Roma in Ukraine – Fighters for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice: Heidelberg, 3-4 December 2024

The rich diversity of Ukraine embodies a unique facet of European culture that must be protected and celebrated. This cultural diversity is also evident among the numerous Roma communities in Ukraine, which are a vital and integral part of the nation.

The Roma in Ukraine possess their own distinct cultural identities, which they have preserved over the centuries despite facing persecution, genocide, wars, and the pressures of globalisation and commercialisation. This diversity is not only manifested in the various groups but also within those groups, as Roma people occupy different social strata and engage in various professions.

Historically, Roma have played an active role in significant events, notably during World War II, when many fought against Nazi Germany. However, tens of thousands also fell victim to racial persecution, losing their lives in extermination and concentration camps or in mass shootings.

In the modern context of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Roma community in Ukraine is once again stepping up as active citizens. Many Roma are serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and are contributing in diverse ways to the nation's defence and reconstruction efforts. Women are sewing for the military, musicians are holding charity concerts, NGOs are providing free meals to vulnerable populations regardless of ethnicity, and others are fundraising to support soldiers—all while contending with persistent antigypsyism in Ukraine.

Roma view themselves as an essential part of Ukrainian society and culture. While the political sphere is beginning to recognize and value the contributions of Roma in the fight against the invasion, many people, especially outside of Ukraine, remain unaware of these facts.

The event titled “Roma in Ukraine – Fighters for Democracy, Human Rights, and Justice” aims to raise awareness about these realities and to challenge the biases and stereotypes surrounding the Roma community. It is important to highlight that not all Roma individuals share the same experiences, and many do not conform to prevalent prejudices.

Through the event program includes an exhibition, film screening, and discussions, and will showcase the diversity of the Roma community and their contributions to democracy, human rights, and justice. This initiative seeks to enhance understanding among policymakers and the general public, fostering greater recognition of the Roma communities.

This event should be seen as part of a broader range of advocacy and awareness-raising efforts. Furthermore, it is connected to larger policy initiatives, including Ukraine's recovery plans (such as the Ukraine Recovery Conference and Ukraine Recovery Plan), the country's European Union accession process, and internal documents like the Targeted State Programme “Unity in Diversity” and the Roma Strategy until 2030.

Goals 

The overall goal is to ensure that politics and society in Ukraine as well as the international community understand Roma as an integral part of Ukraine and recognize the need to support Roma communities in Ukraine.

The specific goal of the event is to challenge prejudices about Roma and to demonstrate the contribution of Roma to Ukraine.

3 December, “Roma in Ukraine – Fighters for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice”

17:00 - 17:30  Welcome Speeches      

• Mr. Vadym Kostiuk, Consulate General of Ukraine in Frankfurt am Main (TBC)     

• Mr. Andre Raatzsch, Documentation Center of Roma and Sinti (TBC)

• Ms. Nataliia Tomenko, ARCA

17:30 - 18:00       Opening of the exhibition “Me Ukrainatar” and Reception       

The exhibition expands the vision of the Roma identity from the perspective of Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Maksymov and displays his reality as a true image of the communities - without stereotypes and prejudices. Through the visuality of the analogue collage technique, the author proposes to get acquainted with the Roma who have made an influential input to Ukrainian society, contributing to the development of culture, medicine, science and social movement.                                  

• Guided walk through the exhibition by curator Ms. Marianna Maksymova

18:00 - 19:30 Panel discussion: Roma as Fighters for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice. WWII and the war of Russia against Ukraine since 2014

The panel discussion should demonstrate that Roma despite persecution and genocide were or are not victims only, but active fighters for democracy, human rights and justice and contributed over centuries to Ukraine. Thereby, a focus should be put on the current full-scale invasion of Russia and the role of Roma in World War II as well as on the need to promote and preserve Romani heritage in Ukraine.

Potential Panelists

• Mr. Stephan Müller, Central Council of German Sinti and Roma

• Dr. Volha Bartash, Postdoctoral Researcher in History/Anthropology

• Ms. Nataliia Tomenko, an expert on Roma Cultural Heritage in Ukraine, ARCA 

• Ms. Rosa Topanova,  Director of Babyn Yar Museum 

Moderators: Mr. Jonathan Mack (political vision) (TBC) 

4 December, “Roma in Ukraine – Fighters for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice”

17:00 - 18:30      Screening of the movie "Named Voices”      

A documentary about the genocide of Roma in the 1940s and how the Roma communities live under the Russian-Ukrainian war today.

Killings in genocides or wars don’t only extermination of people. Sometimes nothing remains of the killed persons. No memories, no things, no documents, no names. Not even graves where descendants could go and remember. But are there any descendants?

The documentary combines stories of Roma who remember the horrors they faced during the occupation of Ukraine by the German Nazis. In addition, Roma witnesses of our time tell their stories about how their families went through persecution, harassment and discrimination. 

18:30 - 19:30      Panel discussion                     

• Mr. Volodymyr Yakovenko, ARCA, Introduction (online)      

• Ms. Natalia Vainilovych, ART-PLAYBACK (online)               

• Ms. Verena Meier, Research Center on Antigypsyism/ Aid Network for Survivors of Nazi Persecution in Ukraine

Moderation: Ms. Chinara Majidova, ARCA

The main languages of the event will be Ukrainian and English with consecutive and simultaneous translations.

Organizers: Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture in Ukraine “ARCA” in cooperation with Documentation of German Sinti and Roma.

Partners: European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC)

The project was made possible through the support of the RAZOM/RHIZOM programme,

within the framework of the "Civil Society Cooperation" initiative, organised by the Federal

Foreign Office of Germany. The programme is coordinated by the Ukrainian Institute in

Germany and Artsvit Gallery.

Location of the event: Documentation and Cultural Center of German Sinti and Roma (Bremeneckgasse 2, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany).