{"id":37676,"date":"2026-04-07T13:57:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/?p=37676"},"modified":"2026-04-07T15:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T12:08:00","slug":"roma-in-ukraine-during-the-war-a-podcast-by-the-adc-memorial-to-the-international-roma-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adcmemorial.org\/en\/news\/breaking-news\/roma-in-ukraine-during-the-war-a-podcast-by-the-adc-memorial-to-the-international-roma-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Roma in Ukraine during the war: a podcast by the ADC \u2018Memorial\u2019 to the International Roma Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

“<\/span>We<\/span> are Roma<\/span>,<\/span> but<\/span> we<\/span> are Ukrainians<\/span> \u2014<\/span> and<\/span> we<\/span> defend<\/span> our<\/span> land<\/span>“<\/span> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Marking the<\/span> International<\/span> Roma<\/span> Day<\/span> – 8th of April<\/span> 8<\/span>, Anti–<\/span>Discrimination<\/span> Centre Memorial <\/span>Brussels<\/span> presents<\/span> a new<\/span> episode<\/span>\u00a0of a podcast<\/span> dedicated<\/span> to the situation<\/span> of Roma<\/span> communities<\/span> in<\/span> Ukraine<\/span> in<\/span> the context<\/span> of the full-scale<\/span> war<\/span>.<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The issue<\/span> focuses on the participation<\/span> of Roma<\/span> in<\/span> the defense<\/span> of Ukraine;<\/span> the speakers tell about Roma<\/span> families<\/span> with one<\/span> or<\/span> more<\/span> members<\/span> who voluntarily<\/span> joined<\/span> the<\/span> Armed<\/span> Forces<\/span> of Ukraine<\/span>.<\/span> Despite<\/span> this<\/span> contribution<\/span>,<\/span> as the podcast<\/span> participants<\/span> note,<\/span> Roma<\/span> still<\/span> face<\/span> prejudice<\/span>, in<\/span> particular<\/span>,<\/span> distrust to the fact that<\/span> representatives<\/span> of Roma<\/span> communities<\/span> can<\/span> fight<\/span> for<\/span> Ukraine<\/span>.<\/span> Thus<\/span>,<\/span> the experience<\/span> of the Roma<\/span> military<\/span> combines<\/span> participation<\/span> in<\/span> the defense<\/span> of the country<\/span> and<\/span> the need<\/span> to overcome<\/span> stereotypes<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> issue<\/span> also<\/span> discusses<\/span> broader<\/span> aspects<\/span> of the life<\/span> of Roma<\/span> communities<\/span> during<\/span> the war<\/span>:<\/span> survival in occupation<\/span>,<\/span> forced<\/span> displacement<\/span>,<\/span> difficulties<\/span> of evacuation<\/span>,<\/span> problems<\/span> with<\/span> access<\/span> to<\/span> documents<\/span> and<\/span> social<\/span> assistance<\/span>.<\/span> A significant<\/span> part<\/span> of the Roma<\/span> population<\/span> has been<\/span> forced<\/span> to leave<\/span> their<\/span> homes<\/span>,<\/span> but<\/span> some<\/span> families<\/span> remain<\/span> at their places due<\/span> to dangerous travel<\/span>,<\/span> lack<\/span> of resources<\/span> or<\/span> the need<\/span> to take care<\/span> of<\/span> elderly<\/span> relatives<\/span>.<\/span> The role<\/span> of mutual<\/span> support<\/span> within<\/span> Roma<\/span> communities<\/span>,<\/span> as<\/span> well<\/span> as\u00a0 difficulties<\/span> related to returning<\/span> from<\/span> abroad<\/span> or<\/span> moving<\/span> within<\/span> the country<\/span>, are also discussed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> issue<\/span> is attended<\/span> by representatives<\/span> of partner<\/span> organizations<\/span> working<\/span> with<\/span> Roma<\/span> communities<\/span> in<\/span> Ukraine<\/span>:<\/p>\n