History, Memory and Justice for Roma people in Europe

The event was organised in the framework of the REC funded CHACHIPEN project –
‘Paving the way for Truth and Reconciliation Process to address antigypsyism in
Europe: Remembrance, Recognition, Justice and Trust-Building’, implemented by
CEPS (Coordinator), together with the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the
European Roma Grassroots Organisations (ERGO) Network, the Federación de
Asociaciones Gitanas de Cataluña (FAGIC) and the Asociatia Fast Forward (AFF) from
Romania.

The event showcased the results of the CHACHIPEN project – Remembrance,
Recognition, Justice and Trust-Building. CHACHIPEN addressed different forms of
antigypsyism and ways to address them in national settings and paved the way for
presenting the Transitional Justice toolbox to further the European response and
investigation into horrific chapters of the history of Roma and Sinti so that the
guarantees of non-recurrence would be strengthened.
The conference discussed remembering and recognition of the Roma Holocaust in
Europe and antigypsyism within transitions from fascist regimes. It looked at the case
studies of Spain under Franco and Romania under Antonescu and to which extent
antigypsyism has been addressed. It also looked at Sinti issues and the fight against antigypsyism. Furthermore, it discussed various tools available within the transitional justice
toolbox and their feasibility for scaling up at the EU context.

The conference brought together, experts, researchers, policymakers, representatives
from relevant CSOs, European institutions and International Organizations, among others:

• MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, Group of the European People’s Party, Committee
  on Employment and Social Affairs, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice
  and Home Affairs,
• Ms Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission for Values
  and Transparency (online),
• Ms Elena Kountouri Tapiero, Acting Regional Representative for Europe,
  United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
  Regional Office for Europe,
• Dr Mehmet Gürcan Daimagüler, Federal Government Commissioner
  against Antigypsyism and for the Lives of Sinti and Roma in Germany
• Mr Pedro Casermeiro, CHACHIPEN Spanish researcher / Member of the
  Rromane Siklovne,
• Dr Iulius Rostas, Independent academic/ CHACHIPEN Romanian expert
• Mr Silas Kropf, Member of the German Independent Antigypsyism
  Commission,
• Ms Soraya Post, Former Member of the European Parliament/ CHACHIPEN
  Advisory Board Member,
• Dr Jan Selling, Associate Professor at Sodertorn University (Online)
• Dr Lavinia Stan, professor of political science at St. Francis Xavier
  University, Canada (Online),
• Ms Ojeaku Nwabuzo, Director (Policy, Advocacy and Network
  Development) – European Network Against Racism Aisbl (ENAR),
• Mr Szabolcs Schmidt, Head of Unit, Directorate D, Unit Non-Discrimination
  and Roma Coordination, DG Justice and Consumers – European
  Commission,
• Mr Cristi Mihalache, Chief of the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues,
  OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
• Mr Claude Cahn, Human Rights Officer, UN Office of the High
  Commissioner on Human Rights,
• Ms Oana Taba, Senior Project Officer, Directorate of Anti-Discrimination,
  Roma and Travellers Team, Council of Europe, and
• Ms Georgina Laboda, Dikh He Na Bister! / Roma Youth perspective.

Please find the full Agenda (pdf) on the left.