Recognition of the Roma Genocide

 Recognition, official texts

The Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration is firmly established in the national calendar and takes place in Dublin every year on the Sunday nearest to 27 January, the date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Memorial Day was first officially observed in January 2003. The event cherishes the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and recalls the millions of innocent Jewish men, women and children and others, who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis because of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations or their religious beliefs. Roma victims are  included in “others”, but not  clearly mentioned. The focus is on the Jewish victims of the Nazi era.

 Data (camps locations, Remembrance places, measures etc.)

There is no memorial place for the victims of the Roma Genocide. There is a memorial dedicated to Jews in Listowel since 1995.

 Specialised institution, commission, research centre etc., dealing with this issue

The Holocaust Education Trust Ireland is the specialised institution charged with collecting data and producing materials on the Holocaust for pedagogical purposes. It aims at teaching about the Holocaust and its consequences. However, it does not deal specifically with the Roma Genocide.

 Official initiatives (campaigns, actions, projects, commemoration days, museums)

Drawing on the assistance of the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Government has marked Holocaust Memorial Day as the Sunday nearest to 27 January each year since 2003. Local events commemorating the Holocaust had, however, been held before – for example, the unveiling of the Holocaust Memorial in Listowel in 1995. In addition, the Jewish community holds a memorial service on Yom Hashoah every year.

The national Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration takes place at the Mansion House in Dublin (the official residence of the city’s Lord Mayor). It is designed to cherish the memory of all of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. An integral part of the commemoration is a candle-lighting ceremony, at which six candles are lit for the six million Jews who perished, as well as candles for all of the other victims. Readings are given by survivors and prominent people in Irish society. There are appropriate musical and choral interludes. A minute’s silence is observed

At the national Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, a keynote address is given by the Prime Minister or another senior minister. Members of Parliament and the Senate, heads of government departments and officials from government departments attend the event. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform gives the keynote address. The Lord Mayor of Dublin participates actively. The event has been attended in past years by the President of Ireland.

The thrust of the commemoration programme is to serve as a constant reminder of the dangers of racism and to provide lessons from the past that are relevant today. The inclusion of all victim groups is fundamental to the commemoration, and the importance of education about anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance is highlighted.

In addition to the participation of senior government officials, representatives from across the spectrum of Irish civic society are invited to attend, including educators.

It is to be noticed that Roma are included in "other victims" but are not clearly designated.