Category: General

“SILENCED THEN, IGNORED NOW: WHY THE ROMA HOLOCAUST STILL HAUNTS EUROPE”

Each year, we pause to remember the memory of victims and survivors of the Roma Holocaust. Nazi tore our families apart, and they tried to erase our language, our songs, our history. On the 2nd of August, 1944, the remaining 2,897 Roma prisoners in Auschwitz-Birkenau were killed. This day is more than a date on a calendar; it is not solely about remembering, either, but it reveals more: it is about resilience! 

When we bring forward the real stories that lie behind the wall of the concentration camp, we stand firmly against every prejudice that still haunts Europe. When we raise our voices on 2 August, we bring the past into clear sight and we demand an end to antigypsyism today!

The ongoing denial and lack of recognition of this genocide show that this is an injustice in itself. This date is not widely known in Europe and beyond, leaving a gap in public understanding of our shared history. And not only that, but the hate that once fuelled mass murder now seeps into everyday life. 

We are experiencing sudden forced evictions that leave Roma families homeless; we witness police brutality targeting our communities without consequence; school segregation that traps our children and denies them the same learning opportunities; hate speech and online attacks that spread fear. All of this is happening because of antigypsyism, which is not just prejudice but systemic racism rooted in Europe’s history.

Even after liberation, doors stayed closed. Prejudice walked free, and we remained exiles in our own homes. The Roma Holocaust is not only a historical tragedy, it is an open wound. Despite the genocide of thousands, denial and silence continue. The same structures of exclusion, racism, and dehumanisation that led to the 2nd of August remain alive today in the form of institutional and everyday antigypsyism. Remembering must be more than mourning; it must be resistance.

Across Europe, Roma communities are speaking up. Each year, Roma youth return to Auschwitz to honour the dead and speak for the living. Roma courageously demand their rights every year and speak loudly for their future. From Brussels to every corner of Europe and beyond, Roma voices echo through the halls of power. We seek justice, we are naming antigypsyism, and we are demanding change. This is not only remembrance. It is resistance.

Not just today but every day, we must challenge institutions that stay silent and educators who leave our history untaught. Antigypsyism did not end in 1945. It continues in new forms, in new places, every day. Recognising it is not optional; it is urgent!

Picture by Brett Olah

ERGO Network is Looking for National Focal Points! 

Deadline for applications: 30 August 2025 (CET) 

Are you a committed Roma civil society representative with expertise on human rights and antigypsyism? ERGO Network is launching the second phase of the RIPE Index & Map and is seeking National Focal Points in: 
Croatia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. 

About the RIPE Index 

The Roma Inclusion, Participation & Equality Index (RIPE) is a comprehensive monitoring tool developed by ERGO Network to address systemic antigypsyism and discrimination. It aims to assess the situation of Roma communities across various dimensions—political, social, economic—using data-driven advocacy to push for change. 

The second phase will build on work done in 2024 in ten countries and will focus on consistency in methodology to enable comparative reporting across Europe. 

Your Role as a National Focal Point 

Selected National Focal Points will: 

• Complete a tailored questionnaire provided by ERGO Network, offering reliable and comprehensive data at the national level. 
• Communicate with the ERGO Secretariat if updates are needed after data submission. 
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information provided. 
• Participate in a kick-off meeting and receive full methodological guidance and support throughout the process. 

Timeline: 1 September – 1 November 2025 
Compensation: 500 EUR per person 
Note: Up to two individuals/entities per country may be selected depending on the quality and volume of applications. 

Who Can Apply? 

We are looking for: 

• Roma Civil Society representatives or independent experts. 
• People with citizenship or extensive experience in one of the target countries. 
• Individuals with strong knowledge of Human Rights standards, antigypsyism, and Roma inclusion. 
• Experience in research, monitoring, or administering questionnaires is a plus. 
• Independent applicants must be able to invoice with a VAT number or proof of VAT exemption. 

How to Apply 

Please send the following to i.mihalache@ergonetwork.org by 30 August 2025: 

1. A short (max 200 words) statement of qualifications and relevant experience. If you’re affiliated with an organisation, please include its name. 

2. A brief motivation letter outlining your interest and suitability. 

For questions, contact: 
Ms. Isabela Mihalache – i.mihalache@ergonetwork.org 

ERGO Network promotes diversity and participation from all Roma communities. We strongly encourage applications from Roma women, LGBTQI+ Roma, and other underrepresented groups. 

Welcome to our new team member – our Finance Manager

We’re happy to welcome a new colleague to the ERGO Network Secretariat in Brussels. Our new Finance Manager Anne-Françoise Massotte brings strong expertise to the team

Within the ERGO Secretariat, Anne-Françoise is responsible for:

Financial Administration: Checking and booking incoming and outgoing invoices, assigning analytical codes, arranging payments with the Director’s approval, managing the cashbox, preparing contracts and outgoing invoices, and following up on payments.

Budgeting and Reporting: Providing quarterly financial reports and forecasts, contributing to the annual budget, preparing financial documents for the Board, General Assembly and annual report, and supporting donor reporting in cooperation with the Senior Programme Manager.

Compliance and Audit: Ensuring VAT and tax compliance in Belgium, liaising with the bank (KBC Brussels), preparing for audits, and working closely with external auditors on both project and statutory audits.

Human Resources: Coordinating with the payroll provider (Partena), preparing employment contracts, submitting monthly presence reports, supporting onboarding and HR queries, preparing Dimona ID fiches, liaising with Mensura and insurance providers, ordering luncheon vouchers, and arranging work permits for non-EU staff.

Read more about her in her own words:

After graduating from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Solvay Business School), I’m still proud that my highest grade was in management control! (Admittedly, I was less enthusiastic about some of the other courses.)

I’m Belgian, but throughout my career I’ve had the chance to travel across Europe. This experience has shaped me into an “all-terrain” financial manager, with a solid background in both commercial and non-commercial sectors.

Numbers may be part of my DNA, but I’m a curious person above all. These days, I’m also the proud mother of two grown-up children whose passions and ideas spark endless conversations in our house — often challenging old narratives and helping reimagine new futures.

I’m delighted to be joining ERGO Network and look forward to contributing to its mission.

Feel free to reach out to me: a.massotte@ergonetwork.org