Fundación Secretariado Gitano

Statement of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano on 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022 [editar]

• Equal treatment
• National level

This 21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
On this occasion, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano publishes a statement, which this year focuses on Ukrainian Roma and their situation in the context of Russia's military invasion.

Once again, Fundación Secretariado Gitano commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a United Nations initiative which has been celebrated every 21 March since 1966

When we speak of racial discrimination, we must remember the existence of antigypsyism, a specific form of racism which targets Roma people, and which unfortunately has deep roots in all European societies. In particular, in 2022 we wish to raise our voice in protest against the situation currently being experienced by many Roma families; as well as suffering the consequences of a devastating war, at times they also face racism and antigypsyism, both in Ukraine and in the neighbouring countries they are passing through.

The presence of a Roma minority in Ukrainian territory has been documented since the 14^th century, and this minority has formed a part of Ukrainian society ever since. The current estimated population ranges between 47,000 people (official census of 2001) and 400,000 (estimates made by Roma organisations, the Council of Europe, etc). As various international organisations have attested, the Ukrainian Roma community already suffered exclusion and severe cases of discrimination and antigypsyism before the present conflict, including residential segregation and very substandard housing conditions. In many cases they lack identity documents, which leaves them in an especially vulnerable position in the context of the present invasion by the Russian army.

FSG recognises the work and the solidarity shown by the countries offering shelter and by organisations working in border areas. However, in recent days we have been able to gather information on ways in which the especial vulnerability already affecting Ukrainian Roma people may be creating a particularly critical situation for them during the current invasion. This includes information on cases of discrimination and antigypsyism affecting some Roma people from Ukraine, both in that country and in the countries adjoining it.

We therefore wish to express our concern about the cases of discrimination and antigypsyism being documented, which are taking various forms. These include the creation of obstacles preventing Roma people from crossing the border into neighbouring countries, as well as discriminatory treatment once they manage to cross the border. Examples include the use of discriminatory ethnic profiling by border police, segregation in reception centres, and Roma people facing worse conditions than those offered to non-Roma refugees. There are even cases such as those reported in Hungary in which Roma girls and boys are given less food than non-Roma children.

For all these reasons, our message on this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022 is this: we must not forget the Roma victims of the war in Ukraine, and must prevent and combat whatever cases of discrimination they may be suffering.

We therefore make the following appeals:

• To the national authorities in neighbouring countries through which Ukrainian refugees are travelling, we ask that they guarantee safe passage for Roma people, along with equal access to the humanitarian assistance they require. Particular attention should be paid to the situation of women, children and elderly people.
• To the national authorities in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, we ask that they guarantee equal access for Roma people to efficient, fair refuge and asylum procedures. We also urge the authorities to ensure the genuine inclusion of Roma refugees in the society of the host country. This includes social, educational and labour market inclusion, with specialised programmes adapted to the specific needs of the Ukrainian Roma population.
• In the European context, we call on the authorities of the European Union to speak up about this situation and to facilitate the passage and the welcoming of Ukrainian Roma people, in coordination with national authorities and with Roma and other organisations who work to defend the rights of the Roma community. We also ask that the EU’s plans for the use of financial instruments (both the Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Funds), along with European policies aimed at the inclusion and equality of the Roma population, take into account the new circumstances. This entails creating lines of funding for the hosting and social, educational and labour market inclusion of Ukrainian Roma people arriving in various EU countries.
• To the communications media, we ask for respectful, appropriate treatment of news relating to Ukrainian Roma communities, both those Roma people fleeing from the war and those who remain in the country. We appeal to the media to shine a light on the circumstances of Ukrainian Roma people and to continue documenting situations in which their rights are violated, both in Ukraine and in their journeys to and arrivals in host countries.