The European Parliament marks European Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day and pays tribute to the Sinti and Roma murdered in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Today, the European Parliament joins the international community in marking European Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day and paying tribute to the 500,000 Sinti and Roma who were victims of atrocities in Nazi-occupied Europe.
On the night of 2-3 August 1944, the last 4,300 Sinti and Roma remaining in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp were murdered, most of them women, children and elderly people. Today, the European Parliament remembers not only the crimes committed against humanity, but also the importance of speaking out.
On this solemn occasion, the European Parliament recalls the lessons learned from the first recognition of the Roma and Sinti Holocaust and reaffirms that Roma must enjoy the same rights and treatment as all European citizens.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Today we pay tribute to the contribution of Roma and Sinti to the rich fabric of our European societies. Europe must stand up for the values it holds dear: the rule of law, democracy and equality. The moment we become complacent is the moment we allow history to repeat itself.
80 years later, too many Roma women and men in Europe still live on the margins of society. “In our Europe, we cherish our differences, our unique traditions, our cultures and our diversity. This means that Roma must have the same opportunities and chances as any other European citizen,” said President Metsola.
Since 2015, the European Parliament has celebrated European Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day every 2 August.
First published here.
source link eu news
