ROMA NATIONAL CENTER

P R E S S R E L E A S E

The Holocaust of Roma in Moldova continue to remain unaddressed issue

On 20-21 October 2011 in Chisinau, at the Free University (ULIM) was held a two-day conference “Unknown Holocaust of Roma” – as a challenge of nowadays situation of Roma people. The conference have been followed with an exhibition of photos with Roma survivors made by Luminita Cioaba (from Romania).

The Conference have been attend by Swedish EU Affairs Minister, Birgitta Ohlsson, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, academics from various parts of Europe, representatives from different embassies and international organizations present in Moldova, Minister of Justice, vice-Ministers of Education and of Labour, Social Protection and Family, representatives of the Romani NGOs from Sweden and Moldova, etc.

On the first day the Roma National Center has presented a film named“Persecution” produced in collaboration with the E Romani Glinda (Sweden) as a documentary film on Roma survivors from Republic of Moldova and facts of roma deportation by Nazis to Transdnestrian region. The second day have been dedicated to contemporary forms of discrimination as well as their poverty, illiteracy, jobless, their migration to European states and portrayal of the negative prejudices by media in enforcing the anti-Roma sentiment in the whole society.

“The improvement of Roma cannot be done without considering ways to tackle their inclusion and combating discrimination” - said Mr. Nicolae RADITA, chair of Roma National Center at the conference.

“Roma are excluded at all levels of decision making process, there is a widespread violence against them and treated in mockery way when it comes to address their issues”.

As a conclusion participants have stressed that there is a need of public policies developed by the Moldovan Government where Roma should be considered equal partner in implementing it, education made available at all levels and to adopt antidiscrimination legal framework in order to secure rights for everyone.

The events were organized by Roma National Center in cooperation with Porojan Association and E Romani Glinda from Sweden supported financially by Swedish Institute, Sweden Embassy in Chisinau, UNDP, UN Women Moldova.

For more information, please contact Natalia Duminica, project assistant, Roma National Center
tel. +373 22 227099
email: natalia_duminica@yahoo.com

Link:

http://www.romabuzzmonitor.net/2011/10/the-holocaust-of-roma-in-moldova-continue-to-remain-unaddressed-issue/