International Romani Day – April 8, 2023

International Romani Day is celebrated on April 8 each year. The annual day honors the first major international meeting of Romani delegates which was held in April 1971 in Chelsfield near London. This international cultural awareness day celebrates Roma’s culture and history, art, and valuable contributions of Roma to our societies. It’s also a day to acknowledge and highlight the different challenges facing the Romani population — one of the largest minority groups in Europe today. Even in modern times, the Romani people still battle systemic discrimination, poverty, and social exclusion. Today, International Romani Day is recognized by all European and international organizations and institutions.

Link https://nationaltoday.com/international-romani-day/

Romani people in the EU

 The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million in Europe, some 6 million live in the EU, and most of them are citizens of an EU country.  The estimated share of the Roma in EU countries in 2012 ranged from 10.3% in Bulgaria, 9.1% in Slovakia, 8.3% in Romania, 7% in Hungary, 2.5% in Greece, 2% in Czechia, and 1.6% in Spain, to less than 1% in most of the other countries. Excessive force, police brutality, and misconduct against Romani people continue to be reported across the EU, in line with the 2020 findings of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).

New edition of the Romani Week 2022. We are European Romani People! Equal and Diverse!

Another year, thanks to the collaboration of members of the European Parliament and with the support and involvement of various civil society organizations (including the Fundación Secretariado Gitano), the Romani Week 2022 will take place in the week of 16-19May, a little later than usual, since it is usually framed around 8 April, International Roma Day.



Since its first edition in 2016, Romani Week has offered an interesting space for debate between politicians, representatives of the main European Institutions such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe or the Fundamental Rights Agency, together with the participation of numerous Civil Society Organizations from all Europe. 

The text is taken from : https://www.gitanos.org/