ROMA WEEK 2025: Archive
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Concept Roma Week 2025
April 7–10, 2025
Location: European Parliament, Brussels
Title: Facing Challenges – Strengthening Roma Inclusion and Leadership in a Changing Europe
Aim
The main purpose of Roma Week 2025 is to strengthen Roma inclusion and leadership within the European Union’s political framework and to address the unique challenges facing Roma, Sinti, and Traveller communities in a changing Europe. As the EU enters a period of renewed political leadership with no current MEPs of Romani origin, the event seeks to refocus attention on Roma rights and advocate for their inclusion as a priority in the EU’s mainstream policies and discourse. Roma Week serves as a platform to consolidate and amplify Roma communities’ voices, ensuring their perspectives are integral to discussions on equality, human rights, and social justice across Europe.
Key objectives of Roma Week 2025:
- Sustaining focus on Roma inclusion amid changing EU leadership
With the new leadership of the European Commission and Parliament, Roma Week aims to navigate political transitions and ensure that Roma, Sinti, and Travellers are not overlooked in policy agendas. By bringing together EU officials, MEPs, and advocates, the event will strategise on how to maintain visibility and cross-party support for Roma inclusion in an era marked by shifting priorities and the rise of far-right influences. - Strengthening political representation and leadership. Roma Week places a special focus on bolstering Roma leadership, particularly in the political arena, where representation has historically been limited. The event seeks to build pathways for political engagement for Roma, Sinti, and Travellers, with particular emphasis on increasing the visibility and influence of Roma women and youth leaders. It also explores strategies for developing alliances and fostering future Romani political leaders.
- Addressing antigypsyism and structural discrimination. As discrimination and antigypsyism remain pervasive issues, Roma Week aims to create a united front against these systemic challenges. The event promotes the recognition of antigypsyism as a core human rights issue within the EU and advocates for policies that directly address structural discrimination. This focus includes exploring how policy frameworks, monitoring, and accountability can be enhanced to safeguard Roma rights.
- Highlighting intersectional issues and social justice. Recognising the diversity within Roma communities, Roma Week promotes intersectional approaches to address the compounded discrimination faced by Roma women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and youth. By integrating gender, age, and social identity into discussions, the event aims to foster a more inclusive, holistic approach to Roma advocacy and social justice.
- Highlighting Intersectional Discrimination and Racism Against Racialised Minorities in Europe. Roma Week will bridge discussions between EU Antiracism Week and Roma Week by focusing on intersectional discrimination affecting Roma communities alongside other racialised minorities. This objective seeks to foster solidarity and shared strategies across minority groups that experience overlapping forms of racism and exclusion. The event emphasises that antigypsyism is part of a broader spectrum of racial injustices and explores how Roma communities, as well as Black, migrant, and other racialised groups, face unique and compounded challenges. By creating a unified approach to address structural racism, Roma Week 2025 aims to enhance collaboration between Roma advocates and allies from diverse minority groups, building on the momentum of Antiracism Week. This link will strengthen the EU’s commitment to comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that benefit all marginalised communities, promoting inclusion, understanding, and equality across Europe.
- Promoting digital Inclusion and youth engagement. Digital exclusion remains a significant barrier for Roma communities in accessing opportunities and services. Roma Week highlights the importance of digital literacy and connectivity as essential tools for Roma empowerment. The event also emphasises inclusive education, advocating for equal educational opportunities and resources to support Roma students.
- Ensuring accountability and effective use of EU funds. Roma Week underlines the importance of accountability in EU funding allocated for Roma inclusion. Through discussions on Roma Civil Monitoring, the event promotes transparency and effective fund utilisation, ensuring that EU investments genuinely contribute to Roma empowerment and equality.
- Teaching Roma history and culture in school curricula: Promote the integration of Roma history and culture into school curricula, fostering awareness, respect, and understanding of Roma contributions to European heritage.
- Transitional Justice and Restorative Justice
The event will examine transitional justice as a means to acknowledge historical injustices against Roma communities, with a focus on projects such as Jekhipen and documentary films that address anti-Roma violence and restorative justice.
Overall Vision
Roma Week 2025 aspires to make the inclusion of Roma, Sinti, and Travellers a sustained, visible, and actionable priority within the EU’s policies and to foster a European society that values diversity, equality, and social justice. The event underscores the EU’s commitment to human rights and catalyses long-term positive change for Roma communities across Europe.
Events:
Monday, 7 April 2025
Event name: Official Opening of EU Roma Week
High Level Opening Event (17:00 – 19:00)
Co-hosted by: MEP Krzysztof Smiszek
Day 2: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
10:00 – 12:00 High-level event on Roma history and culture in school curricula
The high-level event, part of the Jekhipe Project funded by the European Commission, aims to support the integration of Roma history and culture into school curricula. By examining lessons learned and showcasing best practices, the event fosters awareness, respect, and a deeper understanding of Roma contributions to European heritage.
View the recording of this event here
13:30 – 15:30 Roma Civil Monitoring: National Roma Framework Strategies and EU Funds
Focus: Discussing Roma Civil Monitoring efforts and EU funding mechanisms supporting Roma inclusion initiatives, with an emphasis on transparency and accountability.
16:00 – 17:00 Zooming on Roma from Ukraine
Focus: This event will provide an in-depth look at the current situation of Roma in Ukraine, highlighting the challenges they face in the context of the ongoing war and post-war reconstruction efforts.
View the recording of these two events here
Day 3: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
08:00 – 09:30 Roma Youth Voices Breakfast: Building Inclusive Europe through digitalization with Roma Youth
Focus: This breakfast event aims to bridge perspectives between Roma youth and members of the European Parliament, fostering dialogue on critical issues related to Roma inclusion. It will address both specific needs of Roma youth and broader initiatives impacting them within mainstream inclusion efforts. This gathering provides a platform for young Roma voices to contribute to shaping policies and strategies for a more inclusive Europe.
10:30 – 12:30 Roma Youth and Digitalisation
Focus: The session focused on the critical importance of digital inclusion for Roma communities. It will be discussed the barriers hindering access to technology and the digital skills gap and explore innovative solutions to empower youth Roma individuals and communities. This includes also exchanging good practices of promoting digital inclusion.
13:30– 15:30 Transitional Justice
Focus: Exploring transitional justice as a pathway to acknowledge and address historical injustices faced by Roma communities, with perspectives on the Jekhipen Project.
16:00 – 17:30 Film screening and panel discussion
When Toby met Mirek – extreme right, anti-Roma violence and restorative justice
Day 4: Thursday, April 10, 2025
09:00 – 11:00 Intersectional Discrimination and Racism Against Racialised Minorities in Europe
11:00 – 13:00 Roma Women’s Leadership & the Fight Against Multiple and Intersectional Discrimination
View the recording here
16:30 – 20:30 Inclusive Education Award
Organised by: Roma Active Albania and DG ENEST
Venue: Concert Noble
Focus: Highlighting initiatives from the Western Balkans and Turkey for inclusive education practices and recognising achievements in promoting educational access for Roma students.
Photos from Roma Week 2025:
