A delegation of young Roma and Sinti and Associazione 21 luglio meet the President of the Italian House of Representatives
Rome, 8 April 2013 – On 8 April 2013 the world celebrates the Romano Dives, the International Roma and Sinti day. In commemoration of this day, this morning a delegation of young Roma and Sinti, accompanied by Associazione 21 luglio, has been welcomed by the President of the Italian House of Representatives, Mrs. Laura Boldrini. The 8 youths are representatives of the different realities experienced by the Roma communities in Italy. Despite the different backgrounds of every person belonging to the Roma community, almost every individual has experienced discrimination, beyond his juridical or social status.
«Discrimination towards the Roma communities – the young activists stated during the meeting – started with their arrival in Europe more than five centuries ago and culminated with the Porrajmos, when at least 500.000 Roma and Sinti lost their life in the Nazi extermination, and is certainly not decreasing nowadays». In the whole Europe, widely considered well-advanced in the protection of human rights, we are witnessing an increasing intolerance against this unrecognized minority.
The Associazione 21 luglio delegation reminded that: «over the centuries, Roma and Sinti communities have often been discriminated, marginalised and stigmatized, despite Article 3 of the Constitution, which recognises equal social dignity to all citizens. There is a general trend to associate Roma and Sinti with any kind of deviance and criminality, negatively connoting the Roma and Sinti communities with the result of fomenting prejudices in the public opinion».
President Laura Boldrini has encouraged the Roma youth to carry on their dreams and to be proud of their identity, with the awareness of the important heritage they have to protect.
Associazione 21 luglio is convinced of the importance to foster actions aimed at overcoming the emergency approaches adopted in Italy, in order to guarantee to Roma and Sinti communities parity, equal treatment and enjoyment of fundamental and inalienable rights. «The first step to undertake – Associazione 21 luglio declares – is the official recognition of the Roma minority in Italy, as many times solicited by various international bodies».