Celebration | International Roma Day

Dear Readers, 

In this Sincerely Doubt That… blogpost let’s celebrate International Roma Day by remembering why we need Roma Rights. 

Who are the Roma people?

Let me start with the basics. Roma are the largest ethnic minority group living in Europe. The EU estimates the population between 10-12 million, with most residing in European Member States and holding EU citizenship. Although Roma are often described as one ethnic group, there is great diversity both between and within the Roma population. The umbrella term ‘Roma’ encompasses various groups, including Roma, Sinti, Kale, Romanichels, Boyash/Rudari, Ashkali, Yenish, Dom, Lom, Rom, and Abdal.

This terminology is used in EU policies and documents. PC police, attention please: I strongly suggest you stop using the word ‘Gypsy,’ which is a slur derived from the false belief that the community originated from Egypt, when in fact they can trace their roots to India.

And here's something many people forget: every Roma is a citizen of their respective country. Therefore, when referencing the population at large and Roma people simultaneously, the correct terms to use would be “Roma” and “non-Roma.” It might seem like a small detail, but it’s all about identity, and a sense of belonging. Separating Roma from the general population in any rhetoric today is undoubtedly a form of exclusion.

Roma people also contributed to European culture. If you think about how Roma people were forced to settle and in many cases, assimilated, cultural exchange was inevitable. They contributed to the culture just as they absorbed from it, adapting, learning the languages, and becoming citizens. For example, the famous Spanish dance flamenco has Roma roots, yet it is widely celebrated as a traditional Spanish dance today. Similarly, authentic Roma music in Hungary, which reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Roma people, is considered to be a Hungaricum*. 

It is also important to note that although the Roma community is widely known to be more affected by poverty than the majority in society, not all people living in poverty are Roma, but the majority of Roma live in poverty.

The Origin of International Roma Day

International Roma Day, celebrated on April 8, was established at the first World Roma Congress held in London in 1971. Delegates from nine countries—Czechoslovakia, Finland, Norway, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, and Yugoslavia—gathered to discuss issues such as social affairs, education, war crimes, language, and culture. Key outcomes included the adoption of the term “Roma” in place of derogatory labels, the selection of a national anthem and flag, the recognition of Rromanës as a shared language, and the official declaration of April 8 as a day of celebration.

In Rromanës, the word Rom means “human being,” “man,” and “husband,”. The Roma flag features blue and green, symbolising the sky and the earth—spiritual and physical realms—with a red wheel at the center representing movement, progress, and the traditional nomadic lifestyle. 

International Roma Day is not only a celebration of Roma identity, history, and culture, but also a moment to acknowledge ongoing struggles with discrimination, marginalisation, and exclusion. This day also stands as a challenge to deeply rooted stereotypes and calls for a more inclusive and accepting society for all.

Anti-Gypsyism at its best 

Throughout history, the Roma community has faced widespread discrimination, persecution, and violence. The injustices they have endured have taken many different forms, making it difficult to categorise them all without overlooking certain aspects or underestimating their impact. However, some of the most prevalent expressions of anti-Gypsyism include:

• Denial of equal protection for Roma under the law

Roma individuals face discriminatory practices in legal systems, often lacking access to proper legal representation and are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system due to various reasons, including racial profiling, over-policing, social exclusion, and higher levels of poverty. Additionally, they often face racially biased stereotypes about the so-called ‘Gypsy crime’.

• School segregation of Roma children

The EU Commission has launched infringement proceedings against three Member States – the Czech Republic (2014), Slovakia (2015) and Hungary (2016) for school segregation of Roma children. Back in 2023 the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) reported that the European Court ordered Hungary to desegregate schools and I believe these countries are still under infringement or at least I did not find evidence to the contrary.

• Residential segregation and forced evictions

A 2009 report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, prepared by the ERRC, found that “segregation is still evident in many EU Member States, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, France, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia, sometimes as a result of deliberate government policy.” Since 2008, evictions of Roma in violation of international law have continued in Albania, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia.

