating back fifteen years and in many cases belonging to the former tenants of the social housing complex.
Amis Nazar, Amis Ager and Amis Panar, Roma sisters of turkish origins as seen in their improvised shelter made out of debris from their demolished home, as seen in Eforie Sud on September 29, 2013. On Friday 27, 2013, local authorities in Eforie Sud proceeded to forcibly evict more than 60 turkish Roma families, leaving almost 60 children, mostly under 10 with no shelter, facing extreme weather conditions and lack of food.
Romanians of Roma origins as seen on Pata Rat, near Cluj-Napoca, where AI research team conducted interviews. The settlement on Pata Rat was created mid December 2010, after Roma people where forcibly evicted from their informal settlement in downtown Cluj-Napoca.
Roma kids playing as seen in a village south of Bucharest where allegedly the school is segregated, as seen on November 5, 2013.
Others you may like
The rise of Simion

The rise of Simion

News
Floods bring criminals and the indifferent together

Floods bring criminals and the indifferent together

News
Hatred wears the fez

Hatred wears the fez

News
Funeral of King Michael of Romania

Funeral of King Michael of Romania

News