A new memorial in Berlin to commemorate hundreds of thousands of Roma who
were systematically murdered by the Nazis during World War II is an important
official step towards marking the atrocities of the past. But given the
treatment of Roma in today’s Europe, the monument near the Reichstag should give
current political leaders pause for thought about the 12 million Roma who
continue to face prejudice and persecution across the continent.
And we’re not talking about some vague sentiments here. Anti-Roma feeling in
many European countries still translates into official policies that result in
segregation of Roma from the rest of society, deepening and exacerbating their
existing poverty and marginalization. In some instances, discrimination bubbles
over into racist violence, when hatred espoused by extreme right-wing parties is
acted out by youth mobs and vigilante groups.
Even as German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the new memorial this week,
local authorities in Germany have proposed measures that may block access to a
fair asylum procedure for Serbian and Macedonian citizens – the majority of them
Roma.
Across Europe, Roma who are often poor, socially excluded, and discriminated
against are easy targets when governments carry out plans to clean up slums and
informal settlements. More often than not, this is done while turning a blind
eye to international obligations. Such requirements include proper consultation
with residents ahead of an eviction, advance notice about any such plans and
full arrangements for adequate alternative housing that meets basic
international standards.
