By Anna Konstantinidi Apergi, Special Advisor – Diversity Charter Greece
Every year on April 8, we celebrate International Roma Day, a day of profound political and legal significance.
It takes us back to the First International Roma Congress in 1971, where the foundations were first laid at the international level for the collective advocacy of the rights of Roma people, the recognition of their identity, and the need for their equal participation in the societies in which they live.
More than half a century later, reality shows that these commitments remain, to a large extent, unfulfilled.
Roma people continue to face systemic and structural discrimination in key areas such as education, housing, employment, and access to health services.
See also: The Inclusion of Roma in the Workplace: From Stigmatization to Dignity
This is a web of exclusion and discrimination that is perpetuated across generations and constitutes a violation of fundamental rights, as enshrined in both national law and European and international legal instruments.
The principle of equal treatment imposes positive obligations on the state, such as the removal of barriers, the adoption of targeted integration policies, and effective protection against discrimination and racist violence. When these obligations are not fulfilled and the laws are not enforced in practice, then equality remains a dead letter.
Of particular concern is the fact that discrimination against Roma people is often normalized in public discourse, reinforcing stereotypes and prejudices that lead to further marginalization.
International Roma Day is therefore also a reminder of the need for accountability. The State has a duty to ensure substantive equality. Institutions are called upon to operate without exclusion, and society as a whole must dismantle every stereotype and recognize Roma individuals as equals.
