Rudko Kawczynski : Anti-Roma racism still deeply entrenched in Europe

Interview - 20.04.2011

Question : The Council of Europe and the Congress treat the integration of Roma as one of their operational priorities. What do you think are the most urgent positive measures for achieving this objective?

Rudko Kawczynski: For fifty years now, we have been the subject of fine writings and admirable resolutions that are never put into practice. The basic problem is that anti-Roma animus, anti-gypsyism or whatever the name is given to it, is deeply entrenched in Europe, and that is so both at national and at regional and local level. There are 15 million of us, we live in 15 000 ghettos across Europe, and as long as we are denied decent housing conditions, as well as proper access to education, nothing will change. There must be an end to prejudices, and the European countries must be taught at all levels who the Roma are and how they live, instead of continuing to demonise them.

Question: A number of towns and municipalities have local elected representatives who are Roma and who will moreover be attending the Summit of Mayors which will be organised by the Congress in Autumn. Do you encourage the Roma to involve themselves at the local political level, to gain a better hearing for them and to foster dialogue?

Rudko Kawczynski: There are indeed some hundreds across Europe, but they are very few beside a total 15 million. We urge the Roma to involve themselves in politics at every level, as it is a good way to make things move forward, and I am optimistic about the improvement of our political representation. What is more, we are well represented at the Council of Europe and work a lot with the Parliamentary Assembly; I want us to enhance our co-operation with the Congress likewise.

Question: Roma communities are sometimes accused of not seeking, on their side, to integrate with the rest of the population: how do you answer that criticism, and how are communities to be brought closer together at the local level in particular?

Rudko Kawczynski: There has not been a tsunami in Europe, but we are living in tents since we have been purposely excluded from mainstream society. That is the cause of the trouble. I would like people to begin by respecting our basic rights before accusing us of failure to integrate, which is a racist conception.