PROJECT EDUCATION OF ROMA | HISTORY ROMA CHILDREN COUNCIL CONSEIL OF EUROPE DE L´EUROPE IN EUROPE INSTITUTIONALISATION 6.2 AND EMANCIPATION Institutionalisation and Emancipation compiled by the editors Strive for Justice l Towards an International Representation l The Awakening of the “Romani Movement” – the First World Romani Congress (1971) l The Second Romani World Congress (1978) l Recognition of Genocide and Institutionalisation of Roma-Politics l A Shift to the East l Political Participation on National and Community Level l The Challenge of Cooperation l Future Prospects For the most part of the 20th century, the Roma’s emancipatory activities remained largely isolated experiments. In the 1950s and 60s, a growing number of organisations originated, preparing the ground for the “Romani-Movement” of the 1970s. This decade saw the emergence of local and national Roma organisations in large numbers and of a variety of goals, and significant efforts were made towards a political representation of the Roma at an international level. Since 1989, in several Eastern European countries Roma have increasingly been represented in communal and national political bodies. Gelem, Gelem Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensa A Romale, a Čhavale Kaj putajile e romane droma Maladilem baxtale Romensa Vi man sas ek bari familija, Ake vrijama, ušti Rom akana, A Romale katar tumen aven, Murdadas la e kali legija Men khutasa mišto kaj kerasa! E carensa baxtale dromensa? Aven mansa sa lumnijake Roma, A Romale, a Čhavale I’vE travelled, travelled I’ve travelled, travelled long roads, O Roma, o fellow Roma For the Romani roads have opened And I met happy Roma Once I had a great family Now is the time, now rise up Roma, O Roma, from where have you come, The Black Legion murdered them We will rise high if we act! With tents on happy roads? Now come, all the world’s Roma O Roma, o fellow Roma Ill. 1 “Gelem, Gelem” was proposed for official Roma anthem at the first World Romani Congress in London, 1971. It is very probably the most frequently recorded Romani song today. (The Romani text is shown as written by Jarko Jovanović during the 1971 Congress, after a traditional melody.) INTRODUCTION liament, demanding electoral rights for society became the “All-Russian Uni- their people, which had been removed on of Gypsies”, led by Andrei Taranov, The first attempts at Roma emancipato- from them. member of the All-Union Communist ry activities originated in Eastern Euro- Beginning in Poland and Ro- Party (Bolsheviks), and Ivan Rom-Le- pean countries. mania in the 1930s, the first attempts bedev. The dissolution of the union in At the end of the 19th century, were made to unite the representative 1928 did not affect the multitude of cul- Lazar Naftanaila was the first to try to bodies of one country and set up na- tural, social, and educational activities organise the Romanian Roma in his “In- tional organisations. Such endeavours, which had emerged by then and which fratirea Neorustica” (Association of The however, more often than not, failed continued until a general change in state Brotherhood of New Farmers). In Bul- due to internal rivalries and claims of policies in the late 1930s. garia, there are meetings recorded for leadership. In the Western European coun- 1905 and 1906, where Romani leaders In Soviet Russia, with the as- tries, there were no similar activities at drew up petitions to the national par- sistance of the state, in 1925 a voluntary all before World War II. Strive for Justice Towards an International Representation The Awakening of the “Romani Movement” – the First World Romani Congress (1971) The Second World Romani Congress (1978) THE ROMA’S EMANCIPATORY ACTIVITIES (later renamed “Nevo Drom” – New Road – together with the IN COMMUNIST COUNTRIES “Roma Central Gypsy Musical Theatre”). Towards the end of the 1940s the policy changed radically, and Shakir Pashov was expel- Although the Roma of Eastern Europe, especially Yugoslavia, were led from the Bulgarian Communist Party and sent to the Belene to play a crucial role in the emancipatory activities on an inter- concentration camp, the Roma press and theatre ceased to exist national level, they mainly originated in Western Europe. This is and the local branches of the Roma organisations became part of mainly due to the fact that the very establishment and development the “Fatherland Front” (a mass public organisation dominated by of Roma organisations in communist countries was not possible the Bulgarian Communist Party). In 1957 an attempt was made without the approval and active support of the state and party to revive the organised movement of Roma; nevertheless, this was structures. quickly stopped and Roma were placed entirely under the auspices The “United General Cultural Organisation of Gypsy Mi- of the Fatherland Front who also published the “New Life Gypsy” norities ‘Ekhipe’” (“Ekhipe”: Romani for “unity”) in Bulgaria newspaper (until 1988). [Ill. 3] headed by Shakir Pashov, a well-known