8 April marks the “International Roma Day” – a day that should recognise and celebrate Romani history and culture remains tainted by the continuous discrimination faced by Roma people globally.   

While IFM-SEI is deeply touched by many countries offering support to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, we draw attention to a clear differential treatment and approach by border and national authorities towards Ukrainian Roma and other minority groups. Despite the genocide committed during the Second World War, the recent war in Europe revealed that anti-Romani discrimination is still an acceptable form of racism even in times of armed conflicts. IFM-SEI draws attention to the fact that alarmingly few media outlets report on Roma-related aspects of the war and even less raise questions about the discrimination at borders. In public discourse Roma remain the most vilified and persecuted minority group in Europe separated by the “them-us” rhetoric.

War has not only violated basic human rights and deepened inequalities, but it has also brought to light a number of structural and systemic failures that concern specifically Roma communities exacerbating their exposure to structural inequality. As they flee war, many of them revive old trauma of a history of persecution, yet another burden that the new generation of young Roma will have to carry.  

IFM-SEI supports and joins the demands of the joint statement of almost two hundred pro-Roma human rights and Romani organisations calling upon equal and humane treatment of all groups fleeing the war zone and noting the extreme vulnerability of Roma refugees.  

IFM-SEI therefore reiterates its commitment to fight against the persecution and marginalisation of Roma community until the “International Roma Day” is not a day for reflections on the discrimination and challenges faced by this youngest ethnic community, but a day of pure celebration of Romani culture and tribute to the work of Romani activists and Roma movements.