Join us to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 World Romani Congress: full programme

On 8th April 2021, the World Romani Congress will mark 50 years since the 1971 founding event in London. It was a crucial point in the history of Romani people and is now seen as the beginning of the worldwide Romani emancipation movement. It started a political fight for equality, mobilised through Romani organisations, and the unifying flag and anthem. 

This year to mark the jubilee anniversary you are invited to join a series of diverse online events that will offer the opportunity to connect communities across the globe to celebrate Romani history and culture but also critically reflect on the ongoing challenges that are still faced by Romani people worldwide. See below for the programme for the opening day.

The online congress will start on April 8^th and will be stretched over a month starting in London and moving to Berlin joining cities as far apart as Belgrade and Buenos Aires, activists from Barcelona to Bangalore, in India.

Events can be enjoyed via a live stream at www.romanistan.com a virtual place that crosses all continental borders and connects Romani people worldwide. The president of the First World Roma Congress in 1971, Slobodan Berberski, once said: “Every place, there is Roma, there is Romanistan.” This utopia has now become reality!

It is hoped that this year’s online events will spark greater mobilisation. Grattan Puxon, one of the co-organisers of the First World Romani Congress, said: “At a time of rising far-right extremism and anti-gypsyism it is hoped that this anniversary year will bring Romani people and our allies around the world closer together, to create a common purpose, celebrate achievements, and build a stronger collective voice.”

Roma Day Parade Berlin (2018) © Nihad Nino Puija

The full online conference programme is available below and here: www.romanistan.com

50^TH INTERNATIONAL ROMA NATION DAY

EVENTS ON 8^TH APRIL – LIVE STREAMING

Access via www.romanistan.com

9.00-9.05am (UK time)

Welcoming and opening words by Grattan Puxon

Grattan Puxon is one of the co-initiators of the First World Romani Congress in 1971. He is also strongly engaged in the organisation of the Jubilee World Roma Congress in 2021, bringing together Romani activists and supporters from all over the world.

9.05 – 9.10am

“Raising of the Flag” outside of Cannock House in Orpington

The First World Romani Congress took place at the Cannock House in Orpington near London. Fifty years later, Romani representatives visit the place again, raising the Romani flag and singing the Romani anthem, both adopted by the First Congress in 1971. The video documentation is written and produced by Virgil Bitu and Ollie Petrovic; camera and editing by Lee Wade.

9.10 – 9.40

Romani students interviewing Grattan Puxon

A group of Romani students from the Central European University in Budapest interview the co-initiator of the First World Roma Congress Grattan Puxon about the origin of the Congress, its aim, form and outcomes.

9.40 – 9.50 am

World Roma Congress Art Exhibition

9.50 – 10.50 am

Documentary programme about the First World Romani Congress

A documentary video showing pictures from the1971 World Romani Congress and leading Delegates. Written and narrated by Grattan Puxon, general-secretary of the First Congress, with additional voice over from poet and translator, Valdemir Kalinin.

10.50 – 11.00 am

Q & A with Grattan Puxon about the documentary programme

11.00 am– 1.00pm (UK time)

Flash Mob in front of the European Parliament Online High-level Conference at the European Parliament

The conference brings together EU leaders, representatives of European and national institutions, Romani politicians and civil society, grassroots activists, and ordinary Romani people. The Jubilee Congress includes two hours of the conference programme in its own live stream on www.romanistan.com.

Please find the full programme here: https://www.romeo-franz.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EventProgramme-1.pdf

Part of the streaming is also a flash mob manifestation in front of the European Parliament, organised by supporters and friends of the MEP Romeo Franz.

1.00 – 1.30pm

Live stream of the protest in front of the British Parliament

At the Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of British Parliament, Romani activists protest against deportations of Romani people from Central and Eastern Europe following Brexit.

1.30 – 2.00pm

Documentary programme about the situation of Roma in U.K. from Czech Republic and Slovakia post Brexit

2.00 – 5.00pm (UK time)

Romaday Parade – Berlin

Starting at the Memorial to the Murdered Sinti and Roma of Europe and will end at the Berlin Ministry for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection

In 1971, Romani activists fought for the recognition of the genocide against the Sinti and Roma of Europe. It was not until 2012 that the corresponding memorial was inaugurated as an expression of Germany’s responsibility for the genocide. “Now our dead also have a home,” said Auschwitz survivor Reinhard Florian at the monument’s inauguration, standing in front of the black surface of the water.

In 2021, we must fight to keep this place untouched! In the eyes of the Berlin government, the German Parliament and the German Railways – the successor organisation to the Reichsbahn, which made money from transports to the concentration camps – the memorial is now in danger to make way for the construction of a city train line. Instead of honouring the Europe-wide significance of this site and guaranteeing its complete protection, the Berlin transport minister is conducting secret negotiations and the federal Parliament is rejecting a route that is safe for the memorial because the noise could be too much of a nuisance for the politicians and their employees.

This reckless and non-transparent attitude of the key institutions of the German state is scandalous! Therefore, together with many other initiatives that are also fighting for a diverse, just culture of remembrance, we call for a parade.

5.00 – 6.30pm (UK time)

Live Talk:

Romanistan: WE ARE HERE!

A live talk will take place from the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin about the influence of the First World Romani Congress in 1971 and the fifty years of worldwide Romani movement regarding the current situation of Romani people. A special focus is on the role of arts and feminism within the movement.

About us:

We are an international committee of Romani activists and supporters from different parts of the world, brought together by the co-organiser of the First World Romani Congress, Grattan Puxon. Together, we want to ensure that the ideas of the First World Romani Congress are carried forward and further developed to meet the challenges and also the opportunities that a modern and global society present.