Roma Antigypsyism: Truth and Reconciliation Process
Last Updated: 17 April 2019
by Mike STANNETT
European Parliament, 20-21 March 2019
Creating Trust through Uncovering and Recognising the Truth: Advancing Recognition and Remedy for Antigypsyism
Organisers: UN OHCHR, Open Society, Soraya Post MEP, ERGO, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma.
The conference focused to a large extent on the glaring antigypsyism that is prevalent across Europe, historically and more recent, both in home nations and in countries that Roma have migrated to. Several testimonies outlining injustices and atrocities were presented as an illustration of their ongoing struggle for justice and inclusion.
Considerations for the Salvation Army
- Should TSA support the call for a Truth and Reconciliation Process ?
- Should TSA prayerfully consider if it has been inadvertently guilty of supporting Institutional racism / antigypsy attitudes or not been sufficiently vocal against Anti-gypsyism
- Is TSA largely in ignorance to the Roma situation and the racism they face.
- How can TSA work with Roma to increase their access to human rights
- What lessons did TSA learn from the Truth and Reconciliation processes in South Africa, Canada and Australia that can be of value in this situation.
- The role of TSA at local ministry can also be to talk about Forgiveness.
- Can TSA provide education packs, pens, books, paper for Roma children.
EU Affairs Office
The EU Affairs officer was able to raise the questions regarding of the role of the Church, not only as a service provider, but also in the Truth and Reconciliation process. It is clear that historically some churches have been strongly linked to the slavery and abuse of Roma, and therefore many Roma believe the church needs to confess.
Another question raised in relation to today's Church, including the Salvation Army, was about the Church at worst being complicit in institutional racism and holding anti-gypsyism attitudes, or at best not having spoken more strongly against racism. Does the Church/Salvation Army, thus, also have a role in preaching the dual blessings of confession and forgiveness leading to reconciliation?
Truth and Reconciliation
There were many who supported MEP Soraya Post’s call for a Truth and Reconciliation process. Several models were mentioned, from South Africa, Canada, Australia and most recently Sweden who include Roma as a recognised national minority. It was clear that there were significant lessons to be learnt from these examples.
- Right to know the truth
- Right to justice
- Right to reparation
"There cannot be justice without knowing the truth, there cannot be reconciliation without confession and forgiveness".
There is certainly a stronger push for a more rights based approach as part of the process of Roma Integration/Inclusion.
Mainstreaming
Access to education, poverty relief, better housing, access to labour market and better access to health care. These are all available to non-Roma citizens, but not equally to Roma. Mainstream social protections are social investments of a state, and should apply equally to the Roma. Using the more limited project funding only reinforces that Roma are different and not recognised as regular citizens.
Frans Timmermans, VP of the European Commission, stated that better use of structural funds need to be a focus in the next multi national funding frame work.
Goals from the conference:
- Set up some form of Truth and Reconciliation process
- Develop a common narrative
- Build mutual trust between Roma and non Roma
- Continue to develop a rights based approach to Integration/inclusion
- Develop more effective funding of Roma needs through existing structural funds /mainstreaming.
Quotes:
The conference started with several testimonies of atrocities and injustice. Below are some interesting topics and quotes:
Ms Elena Garlova, Ostrava, Czech rep: Sterilization without consent
Ms Claudia-Linda Zsiga, Romania: Forced eviction of Roma community, One toilet for 40 people, sited next to a refuse tip, No water , Electriticy,Gas. Children banned from school by teachers because they were dirty. "Why? Because we have no rights".
Ms Argentina Gidzic , Kosovo/Serbia: Relocated to a ‘toxic’ camp (polluted land). High levels of mercury causing all newborns to be brain damaged, forcing women to self abort by using a concoction of beer, bleach and some medicines. No access to free health care. Had to sell her clothes and wedding ring to pay for medicines for child.
Ms. Aurelia Gerand, France: Husband victim of police brutality and died. Family were witnesses but were forced to declare it was their fault.
Ms Gyorgyne Jakub, Hungary: Victim of hate crime, granddaughter shot but survived. Home set on fire. No medical help, no mental health care, no protection, no prosecution.
Responses to Antigypsyism:
Adam Weis, Roma Rights centre: "European Convention of Human Rights, European instruments are not working for Roma".
Lack of access to justice: less than 1% of case brought to European Court of Justice for Human rights abuse are Roma cases. "Antigypsyism is not a concept recognised by judges."
Roman Rose, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma: "Our expectations are in the state of law, you can in a democracy fight for your rights. When the minorities loose, we all loose".
Miranda Vuolastranta, European Roma and Travellers Forum, Roma Women Network. "Ignorance by the general public is as hurtful as what happened during World War II."
Roma do not receive their rights as they are not considered to be economically important enough’. "Are crimes against Roma of less value because of their ethnicity?"
Tags: Europe