Truth and Reconciliation Process to Address Antigypsyism in Europe

The CHACHIPEN Project (Paving the way for Truth and Reconciliation Process to address antigypsyism in Europe) has aimed at advancing the recognition of and response to historically-rooted and systemic antigypsyism in order to achieve justice, equality, non-discrimination, and the full participation of Roma as equal citizens across the European Union (EU).

The starting point of the project was the desire to examine and implement a model of Truth and Reconciliation Processes (TRPs) as part of a transitional justice approach to address historically rooted antigypsyism in the EU. The CHACHIPEN Project has implemented two main thematic streams of research:

• “Antigypsyism is a historically constructed, persistent complex of customary racism against social groups identified under the stigma ‘gypsy’ or other related terms, and incorporates: 1. a homogenizing and essentializing perception and description of these groups; 2. the attribution of specific characteristics to them; 3. discriminating social structures and violent practices that emerge against that background, which have a degrading and ostracizing effect and which reproduce structural disadvantages”. (Alliance against Antigypsyism, A Reference Paper, 2017).
• Transitional justice comprises “the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice, and achieve reconciliation. These may include both judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, with differing levels of international involvement (or none at all) and individual prosecutions, reparations, truth-seeking, institutional reform, vetting and dismissals, or a combination thereof”. (United Nations Secretary General, The Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Post-conflict Societies, 2004).

First, an examination of the processes, impacts and limitations/gaps of two expert Commissions – non-judicial and temporary investigative bodies – the Commission on Antigypsyism in Germany (hereafter the German Commission), and the Swedish Commission against Antiziganism (the Swedish Commission). The following questions were posed: What are the lessons learned and what has worked or not worked in these two national TRP experiences? Which processes could be of relevance at the country and EU levels to address institutionalized racism and injustice against Roma communities and antigypsyism?

Second, a qualitative assessment of the phenomenon of historically rooted antigypsyism in two other EU member states, home to the largest Roma communities in the EU. First, we considered Romania, with particular focus on slavery and deportations, their current manifestations and consequences in the country. Second, we investigated Spain, paying attention to the origins and ramifications of antigypsyism during and after the Middle Ages, all the way to the Franco dictatorship’s repression during the 20th century and ongoing antigypsyism in democratic Spain.

Please find the full Publication by Ana Carballo-Mesa, Sergio Carrera, Pedro Casermeiro Cortes Iulius Rostas, Jan Selling and Lavinia Stan, here.