Berlin, Germany (6 August 2024) – On 2 August, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) marked the 80th anniversary of the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti. This day is dedicated to honoring the memories of the victims and survivors of the Roma genocide while also addressing the enduring challenges of antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and ensuring that such horrors are never repeated.
Commemoration at Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
On 2 August, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the Association of Roma in Poland, in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, welcomed representatives from various countries to honor the victims and survivors of the Roma genocide. IHRA Chair Lord Pickles shared the compelling story of Krystyna Ciuron, a Roma survivor who lived through the devastating massacre at Szczurowa. Lord Pickles emphasized, “We are here because we refuse to neglect this history. We are here because of people like Krystyna. We are here to carry on her work.”
Lord Pickles also highlighted the progress made in Holocaust education and commemoration, particularly concerning the genocide of the Roma. In 2020, IHRA Member Countries pledged their political commitment to remember the history of the Roma genocide and honor the victims and survivors. That same year, IHRA adopted the working definition of antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination. A significant milestone was reached in 2018 when the Czech government closed the pig farm at Lety u Písku, the site of a former concentration camp for Roma. Earlier this year, the Lety Memorial was opened, marking a triumph of remembrance over neglect, and highlighting governmental responsibility to history.
IHRA Chair Lord Pickles speaking at the commemoration event
We are here because we refuse to neglect this history. We are here because of people like Krystyna. We are here to carry on her work.
My Testimony is for Young People, Kraków conference
A day prior, on 1 August, the commemorative conference titled ‘My Testimony is for Young People’ was held at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. The conference brought together experts in Holocaust research to discuss the preservation of Roma and Sinti memories for future generations. Dr. Karola Fings, Professor at the University of Heidelberg, Project Lead of the “Encyclopedia of the Nazi Genocide of the Sinti and Roma in Europe,” and German delegate to the IHRA, emphasized the importance of oral testimonies in documenting the crimes of the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma. She stated, “Crimes were committed and many of these crimes were not documented in archives. This is why it is crucial that we have these testimonies from the perspective of the survivors.”
Stephane Laederich, Director of the Roma Foundation in Zurich, Swiss Delegate to the IHRA, and Chair of the Committee on the Genocide of the Roma, presented the upcoming IHRA resource “Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma during the Nazi Era.” This resource aims to support policymakers and educational stakeholders in bridging the gap between past and present antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination.
Chair of the IHRA project on developing Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma, and IHRA delegate of the Republic of Serbia, Misko Stanisic, speaking at the Newcastle event (Image: Newcastle Chronicle, Misko Stanisic)
Commemoration at Newcastle
The UK IHRA Presidency hosted a national event in Newcastle to commemorate the experiences of Roma victims during the Nazi era. This marked the 80th Commemoration of Roma Genocide Remembrance Day and laid the foundation for the First Roma Genocide Remembrance Memorial in England. The event, organized in collaboration with Roma Access Newcastle and supported by various organizations, included a memorial ceremony and exhibitions featuring stories from Roma descendants of Nazi regime victims.
Misko Stanisic, Chair of the IHRA project on developing Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma, and IHRA delegate of the Republic of Serbia, represented the IHRA at the event. He delivered a heartfelt address, saying, “We remember the hundreds of thousands of Roma persecuted and killed by Nazi Germany and other fascist states and their collaborators during WWII. This memory was neglected for decades, leading to continuous exclusion, discrimination, and rising antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination today. Together, we will continue to honor the victims and fight against present discrimination and racism.”
This memory was neglected for decades, leading to continuous exclusion, discrimination, and rising antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination today.
#ProtectTheFacts campaign
The #ProtectTheFacts social media campaign actively combats the denial and distortion of the genocide of the Roma. Led by the IHRA, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the United Nations, and UNESCO, the campaign strives to ensure that the memories of those who suffered are honored and the facts of their stories are preserved. By acknowledging the genocide and protecting the facts, we commit to fighting hatred and discrimination.
On 2 August, the IHRA invited everyone to remember the past and challenge present antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination. The campaign encourages individuals to share campaign materials, participate in commemoration events, explore testimonies of Roma victims, and engage in conversations within their networks.
To further raise awareness around the day, the IHRA published opinion pieces in Romea.cz and Republica, major Roma publications in the Czech Republic and Romania respectively. IHRA Secretary General Dr. Kathrin Meyer, historian and director of the Museum of Roma Culture Jana Horváthová, and actress and Roma rights activist Alina Șerban all contributed their perspectives.
As we reflect on the 80th anniversary of the European Holocaust Memorial Day for Roma and Sinti, we renew our commitment to ensuring such horrors are never repeated. The IHRA stands firm in its dedication to Holocaust remembrance, education, and the fight against ongoing discrimination.
Tearing down a pig farm to honor those who suffered.
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