Roma activist and long In Hungary, the “Magyar Ciganyok Müvelödesi Szovetseg” time functionary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, was created (Hungarian Gypsy Cultural Association) headed by Maria Laszlo on March 6, 1945. “Ekhipe” set up many local branches and the was founded in 1957. She tried to expand her activity and turn “Romano Esi” (“Voice of the Roma”) newspaper was published it into a national minority organisation, however it only existed Starting in the 1950s, different man Sinti and Roma) in 1982. Although STRIVE FOR JUSTICE Sinti associations were founded in Ger- not unchallenged in its claim to represent many, whose primary aim was to help all Sinti and Roma living in Germany, survivors of the Nazi persecution assert this organisation effectively tackled the After 1945, when most governments did their right to retribution and support tri- issues of reparation and official recogni- not accept responsibility for the crimes als against their former torturers. Later tion of Sinti and Roma and became one committed during the Nazi time and felt on, they expanded their activities to the of the most influential representative no need to deal with the consequences, fight for civil rights and social equality bodies of Roma in Europe. the Roma did not have a strong enough for the Sinti. Already in 1968, the unsolved lobby. Only individual non-Roma or- A milestone in the history of issue of nationality and the uncertain sta- ganisations stood up for the once again Roma emancipation was the foundation tus of residence for immigrant Roma had marginalised minority. Their work for ju- of the “verband rassisch verfolgter nicht- led to the founding of the International stice and equality, however, did not bring Juden” (Association of racially persecut- Gypsy Rights Commission in Hamburg. forth significant achievements. ed non-Jews) by Oskar and vinzenz Rose However, in 1969 the envisioned crea- The denial of basic rights, such as in 1956. Out of this association evolved tion of a united German representation in the case of Germany, where the Roma the “verband deutscher Sinti” (Associa- failed due to conflicting claims of leader- (that is to say mainly Sinti) were ignored tion of German Sinti) in 1972, whose lo- ship by Roma delegates as well as diffe- in the reparation process, as well as on- cal and regional organisations eventually rences in opinion on the competences of going discrimination brought about the merged to form the “Zentralrat deutscher a trans-regional and trans-Roma-group founding of new organisations. Sinti und Roma” (Central Council of Ger- committee. ris. From the CmG, which was dissolved The CIT’s declared aim was to stop TOWARDS AN INTERNATIONAL by the French government in 1965, the forced assimilation and improve the RePRESENTATION “Comité International Tzigane” (CIT) Roma’s legal and social conditions evolved. Headed by vanko Rouda, the worldwide. For this purpose, it used As in the case of Germany, attempts were committee started out to transcend exi- modern strategies: public relations, me- made in France to unite all the Roma groups sting borders among Roma resulting from dia campaigns, demonstrations and lob- living in the country within one common national, religious, and group differences. bying which intended to make govern- representation. France moreover func- The CIT, which worked closely together ments and society change their ways of tioned as a starting point for endeavours with the Romani Evangelical Church thinking and help the Roma achieve a to move the initiated process of self-or- founded in 1952 by Clement Le Cossec, higher level of equality. The CIT, ren- ganisation to an international level. made contact with foreign organisations amed “Komiteto Lumniako Romano” In 1960, Ionel Rotaru founded like the “Gypsy Council” in Great Britain (in French “Comité International Rom”, the “Communauté mondiale Gitane” (founded 1966) and the “Nordic Roma CIR) in 1971, also issued a periodical, (World Gypsy Community, CmG) in Pa- Council” in Sweden (founded 1973). “La voix mondiale Tsigane”. In 1971, COUNCIL OF EUROPE ROMA | HISTORY PROJECT EDUCATION OF ROMA CHILDREN IN EUROPE INSTITUTIONALISATION 6.2 AND EMANCIPATION for two years. The “Ciganyszövetseg” (Gypsy Council) headed by of Roma culture. However they existed only for several years and Menyhert Lakatos was created in 1974, and in 1985 was succeeded were disbanded in the early 1970s. by “Orszagos Ciganytanacs” (National Gypsy Council) headed by The situation in Yugoslavia is a specific case. The “Rom Joszef Daroczi. The new Roma organisation was mainly an active Association”, created in 1969, built up branches and other Roma factor in the cultural sphere. associations throughout the country. In the 1970s, over 60 Roma In Czechoslovakia Roma organisations existed for a short organisations existed, with their number constantly increasing. In time. The “Zväz Ciganov-Romov” (Union of Gypsy-Roma) hea- 1986 they united in a Union of Roma Associations in Yugoslavia.