• Proletarianization, pushing Roma into low-wage and unstable labor

During the Communist era in Central and Eastern Europe, authorities promoted a policy aimed at assimilating Roma communities by encouraging permanent settlement and integrating them into the workforce through waged labor. However, this approach often failed to achieve true inclusion, as many Roma continued to face deep-rooted prejudice and social exclusion, ultimately limiting them to unstable, low-paying employment opportunities.

• Forced settlement policies restricting Roma mobility

Forced settlement policies that restricted Roma mobility were widely implemented during the communist era in Central and Eastern Europe. These policies aimed to assimilate Roma by ending their traditional nomadic lifestyle and forcing them into permanent housing—often on the outskirts of towns or in isolated locations. However, these settlements were typically neglected by local authorities and lacked basic infrastructure such as clean water, electricity, sewage systems, and paved roads. Over time, the combination of geographic isolation, poor living conditions, and systemic exclusion caused these areas to evolve into what are now known as Roma ghettos. In countries like Slovakia, many Roma still live in such segregated settlements- a lasting consequence of historical forced relocation and state neglect.

• Violence by police and other law enforcement agencies targeting Roma

Police violence against Roma is a long-standing issue rooted in systemic racism within law enforcement. The justice system often fails to hold police accountable, perpetuating a culture of impunity. As the ERRC's Roma Justice Project points out, Europe's legal systems are designed to discriminate against Roma, denying them justice and reinforcing racial inequality.

• Discrimination—whether individual, institutional, or structural

It occurs when policies, laws, or practices unfairly disadvantage Roma people based on their ethnicity. This can manifest in barriers to justice, employment, education, or healthcare—areas where Roma individuals are denied access or treated unfairly. Such discrimination leads to social exclusion and marginalisation, reinforcing racism. When systems or individuals deny equal opportunities based on ethnicity, it is a clear form of racism that perpetuates inequality and injustice.

• Prejudice and harmful stereotyping

Prejudice and harmful stereotyping of Roma are widespread across Europe, where they are often unfairly portrayed as criminals, beggars, or untrustworthy. These stereotypes are deeply ingrained in society and perpetuated by the media, leading to widespread discrimination in areas like employment, education, and housing. Such harmful generalisations dehumanise Roma, making it easier for individuals and institutions to justify discriminatory practices. This stigma fosters social exclusion and perpetuates racial inequality.

• Labelling, hate speech, and hate crimes

“Maybe Hitler didn’t kill enough of them.” Gilles Bourdouleix, Member of the National Assembly, France, July 21, 2013

“The majority [of Roma] should be delivered back to the borders. We are not here to welcome these people. I'd remind you of [former Socialist Premier] Michel Rocard's statement: ‘It's not France's job to deal with the misery of the whole world.’” Manuel Valls, Minister of the Interior, France
September 25, 2013

“It is a general problem, and in relation to those schools where the number of Roma is significant, if there is indifference, if there is disarray, of course I would not allow my child to attend that school.” András György Király, Secretary of State for Minorities, Ministry of Education, Romania, September 20, 2013

“I'll give you a prognosis: you have some concerns, it appears, with a few hundred Roma who have a stinging, let's say stinking, presence in the city … that's just the tip of the iceberg. I announce that within 2014 around 50,000 Roma will arrive in Nice. Also, from the 1st of January, the 12 million Roma that live in Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary will have the possibility of moving in all the other European countries.” Jean-Marie Le Pen, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Front National Party, France July 5, 2013

“A significant part of the Roma are unfit for coexistence. They are not fit to live among people. These Roma are animals, and they behave like animals. When they meet with resistance, they commit murder. They are incapable of human communication. Inarticulate sounds pour out of their bestial skulls. At the same time, these Gypsies understand how to exploit the 'achievements' of the idiotic Western world. But one must retaliate rather than tolerate. These animals shouldn't be allowed to exist. In no way. That needs to be solved — immediately and regardless of the method.” Zsolt Bayer, Co-founder of the Fidesz Party, Hungary, January 5, 2013

“These are dark-skinned people, not Europeans like you and me …. Our final goal is to have zero Gypsy camps in Milan.” Riccardo De Corato, Deputy Vice Mayor of Milan, Italy, October 2010

“Roma are criminals by nature, the community has nothing to offer society. If there is one race we should get rid of, it is the Roma.” Volen Siderov, Leader of the Ataka Party, Bulgaria, September 29, 2011

“We need to roll back these hundreds of thousands of Roma outlaws. We must show zero tolerance towards Roma crime and parasitism.” Gabor Vona, Chairman of the Jobbik Party, Hungary, August 25, 2012

“At the borders, police can [under existing laws] stop organized groups of Roma, Bulgarians or French because we know from experience that these people disrupt the peace and it has also been proven that many of them engage in criminal activities.” Per Sandberg, Deputy Leader of the Progress Party, Norway, May 2, 2013

“It's completely unacceptable that we have people who evidently reside illegally in Denmark in order to commit crime. There will be a whole series of police actions and there will be no softness. If the Roma have no money on them when apprehended, they should be expelled immediately.”
Lars Barfoed, Former Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Denmark, July 6, 2010

“With your trust, I can … do away with unfair favouritism for not only Gypsy parasites.”, Marian Kotleba, Leader of the People’s Party “Our Slovakia,” Slovakia, November 2009

• Assimilation policies (banning language use, traditional clothing, forced foster care placements, name changes, etc.)

Assimilation practices targeting Roma have a long history, including 18th-century policies under Austrian-Hungarian rulers like Maria Theresa, who sought to forcefully assimilate the Roma by banning their language and altering their cultural practices. Similarly, in Spain, the 18th century saw policies aimed at suppressing the Roma language and enforcing cultural conformity, reflecting a broader pattern of forced assimilation across Europe. In the 19th and 20th centuries, France also enforced similar measures, including requiring Roma to carry identity cards so that authorities could track their movements, continuing this tradition of cultural suppression and forced assimilation.

• Forced sterilization of Roma women

Coercive sterilisation of Roma women was a widespread practice across several European countries, including former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and others, spanning from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Roma women were often targeted by state authorities, who subjected them to sterilisation under coercive circumstances, including manipulation, threats, or lack of informed consent. This practice was part of broader efforts to control the Roma population through reproductive control. For decades, these women had no recourse, but only in recent years have some countries begun to acknowledge the harm done and offer compensation to the survivors.

• Mob violence, including skinhead attacks

Mob violence, particularly attacks by skinhead groups against Roma communities, has been a significant issue over the past decades. Notable incidents in Bulgaria include:​

• March 26, 1994: A group of around 50 skinheads armed with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, knives, and sticks attacked Roma homes in Pleven. The assailants shouted racist slurs and set fire to properties. Despite the severity of the attacks, police intervention was minimal, and no perpetrators were arrested, reflecting systemic indifference to anti-Roma violence.

• June 18, 1996: In Samokov, a group of approximately 20 skinheads attacked three Roma individuals, surrounding them in the street and assaulting them with kicks and clubs. One victim, Bisser Asenov, was found unconscious with severe injuries. Despite medical reports documenting his condition, no arrests were made, and the case remained unresolved. 

• May 15, 1998: In Sofia, 15-year-old Metodi Rainov and a group of Roma children were attacked by about 15 skinheads wielding knives and truncheons. Metodi was beaten, thrown from a second-floor window, and pronounced dead at the scene. Although an investigation was opened, no perpetrators were identified, and the case highlighted the alarming frequency of such violence. ​
  
  
  

• Deportations and acts of ethnic cleansing

Switzerland forcibly separated Yenish Roma children from their families, viewing them as "Travellers" and seeking to assimilate them. From 1926 to 1972, the children's charity Pro Juventute, with government support, took around 600 Yenish Roma children and placed them in foster homes far from their families. These children endured abuse, forced labour, and cultural erasure under the guise of social welfare. The actions, rooted in racist and eugenic ideologies, amounted to an act of ethnic cleansing, though they were never fully acknowledged or prosecuted. It wasn't until 1973 that Switzerland ended these practices.

• Murders fueled by racial hatred

​Between 2008 and 2009, Hungary experienced a series of neo-Nazi attacks targeting its Roma community. A group of four far-right extremists carried out these racially motivated murders, resulting in six deaths and injuries to 55 individuals across several villages. The victims included men, women, and children, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the violence. The assailants employed firearms and Molotov cocktails, instilling fear and tension within the Roma community. In 2013, Hungarian courts convicted the perpetrators, sentencing three to life imprisonment and one to 13 years for their roles in the attacks.

• Extermination attempts

The Holocaust saw the systematic genocide of Roma people across Nazi-occupied Europe. Known as the "Porajmos," or "devouring," this brutal campaign aimed to exterminate the Roma as part of the Nazi regime's racial purity laws. Roma were targeted for their ethnic background, subjected to mass shootings, forced labour, starvation, and medical experimentation in concentration camps. Tens of thousands of Roma men, women, and children were killed, with some estimates placing the death toll as high as 800,000, but current research suggests that these numbers are underestimated.

• The Roma Holocaust, along with its denial, distortion, and misrepresentation

The Nazis considered Roma people to be racially inferior and sought their complete eradication. However, the Roma Holocaust has often been marginalised in post-war historical narratives, and it is only in recent years that more attention has been given to the atrocities committed against Roma people during World War II. Sadly, some political figures and public personalities continue to downplay or deny this genocide. For instance, comedian Jimmy Carr made a controversial joke in his Netflix special, stating: "When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of 6 million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. But they never mention the thousands of Gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives."

• Lack of information about Roma history in mainstream education

Roma history is largely absent from mainstream education curricula. Schools typically do not teach children about the Roma's migration to Europe, their settlement, the laws enacted against them, or other key aspects of their history. This lack of educational focus contributes to widespread ignorance about the Roma community and their historical experiences.

• Government inaction in protecting Roma rights

Despite international, European, and domestic laws focused on protecting minority rights, Roma people continue to face systemic discrimination, police brutality, and segregation. These ongoing issues highlight the stark contrast between the legal framework and the lack of government action in practice, showing that Roma people’s rights remain insufficiently protected and often ignored by those in power.

What they don’t teach in schools

I distinctly remember the first — and only — time Roma were mentioned in the school curriculum. It was in primary school, during a history class where we were learning about King Matthias Corvinus. There was a little box with extra information on the page, stating that King Matthias enjoyed Gypsy music and often invited Gypsies to his court. The teacher read it aloud, and suddenly the whole class turned to look at me — like I was some kind of circus animal about to pull out a guitar and begin to perform.

And that pretty much sums up my education about Roma history in Hungary. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I began to learn about our past — and about my history in particular, as a Boyash Roma.

Medieval Bans 

While the exact origins of Roma people are still debated, what is certain is that they migrated to Europe centuries ago—and not long after their arrival, laws were introduced to ban them from various territories. From as early as the 15th century, anti-Roma legislation was rolled out across the continent. Sedentarist and anti-Gypsy laws were passed to restrict movement and punish nomadic lifestyles: in Spain (1492), Germany (1496), England (1531), France (1561), Italy (1572), and Poland (1578). These laws aimed to prevent Roma families and communities from travelling across borders and challenging the idea of an emerging nation state. In regions such as Moldova, Romania, and Hungary, Roma were even forced into slavery and held in captivity for generations.

I remember attending a conference in Berlin back in 2011, where we discussed the possible origin of anti-Gypsyism. One theory suggested that the Roma people’s early spiritual practices—perhaps rooted in Hindu or Pagan beliefs—and their skills in palmistry and fortune-telling may have angered the Church, as such practices went against dominant religious norms. At the same time, their nomadic way of life meant they might have alluded to early systems of control, including taxation and land-based governance, which further unsettled the State.

