International Sinti * zze and Rom * nja Day - Where is the social awareness?

Today is International Sinti * zze and Rom * nja Day, and we ask ourselves: How relevant is antiziganism in Germany? Racist prejudices against Sinti * zze and Rom * nja are widespread to this day and members of this minority experience everyday discrimination. But in civil society the issue of antiziganism does not get the attention it deserves, and Sinti * zze and Rom * nja do not get the solidarity that they deserve.

April 08th marks an important day for Sinti * zze and Rom * nja worldwide - in 1971 the first International Roma Congress took place in London on this day. Sinti * zze and Rom * nja have lived on the European continent for at least 600 years, but the members of the diverse and heterogeneous Sinti * zze and Rom * nja communities are still affected by discrimination, persecution, poverty and social exclusion. Even in 2021, access to basic rights such as health, housing, education and work is still not guaranteed. Around 80.000 to 140.000 Sinti * zze and Rom * nja live in Germany, and an estimated 10 to 12 million in the EU - making them the largest ethnic minority in Europe.

The racism against Rom * nja and Sinti * zze is also called antiziganism or antiromaism. However, there are different opinions among those affected as to which terminology fits better, because both are controversial. Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, explains that the term antiziganism was deliberately enforced against politics and the public. The term describes “the centuries-old tradition of hostility and rejection of the people or groups described by the majority society as“ Gypsies ”as well as the resulting discrimination, exclusion and attacks in many European countries,” said Romani Rose. Thus, antiziganism is the only scientifically sound term that takes into account the construct of the "Z * word" and the violence associated with it. DaMigra considers both terms problematic, but sees it as more relevant to leave the description of racism towards Sinti * zze and Rom * nja to the persons concerned. Regardless of the name or definition - solidarity in the fight against discrimination is the highest priority!

“Society and its institutions have to confront themselves with their racism. The ongoing corona pandemic in particular has shown social inequalities again, because almost half of European Sinti * zze and Rom * nja live in southern or central-eastern European countries and are particularly threatened by the corona virus. At the same time, the minority of people with a Sinti * zze or Rom * nja background were turned into scapegoats in the crisis - repression instead of aid is not the solution, ”said Dr. Delal Atmaca, Managing Director of DaMigra.

But there is also headwind: the Sinti and Roma Youth Conference: Together for Emancipation and Empowerment will take place from April 7th to 9th, 2021. On the occasion of the International Roma Day and the 50th anniversary of the First World Roma Congress, the Council of Europe is organizing an online conference and public event on the topic “The role of history for the participation and inclusion of Sinti and Roma youth”.

In view of the international Sinti * zze and Rom * nja, DaMigra positions itself in solidarity with all Sinzi * zze and Rom * nja and underlines that April 8 will remind us of our social obligation to protect human rights and to promote equality, equality and non-discrimination should.

More information and educational reading on the topic of antiziganism here:
Educational forum against antiziganism
Amaro Foro eV
RomaTrial eV

Press contact: presse@damigra.de Phone: 0178 962 9274

DaMigra eV, umbrella organization of migrant women organizations, represents the interests of migrant women organizations and their concerns. With over 70 member organizations nationwide from different countries of origin, the association is available as a contact for politics, business and the media, offers recommendations for action and critical support for migration-political processes. DaMigra eV advocates equal opportunities, equality and equality for women * with refugee and migration backgrounds in Germany.