Recognition of the Roma Genocide

 Recognition, official texts

Although there is no official legal text recognising the Genocide of Roma in Europe, the Genocide is often mentioned during the events organised on the National Day of Remembrance of Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust (27th January).

The purpose of this day is to remember the abrupt end to the rich contribution of the Jewish community to Greek society, especially in Thessaloniki, as a result of World War II, and to remember their persecution during the war and the Holocaust. The date was established in a law adopted unanimously by the Greek Parliament in 2004 [Law 3218/2004(OG/A/12)]. A presidential decree published on 28th February 2005 [PD 31/2005 (OG/A/51) regulates the commemorative events taking place in accordance with the law in different prefectures of the country. The date has been officially commemorated since 2005. Commemorative events are organised in the most important religious and cultural centres: at big concert halls, synagogues and universities, mainly in Athens and Thessaloniki but also in other cities like Ioannina, Volos, Larissa where Jewish Communities once flourished.

Greece, as a member of International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) (since 2005), is strongly committed to promoting Holocaust education, remembrance and research. Over the last decade, Greek Governments have undertaken a number of initiatives to combat anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice against the Roma and Sinti, mainly, by reviewing legislation (anti-racism law, 4285/2014), by forming a national strategic framework for Roma, by improving teachers’ education and reviewing school curriculum and textbooks. Greece also commemorates Roma victims on the anniversary of the liquidation of the Roma (from 2nd to 3rd of August 1944) in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

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

There is no existing evidence for Roma victims in Greece during the Holocaust. Consequently, there is no remembrance place for Roma.

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

There is no specialised institution dealing with the Roma Genocide in Greece.

Nevertheless, there are several agencies and organizations involved in the field of research and education that have demonstrated relevant action on issues pertaining to vulnerable social groups, including the Roma population, as indicatively following:

• The National Centre for Social Research -EKKE- a public organization dedicated to social sciences,
• The Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, which has undertaken a range of measures in the field of education to support Roma inclusion (i.e. the institution of cross-cultural and minority schools, the reception and tutorial classes, remedial teaching and additional teaching support, as well as the Educational Priority Zones),
• Universities across the country which implement educational programmes related to Roma, such as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which have been implementing the ‘Education of Roma Children’ programme.

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

No official initiative regarding the Roma Genocide has been reported from Greece.

In the framework of the official commemorative events that are held on the Day of Remembrance of Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust (27th January), the Genocide of Roma in Europe is sometimes mentioned, although no special ceremony has been organized so far, because the Roma in Greece had not been persecuted. As part of the National Day of Remembrance of Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust, a series of official commemorative joint events are carried out in the prefectures and among local Jewish communities. These commemorations take place at Holocaust sites, where wreaths are laid on behalf of the Government, the Parliament, political parties, etc.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that on 22nd January 2014, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the General Secretariat of Religion of the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and the Jewish Museum of Greece was signed in Athens. The aim of the memorandum is to preserve the memory of people lost during the Holocaust (Jewish, Roma etc.), to prevent racism, to train educators in teaching about the Holocaust in Greek schools and to organize activities which promote greater sensitivity among citizens on these issues. In the framework of this collaboration, educational visits to the Auschwitz Memorial Museum for high school pupils take place.