INTERNATIONAL ROMA CONFERENCE 1971-2021

56, Panepistimiou Av, Athens                                                                

Building ERMIS, 1^st Floor 

Telephone: 2168092641 

E-mail: ellanpasserom@gmail.com

Date: 24/02/2021

Press Release 

INTERNATIONAL ROMA CONFERENCE 1971-2021 

BARO DIVES SAE ROMENKE 1971 – 2021

ELLAN PASSE, the Panhellenic Confederation of the Greek Roma, was founded in 2016. Active in all parts of the country, it is the primary interlocutor of the Greek state on issues concerning the Greek Roma community, and also the first and only confederation of Roma organizations in our history.

Through its activities ELLAN PASSE promotes Roma integration in the Greek and European society. We focus on education, healthcare, housing, employment, Roma culture, access to justice, and the elimination of hate speech.

Through their collective body, the Greek Roma have chosen to go beyond the passive recording of problems. ELLAN PASSE, emphasizing education and support to people in need especially of food aid, promotes good practices and actively cooperates with regional and local public bodies. Going beyond direct action, we strive to find equitable and sustainable solutions.

Important priorities for the Panhellenic Confederation of the Greek Roma are informing the public, raising awareness, strengthening collective memory, and fighting antigypsyism, in combination with the promotion of Roma cultural elements and of the inclusive Roma culture.

To this end, we have already held five big cultural events of anniversary or festive character. Presentations, talks, artistic programmes, and projections of audiovisual material attracted the participation of thousands of Roma community members as well as of many personalities from all cultural sectors. They were the following:

– World Roma Day, Thessaloniki, April 2017

– World Roma Day, Patras and Heraklion, April 2018

– Commemoration of the Roma Genocide Remembrance Day at Zappeion Megaron, Athens, August 2018. This was the first ever event to commemorate the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day in our country.

– Participation in the celebrations for the World Roma Day at the Prime Minister’s residence, including a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and with a delegation of Greek Roma, students, mediators and organizations (Maximos Mansion, Athens, April 2019).

– Celebration of Ederlezi (Feast Day of Saint George), Kato Achaia and Amaliada, Prefecture of Ilia, April 2019.

The International Roma Conference as a turning point

The Panhellenic Confederation of the Greek Roma ELLAN PASSE organizes the International Roma Conference 1971-2021 in order to celebrate half a century since the First World Roma Congress, held in 1971 in London, and also the 200^th anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

Acknowledging the need for unity in this unprecedented period, amidst a health crisis and an economic crisis, we invite Roma organizations, scholars, scientists, and artists from around the world to convene and discuss with enthusiasm, goodwill, and respect towards diversity issues such as human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and the safeguarding of our cultural wealth.

We hope to learn, discuss, and reflect together, as well as to help others learn and benefit from our collective experience.

The Conference, for which we have already received the patronage of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, will take place in three two-day sessions, to be held on April 8-9, June 20-21, and September 14-15, 2021.

We invite all media outlets, the Press, private and regional tv channels to support and promote the International Roma Conference, which constitutes a major event for the Greek Roma. We hope it will leave its mark on Roma politics and culture, social awareness, and collective memory.

*In our next press release we will present the conference programme, the speakers, the institutions and the countries that will participate, and also the Press Conference at the offices of ELLAN PASSE announcing the International Roma Conference.

Yours sincerely,

Alexandros Pigadas, Press Office Manager of ELLAN PASSE 

Contact Telephone: (+30) 6982208711 –  (+30) 6953001262 

Contact email: ellanpasserom@gmail.com , alexand.pigadas@gmail.com