ARCA Representatives Hold Lecture at the MFA to Mark Roma Genocide Remembrance Day

On July 28, ahead of the International Roma Genocide Remembrance Day, a thematic lecture was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine as part of the “Diplomacy of Memory” project.

Opening the event, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Serhii Kyslytsia emphasized that in modern Ukraine there must be no “blank spots” in history and no place for intolerance or discrimination based on nationality or religion. He stressed the importance of systematic efforts by the state and diplomatic service aimed at honoring the memory of Nazi victims and fostering a culture of remembrance.

The lecture “Genocide of the Roma of Ukraine: History and Memory” was delivered by Holocaust and Roma history researcher Mykhailo Tyahlyi (Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies). The historian reminded the audience that the tragedy of the roma had remained largely invisible in public discourse for decades. He spoke about Nazi policies in the occupied territories of Ukraine, cited examples of mass executions, and explained how Ukraine is now working to preserve the memory of these events. Volodymyr Yakovenko and Nataliia Tomenko, representatives of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA,” spoke about the current state of roma in Ukraine.

Presidential Adviser and Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk — herself a member of the Roma community — also addressed the participants. She emphasized that remembering the genocide of the roma is part of Ukraine’s shared history, and that without preserving this memory, true unity in society cannot be achieved.

Roza Tapanova, Director of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Preserve, called for the development of a culture of remembrance and announced the opening of the exhibition “The Invisible. Resilience: Past and Present of the Roma” on August 2.

The exhibition project was presented by its curators, Volodymyr Yakovenko and Nataliia Tomenko, co-founders of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA.” They emphasized that the Roma community is an integral part of modern Ukraine: participating in volunteer efforts, defending the country, and working toward its European future.

“For many decades, the history of the Roma genocide remained overlooked. That’s why it is so important that today we are finally talking about the events of World War II and the mass extermination of roma. This is especially important given that our people have no state of their own and, accordingly, no official representatives to defend our interests. Today, roma are an inseparable part of Ukrainian society. Together with all citizens of Ukraine, we are defending the territorial integrity and independence of the country. The history of the Roma genocide — like the history of the Roma community as a whole — is part of the history of Ukraine and of every country where roma live,” said Volodymyr Yakovenko, Executive Director of the Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture “ARCA.”

The lecture at the MFA was part of the “Diplomacy of Memory” initiative, launched in May 2025 in cooperation with the Babyn Yar National Memorial. This program envisions regular educational events for Ukrainian diplomats and aims to strengthen the role of the diplomatic service in preserving historical memory and conveying the truth about the past in the context of war.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine