Roman Kwiatkowski

Commemoration speech on the occasion of 2 August 2024, Holocaust Memorial Day for Sinti and Roma

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

today we stand here to commemorate those who perished in the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp eighty years ago. This day, August 2, reminds us of the brutal liquidation of the so-called “Zigeunerlager” – the Roma camp where thousands of our compatriots lost their lives as a result of ruthless hatred. 

 We are in a place that is marked forever by suffering, pain and death. We remember those who were murdered here, but also those who survived, bearing lifelong scars not only on their bodies, but also on their souls. 

Auschwitz – Birkenau is a symbol of the largest crime against humanity in the history, committed of the Nazis against 500,000 Roma and Sinti.  

The liquidation of the Roma camp did not mean the end of the extermination for us, we continued to be murdered, for we were to make room for our Jewish fellow brothers in misery, who, like us, were doomed to annihilation.  

 During World War II, Roma and Jews, united in a tragic community of suffering, becoming victims of the same genocidal regime, which strengthened the bond of solidarity between our peoples 

The Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti is still far too little heard and too rarely discussed in the context of World War II history. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this tragedy is remembered and never forgotten.  

We must constantly remind  of what happened here so that future generations can learn from the mistakes of the past and never allow similar crimes in the future.  

We also remember that the struggle for the dignity and rights of our people did not end with the end of the war. Our community still faces discrimination, exclusion and prejudice. We are still denied the right to be treated as full citizens in their countries. 

Antigypsyism is still omnipresent, even though it is not always reduced to verbal and physical attacks.  

This is because antigypsyism is embedded in stereotypes and superstitions, and in treating us from above as someone inferior, less valuable, to whom negative traits are ascribed.  

This attitude excludes any dialogue, pushes us to the margins of life, makes the Roma not considered fellow citizens, partners, but as a community of special concern.  

 We don’t want special treatment, imposed integration, dedicated assistance programs, except for programs for maintaining cultural identity and fighting discrimination against our community. 

We only want respect for our rights and responsibilities. We assert that we have been integral members of societies for centuries, differing only in origin, culture, customs and traditions.  

Although the European Union has stepped up efforts to combat antigypsyism in recent years, these efforts are still insufficient.  

There is still a long way to go for the Roma to be treated as full subjects, as equal fellow citizens.  

We are not only Roma but also citizens of individual European countries. This is especially evident across our eastern border, where a brutal war has been going on for more than 2 years.  

Many young Roma are fighting shoulder to shoulder with their Ukrainian compatriots in defense of their homeland. They are showing dedication, often sacrificing their lives in the name of patriotism and love of freedom.  

Our compatriots did not refuse to fight because they are full-fledged Ukrainian citizens, they love their homeland and know that it is their duty to defend it.  

The same was also true during World War Two, when the Roma fought on all fronts, often showing great sacrifice, dedication and heroism. 

The only antidote to combat antigypsyism is education.  

To meet this need, I would like to inform you with great joy that by a resolution of the  Regional Assembly of Lesser Poland of December 28, 2023, the Center for Roma History and Culture in Oświęcim was established, which began its work on February 1, 2024.   

The center is not only a place of education and commemoration, but also a platform for dialogue and cooperation to sustain Roma cultural identity.  

The creation of this unique and historic institution, would not have been possible, without the involvement of the Board of the Province of Lesser Poland (Małopolska). Today we welcome a member of the Board, Ms. Marshal Iwona Gibas, among us, whom I would like to say thank you.  

“It always seems impossible until it is done,” said Nelson Mandela. These words remind us that even the most difficult goals, such as the fight against antigypsyism, are achievable if only we unite. 

We believe that through education and culture we can effectively combat antigypsyism and build bridges between different communities. 

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that our memory of the past and our struggle for the future are inseparable. We must remember the tragedy that occurred 80 years ago in order to build a better future for all of us.  

Only through remembrance and education can we build a world in which every person, regardless of background, will be treated with respect and dignity. 

Thank you for your presence and commitment to this important cause. Together we can ensure that such tragedies never happen again.  

Please let us honor the memory of the victims with a minute of silence. 

 Thank you.