Alexander Soros: We celebrate the identity, self-determination and unity of Roma, Open Society Foundations will always support them

The Vice-President of the Open Society Foundations, Alexander Soros, tweeted greetings yesterday to Romani men and women on International Roma Day. "Opre Roma! Happy #InternationalRomaDay on this, the anniversary of the first World Romani Congress in 1971. This is a day to celebrate the identity, self-determination and unity of Roma whever they live," he began.  

"Being able to openly declare and not to have to hide one’s identity is a measure of how open and free our societies are—and this is something ever more important for Roma, Europe's largest and most excluded minority," Soros continued.

"Over the last 30 years, my father George Soros and our Open Society Foundations have built on the legacy of the first World Romani Congress through our support for Roma and Roma institutions. This includes educational support and the establishment of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture," the Vice-President of OSF said.

"And most importantly, through our support for Roma advocates and organizations to take on the challenges of today, and be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. We at Open Society will never abandon our solidarity and support for the continued struggle of the Roma people," he concluded.

Romani people worldwide mark International Roma Day on 8 April. This year marks 50 years since the important day on which the historic first-ever World Roma Congress was held in Orpington near London in 1971 in the United Kingdom. 

That meeting laid the foundations for the international collaborations to come among Romani people and the movement attained an international sociopolitical dimension. On this day, Romani people annually commemorate their common culture, language and origin, their shared collaborations and unification, and above all their Romipen ("Romani-ness").