Roma: A Year of Resilience and Representation
The latest news on Roma issues highlights a series of significant events, advocacy efforts, and continued challenges for Roma communities across Europe. The initiatives aim to confront longstanding discrimination while celebrating the vibrant cultural contributions of Roma, Sinti, and Travellers.
Jubilee of the Roma Communities: A Historic Event
On 18 October 2025, the Jubilee of the Roma, Sinti, and Travelling Peoples will take place at the Basilica di San Pietro in the Vatican. This monumental event will center on a gathering in the Paul VI Hall with the Holy Father, followed by a pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. This occasion underscores the importance of Roma representation within religious and broader cultural contexts, highlighting their invaluable role in Europe’s cultural tapestry.
Roma Week 2025: Advocating for Change
From 7–10 April 2025, Roma Week 2025 unfolded in Brussels, zeroing in on actionable change in Roma rights. Organized by the ERGO Network and key EU institutions, the discussions spanned topics from fighting antigypsyism to promoting digital inclusion. Intersectional discrimination, justice, and equal representation in policymaking were focal points, with Roma youth groups pushing for increased youth involvement. The event culminated in the EU Award for Roma Integration, spotlighting grassroots efforts in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
During this week, participants called on EU and national leaders to bridge the widening gap between policy promises and the harsh realities faced by Roma communities. There was an urgent appeal for political resolve, stronger anti-discrimination frameworks, and authentic Roma participation in European policy dialogue.
Human Rights Commissioner Calls for Decisive Action
On 1 October 2025, Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, demanded decisive measures to end systemic racism against Roma and Travellers. Coinciding with the launch of his book, The Unheard 12 Million, which documents first-person narratives, O’Flaherty emphasized dismantling structural causes of exclusion. The publication serves as a rallying call for authorities to act beyond superficial solutions and address entrenched inequalities.
Promoting Roma Leadership and Education
Roma Week 2025 also emphasized strengthening Roma inclusion at the EU level, advancing Roma history and culture education, and tackling structural discrimination. The event aimed to maintain Roma issues prominently on the EU agenda amid political shifts and empower Roma, Sinti, and Travellers within democratic spheres.
Celebrating Romani LGBTIQ+ Identities
In a groundbreaking effort, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) launched the RoMagic: Proudly Queer. Unapologetically Roma exhibition in Brussels on 2 October 2025. This exhibition highlights the lived experiences of Romani LGBTQI+ communities through audiovisual art, calling attention to the layered discrimination faced by these individuals. The RoMagic project underscores the intersectional activism within the Roma community, celebrating resilience and fostering broader human rights solidarity.
These efforts, whether through cultural exhibitions, policy discussions, or historic events, showcase the ongoing struggle and resilience of the Roma community, striving for recognition and integration in European society.