Programme 16 May



16 May: Roma Resistance Day

Urania, An der Urania 17, 10787 Berlin


On 16 May 1944, more than 4000 Roma and Sinti in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp successfully resisted the SS who wanted to murder them on that day. On this highly significant day of remembrance, we open the World Roma Congress, because the day stands not only for the resistance of the Roma against their extermination, but also against racism and discrimination in the present.


10:00 Workshops for Roma Organisations

13:00 Lunch Break



15:00 Official opening in the Urania


Roma Philharmonic Quintet conducted by Riccardo M Sahiti.


Speeches by:
Saraya Gomis, former State Secretary for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination.
Nizaqete Bislimi-Hošo, lawyer and Chairwoman of the Bundes Roma Verband e.V.
Grattan Puxon, Secretary General of the 1st World Roma Congress
Filiz Polat, Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen
Dr. Mehmet Daimagüler Antiziganism Commissioner of the Federal Government

Dr. Andrea Despot, Stiftung Erinnerung Verantwortung Zukunft
Jasna Čaušević, Society for Threatened Peoples


15:30 The Roma Resistance Day and the Unknown History of the Roma Movement, Vicente Rodriguez Fernandez (Spain)


15:50 The political significance of the World Roma Congresses, Orhan Tahir (Bulgaria/Germany)


16:15 Panel discussion: Expelled and forgotten. The history of the Roma from Kosovo


Nedžmedin Neziri, Union des Rroms de l'Ex-Yougoslavie en Diaspora, contemporary witness (France/ Kosovo)
Azir Jašari, journalist, documentary filmmaker and contemporary witness of the expulsion (Serbia/ Kosovo)
Šani Rifati, Voice of Roma, Roma activist (USA/ Germany/ Kosovo)
Dianne Post, human rights lawyer; legal representative of the victims of the lead poisoning camps in Mitrovica and the Kosovo Roma Rights Coalition (USA)
Barry Fisher, international human rights lawyer, legal representation of the Kosovo Roma Rights Coalition (USA)


18:00 Musical contribution by the Roma Philharmonic Quintet conducted by Riccardo M Sahiti

18:10 Break

18:45 Discrimination and racism in times of war and crisis - panel discussion with:


Izabela Jaśkowiak, RSO Harangos (Poland).
Katarina Dome, European Drom (UK/ Slovakia)
Kemal Vural Tarlan, Kırkayak Kültür (Turkey/ Syria)
Iveta Bangova, European Drom (UK/ Czech Republic)
Roma From Ukraine


Moderation: Ramona Maria Cara (Romania, Germany)

Organisations

Bundes Roma Verband e.V. • Roma Center e.V./ Roma Antidiscrimination Network • RomaniPhen e.V. • Romani Kafava e.V. • Förderverein Roma e.V. • Pro Sinti & Roma e.V. • Internationaler Kultur und Sport Verein der Roma Carmen e.V. • Roma und Sinti Philharmoniker e.V. • Voice of Roma • Wakti Romano e.V. • Rom e.V. • Rroma Informations Centrum e.V. • So Keres Romnja Youth Theatre Jugendtheater Berlin • Lokhar e Dukh e.V. • With Wings and Roots e.V. • Medien und Kulturzentrum Deutscher Roma e.V. • safe space e.V. • Romano Sumnal e.V. Verband der Roma und Sinti in Sachsen • Roma Art Academy • Initiative gegen Antiromaismus Dresden • Rroma Society/Drustvo Rroma • Stiftung Kai Dikhas • Roma Respekt • VVNBDA • Bildungswerk für Erinnerungsarbeit und Frieden • Rroma teachers association for school education and culture e.V. • Union des Rroms de l'ex-Yougoslavie en Diaspora, France • Roma European Union Jekhipe, Belgium • Chachipe Rights & Justice, Denmark • Kosovo Roma Rights Coalition, Roma in Diaspora • Yurom Centar, Serbia • Liga Roma Skrug, Serbia • Rom Vote, England • Kale Amenge, Spain • La Orden del Fenix, Spain • Belarusian Roma Diaspora, Belarus • EU Roma Press, France • Kirkayak Kültür Dom, Turkey • Roma Club Subotica, Serbia • Roma Mandate DT US, USA • Romski Kulturni Centar Niš, Serbia • Centre for Roma Studies and Cultural Relations Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad, India • Indian Council for Cultural Relations, India • Amnesty International Ålborg, Denmark • COMPAS Charity, England • ROTA Roma Organisation for Training and Advocacy, England • European Drom, England • Ad Astra per Aspera, Serbia • DNT Political Front, India • Yag Bari Alicante, Spain • Skandinavian Roma Women Network, Denmark • Romane domacice, Denmark • Sinti Art, Poland • RSO Harangos, Poland • Foleja Roma Cultural association for school education, Kosovo • Association of Roma Students, Serbia • Budhan Theatre, India • Vimukta inc., USA • Indian Council for International Cooperation, India • Bakhtalo Drom, Ukraine • Dianne Post & Barry Fischer, Counsels of the Kosovo Roma Rights Coalition • Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Ireland • International Roma Research Institute of Sliven, Bulgaria • Integratsiooni Sihtasutuse, Estonia • Romsko udruženje Bela Romkinja Srbija • Institute for Social Change, Macedonia • Conatus, France • Confederação Brasileira C***a, Brasil • Romani Iniciyativa, Gračanica, Kosovo • Roma World Serbia • Light and Life Missions of India, India • Mulnivasi Livelihoods Research and Revival Council, India • Romska inicijativa mladih Gyspy soul, Serbia • Pachinkoh (Magazine), Pakistan • Roda C***a Rede Humanitária, Brasil • Aroostook band of micmacs, USA • CEREZ Centar za edukaciju Roma i etnickih zajednica, Serbia • Roma advocacy and research centre, Slovakia • Asociación socioeducativa e intercultural la estrella y la milagrosa, Spain • Roma Parliament Civil Rights Movement in Hungary • Center for the development of the Roma community Amaro drom, Serbia • Man at risk, Slowakia • Taro Romane Vasta ko Romano Vilo, Belgium • Roma Forum Serbia • Denotified Nomadic Tribes Development Council • The Empowerment centre of Nomads and Tribes • AGRI Association of Gypsies / Romani International, USA • Taternes Landsforening(National Association for Travellers in Norway Roma Parliament, Ungarn • European Roma Forum in Estonia