The Coalition on Roma Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Recognition convened in Kraków, Poland, on 1 August 2026, ahead of the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations held annually on 2 August. The meeting marked the fifth gathering of the Coalition since its establishment in 2024 and served as the official launch of Phase II of the European Union-Council of Europe Joint Programme RomaMemory.
The Coalition brought together representatives of key international and civil society organisations working to advance Roma Holocaust remembrance, education and recognition, including the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE-ODIHR), the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), ternYpe International Roma Youth Network, the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, and the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI).
The meeting represented a strategic moment for reflection, coordination and renewed commitment to strengthening Roma Holocaust education and recognition across Europe. It also provided an opportunity for Coalition members to present their ongoing initiatives and discuss priorities and joint actions to be pursued under the new phase of the RomaMemory programme.
Opening the meeting, Hallvard Gorseth, Director of Equal Rights and Dignity of the Council of Europe, and Michael Brand, Federal Government Commissioner for Combating Antigypsyism and for the Life of Sinti and Roma in Germany, highlighted the importance of sustained efforts to preserve the memory of the Roma Holocaust, strengthen historical recognition and combat antigypsyism through education and remembrance.
Discussions focused on key strategic directions for the coming years. Particular attention was given to improving the representation of Roma experiences and histories in Holocaust museums and exhibitions, as well as to the recognition, preservation and protection of Roma Holocaust memorial sites. Coalition members explored opportunities for closer cooperation and the development of concrete initiatives that will contribute to raising awareness of the genocide of Roma and ensuring its rightful place in European memory.
Having officially commenced with this meeting, the Phase II of the Joint Programme RomaMemory will run until 22 July 2028. The programme seeks to ensure the sustainable integration of Roma history and the history of the Roma Holocaust into educational curricula, professional training, commemorative practices and public discourse. Through these efforts, RomaMemory promotes Roma history education, Holocaust remembrance and public awareness as essential tools for effectively combating antigypsyism and fostering inclusive, democratic societies.
The Coalition meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of its members to advancing recognition of the Roma Holocaust and ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to inform efforts to uphold human rights, equality and dignity for all.
