Today we stand in solidarity with the Roma community on the occasion of International Roma Day. Which is not to say that we are only doing this today. For many years, as an organisation working on migration issues, the protection of human rights and support for excluded groups and people, we have been working closely with organisations, activists, Roma artists, Roma men and women. We want to thank them today for acting and creating, often against the odds, for disenchanting and educating, and often fighting for a cause, for people, for justice.
Today, we don’t want to speak for them, but we want to amplify their voice, so we give the floor to Joanna, our long-time collaborator and friend:
“Today, 8 April, we celebrate the International Roma Day – a day that carries both light and weight.
It is a time to celebrate the richness of Roma culture, language and diverse identity, but also a moment of reflection and remembrance.
We are a community whose voice has been marginalised for too long, and our own story still too rarely finds its rightful place in the public space.
This day is not only a story of who we are. It is also a testimony to what we carry.
Our culture is not folklore – it is living heritage.
Our history is not a footnote – it is evidence of survival.
And the fight against antigypsyism is not a thing of the past – it is a daily reality that we still have to face.
Today I want to express my gratitude to those who are with us on this path.
Organizations, institutions and allied persons.
To those who understand that equality, dignity and justice are not a gift – they are a shared responsibility.
Thank you for your presence, for your attentiveness, for consistently being close.”
