Statement by Elisabeth Sándor-Szalay, Ombudsman for the Rights of National Minorities, on the International Roma Day

On the International Roma Day we celebrate the Roma culture that has been enriching European and Hungarian civilization with its values and diversity for centuries. At the same time, this day reminds us of the opportunities and obligations we have to take and fulfill in order to protect our Roma compatriots' equal treatment and equal dignity, to guarantee equal opportunities for them.

Forty five years ago, on April 8, 1971, in Orpington near London, the First World Romani Congress adopted a decision on the use of Romani national symbols in a uniform manner, the usage of the word "Roma" and the slogan "Opre Roma"[1]. Several committees were set up in order to handle specific topics, focusing on education, culture, wartime tribulations and compensations, social and linguistic issues. This event was a major milestone in the forming of the institutionalized identity of the Roma. Later, in 1990 in Warsaw, the Fourth World Romani Congress decided on recognizing April 8, the date of the first world congress, as an international memorial day of the Roma. Paying homage to the Congress, the UN would then designate April 8 as the international day of Roma culture.

Cultural programs, festivities, events promoting tolerance and professional forums organized on this day in many countries of the world provide an opportunity to call the attention of mainstream society not only to the cultural assets of Roma communities, but also to their problems.

This is no different in Hungary, either: on the occasion of the International Roma Day, the various programs organized all over the country not only provide an opportunity to celebrate, but also intend to promote the notion that our Roma compatriots, with their history spanning several centuries, constitute an organic part of Hungarian society. Their double identity is well presented by a quote from painter Tamás Péli: "I wear two golden headbands. One for being Roma, the other for being Hungarian."  On this day, we have to mention those well-known and widely recognized Roma compatriots of ours who, as artists, enrich and cultivate our common culture or, as sportsmen, enhance our countries international reputation. In addition to these celebrities, there are hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Roma contributing day after day to the rise of Hungary through their expertise, diligence and patriotism. The skillful and talented professionals and students of Roma nationality are our society's common future hope.

However, we cannot proceed with celebrating without mentioning the grave social problems, such as segregation in education, social exclusion, marginalization on the labor market, affecting the majority of Roma people in our country, as well. Neither Europe as a whole, nor any of the European states can build a future without integrating into society the 10-12 million Roma people living in our continent.

Opre Roma!