While reading more on the subject recently, I came across a 2021 report titled Antigypsyism: Causes, Prevalence, Consequences, Possible Responses by Iulius Rostas. The report discusses how early writings on Roma, alongside the role of the state and broader social changes, contributed to the stigmatisation of Roma identity. Strikingly, it points out how little is known about the involvement of the Church—despite its significant influence during that period. For example, while it is relatively well documented that the Orthodox Church in the principalities of Wallachia and Moldova was one of the main owners of Roma slaves, there has been no comprehensive research into how the Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant churches may have contributed to the stigmatisation and dehumanisation of Roma communities.

Although we may never fully uncover the origins of anti-Gypsyism, what’s undeniable is how deeply rooted it is. Passed down through generations, each era adding its own prejudices, it has resulted in a long, painful history of exclusion, violence, and unspeakable atrocities committed against Roma across Europe.

Forced Assimilation

When it comes to forced assimilation, few did it with more zeal than the ultimate queen and king of assimilation themselves.

In the mid-18th century, Maria Theresa and Joseph II implemented policies aimed at forcibly assimilating the Roma population into mainstream society. Under their rule, Roma people were subjected to a series of restrictive measures. Maria Theresa issued a decree that banned the term "Gypsy" and replaced it with "new peasant" or "new Hungarian." These policies also imposed restrictions on Roma marriages, removed children from their families to be raised in "civil or peasant" households, and prohibited Roma from engaging in horse trading. The position of the "vajda" (leader of the Roma community) was abolished, and Roma people were placed under the jurisdiction of local village judges. In 1783, Joseph II further restricted Roma communities by banning the use of the Roma language. These actions were part of an effort to assimilate Roma people, but they are now regarded as discriminatory and harmful.

The Roma Holocaust (Porajmos)

During World War II, the Nazis systematically targeted Roma and Sinti people for extermination. Our community refers to this genocide as the Porajmos, meaning "the devouring." Hundreds of thousands of Roma were deported to concentration camps, where they were murdered through mass shootings, forced labor, starvation, and horrific medical experiments — simply because of their ethnicity. I repeat an earlier statement, the estimated death toll stands at around 800,000, but current research suggests that number is still an underestimation.

This was a tragedy of unimaginable proportions — a genocide — and it is a deep stain on our collective history. But tragedies like this don’t just vanish with time. The trauma remains. The consequences are still felt. And how can a community even begin to heal when there is still so much denial and erasure surrounding the Roma lives that were lost?

Europe’s collective memory of the Roma genocide is short and shallow, especially when compared to the Holocaust of the Jewish people. Germany paid reparations to Jewish survivors — as it should have — but never extended that recognition or compensation to Roma survivors. There was no justice for the lives lost. No acknowledgment of the suffering. One especially painful consequence is that the Roma middle class — those who might have had the resources, education, or networks to demand justice and amplify our voice — was nearly wiped out.

Without those voices, we couldn't fight for recognition, couldn't organize effectively, and couldn’t hold systems accountable. And we’re still feeling that loss today. Most Roma still lack access to capital, representation, platforms, and political power. Many of us are forced to rely on non-Roma-led organizations just to address basic needs like poverty and education. And even when we do gain an education, the doors remain guarded. The opportunities are not freely given — they're fiercely protected.

I remember my own experience in 2015, during an interview with the Open Society Foundation. I was applying to the Roma Initiative Project, and when asked why I wanted to be part of it, I spoke honestly — I said that, as a Roma woman with a legal background, I felt a positive obligation to support my community. But instead of being welcomed, my identity was questioned. The non-Roma interviewer made me feel uncomfortable for even mentioning who I am — in one of the few spaces where our identity should matter, where it should be our strength.

By then, she had already built a very successful career. She went on to continue advancing in that space. And of course, we can’t risk "threatening" careers like hers by hiring people from the actual community, right?

To this day, it frustrates me that I didn’t stand up for myself during that interview. Let me be clear: I don’t question that she has experience. But she has that experience because she still works there. Also, I had the pleasure to meet and know many fantastic non-Roma led organisation heads who are the hearts and souls of the organisations, but in my experience, they are the exeptions, not the rule. Meanwhile, Roma voices continue to be sidelined — even in Roma rights work. Now that there are more and more educated, capable Roma stepping up, ready to take ownership of our own integration and liberation, it’s time for these non-Roma professionals who’ve cemented themselves in prestigious roles within the Roma rights movement to either step aside — or at the very least, stop treating us as threats.

