Between 1933 and 1945, European Roma were targeted by Nazi Germany and other Fascist states and their collaborators, fuelled by long-standing discrimination and a racial ideology. It is estimated that up to 500,000 Roma were murdered, while many were imprisoned, used as forced laborers, or subjected to forced sterilization and medical experimentation. Across Nazi-occupied Europe, the persecution of Roma was carried out in different ways by different perpetrators, including occupying forces and local populations, which contributed to varying experiences among Roma communities.
The IHRA Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma during the Nazi Era contribute to the IHRA strategic priorities of safeguarding the historical record of the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma and countering distortion. With the publication of these Recommendations, the IHRA seeks to provide a strong foundation to support countries in including the history of the persecution of Roma in mainstream research, memory culture, and education. These Recommendations aim to assist not only policymakers but also educators and practitioners in their efforts.
Benefiting from the expertise of delegates from thirty-five Member Countries, these Recommendations:
For many generations, Roma have lived in Europe, participated in the development and prosperity of civil societies and contributed to European cultural, social, and economic life.
Today, Roma form Europe’s largest ethnic minority, with an estimated 12 million people. Yet, Roma remain one of Europe’s most marginalized groups, enduring discrimination, violence, and socioeconomic hardship. Progress toward civil rights and recognition of the genocide of the Roma during the Nazi era has been achieved through the efforts of Roma activists, though much work remains.
Learn about the team of experts advancing education on the genocide of the Roma.
With over 1,400 references, this annotated bibliography is the starting point for further research on the genocide of the Roma.
Read the full text of the IHRA’s non-legally binding working definition of antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and learn more about this important tool with the FAQs.
