Today, 3 June 2008, the associations of Roma from Romania are protesting in
front of the Italian Embassy to Bucharest, against the numerous racist and
xenophobic actions targeting Roma in Italy, and against the lack of reaction of
the Italian and Romanian authorities. The protest in Bucharest is taking place
simultaneously with a protest of Romani organizations from Spain in front of the
Italian Embassy to Madrid.
Between the 25th and the 29th of May 2008, an international team of 10
representatives of different Romani and human rights organizations from
different European countries have conducted a field visit in Italy in 20 Roma
camps (Milan, Rome, Naples, Florence and Torino). They have documented the
situation of the Roma and the effect of the latest acts of violence targeted
against Roma.
During the latest months, the Romani population from different countries
living in Italy has been the target of different forms of violence committed
either by local authorities or extremists groups, Roma camps have been burned
with Molotov cocktails, shelters have been destroyed in the middle of the night,
families have been expelled from Italian cities, the legal camps have been
surrounded by guards and Romani adults and children have been repatriated on
summary procedures of a questionable legality. In the public discourse in Italy,
representatives of Italian media and political class have demonized the Roma in
a manner recalling the atmosphere before the Holocaust/ Samudaripen.
The Italian Government is taking no action to efficiently prevent or firmly
sanction these attacks. On the very contrary, despite the appeals of European
Institutions, international human rights organizations, Romani civil society and
nongovernmental Italian organizations, the Italian authorities have been
persevering in encouraging this hostile atmosphere, with the tacit support of
the Romanian government and other governments from Europe.
The today’s protest is another modality to demand to the Italian government
to end with firmness these racist actions against Romani people and to adopt
comprehensive policies to combat racism, xenophobia and social exclusion.
Signatory parties:
Alianta Civica a Romilor din Romania, Iulian Stoian
Romani CRISS, Margareta Matache
Centrul Rromilor “Amare Rromentza”, Delia Grigore, Mihai Neacsu
Asociatia Thumende (Valea Jiului), Cristinela Ionescu
Asociaţia Parudimos (Timisoara), Carmen Marcu
Asociatia Ketanes (Giurgiu), Elena Marin
Centrul Crestin al Romilor (Sibiu), Florin Cioaba
Fundatia RUHAMA ( Oradea), Marian Daragiu
Centrul Romilor Terne Romentza (Alexandria), Marin Maria Emanuela
Agentia de Dezvoltare Comunitara “Impreună”, Gelu Duminică
Centrul de Resurse pentru Participare Publică, Oana Preda
Institutul pentru Politici Publice, Violeta Alexandru
Asociatia Cultura Pacii, Ioana Niang
Asociatia ACCEPT, Florentina Bocioc
