This congress, considered the first truly international meeting of Roma, brought a number of successes. The International Romani Union was founded, the Romani flag was accepted and the song “Gelem, Gelem” composed by Jarko Jovanovic was adopted as an anthem. As well, the delegates unanimously declared April 8th as the International Day of Roma.

Roma living in the communist bloc did not celebrate the International Roma Day, and celebrations only began to take place here in the Czech Republic in the end of the 1990s. Recently, the day has received more worldwide recognition. The late Pope Jean Paul II exhorted his followers to treat Roma with compassion and respect. In 2003, His Holiness the Dalai Lama lit a candle at his home in Dharamsala, India to commemorate the day. Last year, Adam Ereli of the US State Department spoke about the continuing human rights abuses faced by Roma and called on European governments to create more tolerate, pluralistic societies.

In the Slovak Republic, the public television broadcaster is airing a special series of programs focussed on roma issues. Romani groups in Belgium have organized a two-day-long event in Ghent as well as info-sessions and seminars on the situation of Roma from Kosovo on April 13th in St. Niklaas and Brussels.

In the Czech Republic, there will be a number of events including exhibitions, concerts, roundtable discussions and a local Miss Roma competion. These celebrations will be held Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Chomutov, Mikulov and other cities. Especially interesting are the celebrations in Ostrava which began on April 4th and last until the 27th of April, and feature a Roma vs Czech football match with teams composed of elementary and special schools.

Dzeno has been informed that celebrations will also take place in Sweden, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Macedonia.

The European Roma Information Office (ERIO) and a number of other Romani organizations have prepared an open letter to the President of the European Commision and the Commisioners’ Group on Fundamental Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities. The letter calls on the Commission to deliver concrete and focused action to address the pervasive exclusion and anti-Roma racism in Europe. As well, a number of Members of the European Parliament will lend their support and sign the letter. Dzeno Association, Broadcaster of Radio Rota, is proud to add their signature to this important letter.(Dzeno)