PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT OF WORLD ROMA ORGANIZATION AND AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE

ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST FASCISM AND ANTISEMITISM

On this day, in not so distant 1938, Nazi Germany started its programme of purifying the country and society from Jews, mentally handicapped persons, criminals and other, for them socially, racially and nationally unacceptable groups, among which Roma and Serbs found themselves.

This project of extermination spread to countries such as Fascist Italy and Ustasha Independent State of Croatia, camps established at every turn, swallowing millions of lives.

Unfortunately, repulsion and intolerance towards minorities still live in our region and other countries of Europe. People are oppressed, restricted to a certain living space, expelled, left without any basic human right. We, the Roma, are the most vulnerable to anti-Semitism, continuing to survive on social, economic, political and educational margins.

Each country, which Roma live in, should bear in mind that it is the oldest national minority that has been living on the soil of Europe for 7 centuries. Consequently, each of these states must feel the responsibility and readiness to stand for the Roma unique ethnic, linguistic and cultural minority, providing mechanisms that guarantee equal rights for all, improving the overall status of the Roma issue.

Belgrade,

November 9th, 2018

Secretariat for information