Ukrainian refugees

This group of Ukrainian refugees is discriminated against most often

At the beginning of the full-scale war, most of the EU states and other countries received Ukrainian refugees quite warmly, understanding the situation and sympathizing. Germany was one of the countries where the largest number of Ukrainian citizens fled from the war. More than 1.1 million of our refugees arrived there.

The German authorities have prepared special centers for the meeting of migrants and housing. The Germans even independently organized themselves on public grounds to meet Ukrainians at train stations, feed them, orient them and even shelter them in their homes. However, not all citizens of Ukraine were treated so warmly. The group of refugees who have suffered almost the most oppression are the Ukrainian Roma. It reports Information and Analytical Center on Anti-Gypsyism (MIA).

For reference: Anti-Gypsyism is a form of racism directed against Sinti and Roma or people perceived as such.

Discrimination of Ukrainian Roma

In April, MIA published the report “Anti-Gypsyism against Ukrainian Roma refugees in Germany.” Since the end of February 2022, the organization has been contacted more than 220 times with reports of rights violations or bias.

“From the first day, we observed how the Ukrainian Roma are subjected to discrimination in all forms,” ​​says the executive director of the MIA center, Guillermo Ruiz.

Where are the Roma prejudiced?

Roma have been subjected to inappropriate treatment by the police and staff at refugee centers, who often question the Ukrainian origin of Roma refugees. At the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukrainian Roma were often kicked out of trains or waiting rooms at railway stations. Even children are discriminated against – this is the biased attitude of school administrations.

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“It just shocked us. some Roma families were treated so badly that they had to return to the war zone. There are still reports of racist discrimination against Roma everywhere in Germany,” says Guillaume Ruiz.

The MIA notes that there are known cases when representatives of the municipal authorities stated: “We can continue to accept Ukrainian refugees, but not Roma.”

How to overcome discrimination?

Active public discussion of cases of discrimination and educational work help in the fight against prejudiced attitudes towards Roma, according to the Information and Analytical Center on Anti-Gypsyism.

It is worth emphasizing that the Roma are the descendants of people who survived the Holocaust, says Mr. Ruiz. During the Second World War, almost half a million Sinti and Roma became victims of genocide committed by the authorities of Nazi Germany.

“Roma refugees should be recognized by the federal government as a group that is particularly deserving of protection,” Guillaume Ruiz believes.

To achieve this goal, in addition to MIA, other organizations work, for example, RomnoKher, which protects the interests of the descendants of Roma persecuted by the Nazis.

Federal Minister of Family Affairs Lisa Paus condemned the flagrant cases of anti-Gypsyism.

“Each case is too much. We need to stand up for the Sinti and Roma!” – said the representative of the German government.

 

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