Honouring Holocaust Remembrance Day: Introducing the Jekhipe Project

Honouring Holocaust Remembrance Day: Introducing the Jekhipe Project

On 27th January, the international community comes together to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion that marks the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, by the Red Army in 1945. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust, among them the Roma men, women, and children who perished in the shadows of history, subjected to the horrors of the “Forgotten Holocaust.”

Remembering the Roma Genocide

The Roma Genocide, overlooked for decades, saw its victims, particularly those in the “Gypsy Family Camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau, facing a tragic end on 2nd August 1944. As we reflect on the past, it is crucial to acknowledge that the legacy of persecution endured by the Roma community did not conclude with the liberation of the camps. Antigypsyism persists, with its manifestations intensifying even in the face of global challenges, as noted by Gabriela Hrabanova, Director of ERGO Network.

Introducing the Jekhipe Project

In response to these persistent challenges, ERGO Network, in collaboration with partners from Czechia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Sweden, proudly announces the Jekhipe Project. This initiative is a comprehensive effort to address structural and institutional obstacles hindering justice and equality for Roma communities. It seeks to rectify historical injustices, including slavery and the Holocaust while addressing contemporary issues such as limited access to services, inadequate representation, and the absence of Roma-focused cultural institutions.

Jekhipe’s Core Objectives

The Jekhipe Project operates on multiple levels, engaging in research, advocacy, networking, and capacity building to challenge existing paradigms and promote the inclusion and participation of Roma in society.

The project’s key objectives include:

• Building transitional justice processes and mechanisms at the EU, national, regional/local levels, including expert and truth commissions on antigypsyism.
• Developing policy recommendations for EU and national policymakers on transitional justice approaches to address antigypsyism.
• Raising awareness of institutional antigypsyism and policy developments in the fight against antigypsyism.
• Promoting Roma identity, history, and culture as tools to prevent and combat antigypsyism, including advocating for the inclusion of Roma history and culture in school curricula.
• Empowering Roma communities and NGOs to recognise and combat antigypsyism.
• Capacitating local Roma civil society and key stakeholders in countering antigypsyism.

Are you interested in working on this project?

Right now we have an open vacancy for the Jekhipe Project Coordinator, a crucial role in leading the project towards impactful change. Read more about it here.

Connecting the Dots: Romani Week Event

This 9-11 April, during Romani Week 2024, we will launch the Jekhipe Project officially. The event, titled “Reclaiming our past, rebuilding our future: New approaches to fighting antigypsyism against Roma,” will serve as a platform to initiate the project’s goals, bringing together experts, policymakers, activists, and the Roma community to foster dialogue and collaboration.

As we remember the Holocaust on this solemn day, let us also commit to challenging the persistence of antigypsyism and working towards a future where the dignity and humanity of the Roma community are fully recognised and respected. Together, we can build a more inclusive and just world.