Czech Foreign Minister on World Roma Day: Fighting for equality is an integral part of Czech foreign policy

Speaking on the occasion of World Roma Day today, Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček (Czech Social Democratic Party – ČSSD) said that fighting for equality is an integral part of Czech foreign policy. “Today is the day of Romani culture, history and language, but also a reminder of the never-ending fight for equality irrespective of race, sex, religion or political convictions. These values are also an integral part of Czech foreign policy,” he said. 

Romani people all over the globe mark World Roma Day on 8 April. This year marks 50 years since the important day on which the historic first-ever World Roma Congress was held in Orpington near London in 1971 in the United Kingdom. 

That meeting laid the foundations for the international collaborations to come among Romani people and the movement attained an international sociopolitical dimension. Romani people annually commemorate their common culture, language and origin, their shared collaborations and unification, and above all their Romipen (“Romani-ness”).