Modern-Day Discrimination 

Roma people were, and in many cases still are, subjected to a continuous cycle of dehumanisation. Their suffering did not end with the Holocaust but has evolved into modern-day discrimination that continues to affect millions of Roma across Europe. This discrimination manifests in various brutal forms, including forced sterilisation, school segregation, and police brutality, as previously mentioned. To those who harbor anti-Roma sentiments — whether through jokes, discrimination, or perpetuating harmful stereotypes — it’s crucial to ask: Is it truly worth continuing practices that have spanned centuries? By allowing such hatred to persist, individuals enable governments and the media to remain inactive in addressing anti-Roma rhetoric. It's time to reflect on the damage these actions cause and to recognize that perpetuating this cycle is not just harmful, but pointless, as it targets a community that remains largely powerless in the face of systemic injustice.

The Last Acceptable Form of Racism?

Yes, it is. Anti-Roma sentiment remains one of the last forms of racism that can still be openly expressed without consequences. Consider the way politicians and public figures speak about Roma — with little to no repercussions. If they were addressing any other minority, they would face immense public pressure to resign- or the very least, issue a public apology. Yet, anti-Roma language remains unchecked. The media’s portrayal of Roma is often biased, perpetuating harmful stereotypes without accountability. On social media, anti-Roma rhetoric is rarely flagged, and the term "Gypsy" is casually used in many languages to describe anything undesirable or deviant. This is not just a European issue — even in the United States, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have used "Gypsy" references to describe a "nomadic lifestyle," often unaware of the historical context and implications for Roma people.

So, what can we do about this as individuals, and what can we do as advocates? There are steps we can take on both fronts:

Push for Roma History in Schools: Write to your Ministry of Education or local authorities to advocate for the introduction of Roma history in the school curriculum. Education is one of the most powerful ways to change long-standing stereotypes and ensure future generations grow up with an understanding of Roma culture and the history of discrimination.

Report Anti-Roma Rhetoric on Social Media: Social media platforms must be held accountable for the hate speech that circulates. Take a stand by reporting anti-Roma content when you see it. Encourage others to do the same.

Pressure Governments to Allocate Funding: Contact your local representatives or government officials to advocate for increased funding to support Roma communities living in extreme poverty. Lobby for concrete policies and financial support to improve education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for Roma people.

Report School Segregation: If you see or hear of Roma children being segregated in schools, contact the local district officials or education authorities. Segregation is not just morally wrong but often illegal, and reporting such incidents is crucial in addressing systemic inequality.

Challenge Stereotypes and Jokes: If you hear someone making a joke or stereotyping Roma, speak up. Education and conversation are powerful tools to shift harmful attitudes, even in informal settings.

Stand Up in Safe Spaces: If you witness anti-Roma discrimination in environments like workplace or educational settings, it’s important to speak out. If it feels safe and appropriate, addressing discriminatory behavior can help foster a more respectful and inclusive environment. In situations like public spaces, where safety may be a concern, consider speaking out when it's safer to do so, such as in a meeting, with a supervisor, or in a group setting where your words may have a more significant impact.

Educate Your Community: Share information about Roma culture, history, and issues with your family, friends, and colleagues. Often, ignorance fuels discrimination, and awareness can reduce harmful behaviors.

By taking these steps, we can all contribute to challenging the ongoing cycle of anti-Roma discrimination. Whether in our personal lives or through advocacy, the fight against anti-Roma racism requires action at all levels. It’s up to each of us to help create a more inclusive and just society for Roma people. 

Yours Sincerely 

BB

*Hungarikum is a collective term indicating a value worthy of distinction and highlighting within a unified system of qualification, classification, and registry and which represents the high performance of Hungarian people thanks to its typically Hungarian attribute, uniqueness, specialty and quality.

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