As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liquidation of the Roma and Sinti camps in Auschwitz-Birkenau, we reflect on the profound loss and enduring resilience of the Roma community. On the night between August 2 and 3, 1944, over 4,000 Roma, including women, children, and men, were brutally murdered by the Nazis.
This tragic event, part of the genocide against the Roma and Sinti people, saw more than 20,000 of the 23,000 imprisoned Roma in Auschwitz lose their lives. Today, as we remember these massacres, we acknowledge the ongoing struggles faced by Roma communities. The historical injustices of slavery and the Holocaust have left deep scars, and antigypsyism lives on to this day. This commemoration is a moment to look back with sorrow and a call to action for justice and equality.
On August 2, 2024, we will take part in the international conference in Krakow, titled “The Future of Holocaust Remembrance and Education: Passing on the Testimonies of Roma and Sinti Holocaust Survivors,” organised by the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, in partnership with the ERGO Network, the Alliance against Antigypsyism, and the Association of Roma in Poland. The event will mark the 80th anniversary of the Roma and Sinti genocide at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Experts from numerous institutions will contribute to the discussion.
Despite the European Parliament’s recognition of the Roma and Sinti genocide in 2015, the persecution of Roma remains a lesser-known chapter of history. As we mark 79 years since the end of World War II, we still lack this history being integrated into educational curricula and public consciousness. Decades have passed, yet the quest for truth and recognition of the Roma and Sinti’s suffering is still in its initial stages.
At the forefront of efforts to address these enduring challenges, ERGO Network, through the JEKHIPE project, aims to break up structural and institutional obstacles that hold back justice and equality for Roma communities, thus promoting the inclusion and participation of Roma in society, seeking to resolve historical injustices and confront contemporary issues head-on. The project raises awareness of institutional antigypsyism and policy advancements in the fight against it, promotes Roma identity, history, and culture as tools to prevent and combat antigypsyism, and sets out to promote and support restorative and transitional justice mechanisms at European and national level.
Europe faces a significant challenge in addressing the rising tide of antigypsyism, which current crises have increased. Even 74 years since the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights, minorities in Europe, including Roma, are still racially profiled, mistreated, attacked, and not represented in the international arena – an issue reflected very clearly during the recent European Parliament elections, which resulted with not a single MEP to represent the largest minority in the EU. The rise of xenophobia, racism, and far-right movements underscores the urgent need to raise awareness about the Roma Holocaust and combat present-day discrimination.
As we honour the memory of those lost and reflect on the injustices of the past, we must also look to the future with a commitment to justice and equality. Today, let us remember the past and work to build a future where the Roma community can access justice and equality. Let us ensure that history lessons are remembered and that the fight against antigypsyism continues.