Online debate: National perspectives on Transitional Justice

Online debate: National perspectives on Transitional Justice for Roma

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1 APRIL 2025, 16:00 -18:00 CET

(for FRENCH see below)

Concept Overview

The fight against antigypsyism and the pursuit of justice for Roma communities require meaningful engagement with transitional justice processes at both national and European levels. Despite growing recognition of the historical and institutional discrimination faced by Roma, many countries still lack comprehensive mechanisms to acknowledge past injustices, ensure accountability, and foster reconciliation.

This online debate, moderated by Isabela Mihalache (ERGO Network), will bring together four expert speakers from different national contexts to explore how transitional justice can address antigypsyism and historical injustices against Roma. The discussion will focus on existing initiatives, challenges in policy implementation, and the role of truth-seeking mechanisms, reparations, and institutional reforms in achieving justice.

Speakers will also share best practices and innovative approaches from their respective countries, offering insights into how transitional justice can serve as a transformative tool in combating antigypsyism. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the speakers, posing critical questions on how national and EU-level policies can better incorporate transitional justice frameworks to drive meaningful change for Roma communities.

Agenda

Moderator: Isabela Mihalache, ERGO Network

  • Dr.Magda Matache, Harvard FXB Center (United States)
  • Dr.Delia Grigore, President of Amare Romentza (Romania)
  • Dr. ElĹĽbieta Mirga-WĂłjtowicz, Fundacja Jaw Dikh (Poland)
  • Dr. Biser Alekov (Belgium)

Bios of the speakers:

Delia Grigore – Rroma writer, researcher and activist, PhD in visual arts – ethnography-ethnology, president of Association Rroma Center „Amare Rromentza”, working in the Rroma movement for more than 30 years; lecturer at the University of Bucharest, coordinator of Rromani Language and Literature Study Programme; member of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture’s Barvalipe Academy; she wrote many publications regarding Rromani culture, poet and editor of Rromani literature anthologies, author of three books: Introduction in the Study of Traditional Culture Elements of the Contemporary Rromani Identity (2001); Rromanipen – Keystones of Rromani Culture (2011); Contemporary Rromani Identity – between Ethno-type and Stereotype (2017); she created the first Rromani Culture Virtual Museum in the world, launched in 2023.

Biser Alekov is a Roma activist and advocate for human rights and social justice. Born in Bulgaria, he holds a PhD in Education and has dedicated his career to fighting discrimination and promoting the inclusion of Roma communities across Europe. Alekov is known for his work in education, cultural awareness, and policy reform to empower marginalized groups. His initiatives often emphasise breaking stereotypes and fostering dialogue between Roma and non-Roma communities. He is currently working as a social mediator in Brussels.

Margareta (Magda) Matache is a Lecturer on Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the co-founder and Director of the Roma Program at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University. She is also a member of the O’Neill-Lancet Commission on Racism, Structural Discrimination and Global Health. Dr. Matache’s teaching and research focus on the manifestations and impacts of racism and other systems of oppression in different geographical and political contexts.

ElĹĽbieta Mirga-WĂłjtowicz is a cultural animator, political scientist and researcher. She works as a research assistant professor at the Migration Research Centre of the University of Warsaw, where she studies Roma migration. He has nearly 15 years of experience in government administration in the field of state policy towards ethnic and national minorities and in coordinating integration policy towards Roma in Poland. In 2008-2014 Plenipotentiary of the MaĹ‚opolska Voivode for National and Ethnic Minorities. Author of evaluation reports for the European Commission under the Roma Civil Monitor (2017-2020) and Roma Civil Monitor II (2021-2025) projects. Author of scientific and popular science articles on Roma subjects. Co-organizer of the international project commemorating the Roma Holocaust, “Dikh He Na Bister.” Board member of the Jaw Dikh Foundation. Member of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC).

Journée des Roms
DĂ©bat en ligne : Perspectives nationales sur la justice transitionnelle pour les Roms

1 APRIL 2025, 16:00 -18:00 CET

La lutte contre l’antitsiganisme et la quête de justice pour les communautés roms nécessitent un engagement significatif dans les processus de justice transitionnelle aux niveaux national et européen. Malgré une reconnaissance croissante des discriminations historiques et institutionnelles subies par les Roms, de nombreux pays manquent encore de mécanismes complets pour reconnaître les injustices passées, garantir la responsabilité et favoriser la réconciliation.

Ce dĂ©bat en ligne, modĂ©rĂ© par Isabela Mihalache (ERGO Network), rĂ©unira quatre experts issus de diffĂ©rents contextes nationaux afin d’explorer comment la justice transitionnelle peut ĂŞtre appliquĂ©e pour lutter contre l’antitsiganisme et rĂ©parer les injustices historiques subies par les Roms. La discussion portera sur les initiatives existantes, les dĂ©fis liĂ©s Ă  la mise en Ĺ“uvre des politiques, ainsi que sur le rĂ´le des mĂ©canismes de recherche de la vĂ©ritĂ©, des rĂ©parations et des rĂ©formes institutionnelles dans la quĂŞte de justice.

Les intervenants partageront également des bonnes pratiques et des approches innovantes mises en place dans leurs pays respectifs, offrant ainsi un éclairage sur la manière dont la justice transitionnelle peut devenir un outil transformateur dans la lutte contre l’antitsiganisme. Les participants auront l’occasion d’interagir avec les intervenants et de poser des questions essentielles sur la manière dont les politiques nationales et européennes peuvent mieux intégrer les cadres de justice transitionnelle afin d’apporter un changement significatif aux communautés roms.

Programme

Modération : Isabela Mihalache, ERGO Network

  • Dr. Magda Matache, Harvard FXB Center (États-Unis)
  • Dr. Delia Grigore, PrĂ©sidente d’Amare Romentza (Roumanie)
  • Dr. ElĹĽbieta Mirga-WĂłjtowicz, Fundacja Jaw Dikh (Pologne)
  • Dr. Biser Alekov (Belgique)
  • đź“Ś Lien d’inscription : https://forms.office.com/e/N1ZJNJzp9c