The panel of experts was impressive and fascinating. Speakers, among others, included Petra Gelbart of New York University, Jack Greenberg, Professor of Law, Columbia University; Jaromir Cekota, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Carol Silverman, Professor of Folklore and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oregon; Gwendolyn Albert, Independent Consultant, Council of Europe’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, The European Roma Rights Centre and the Open Society Institute Public Health Program; and the key note speaker was Dr. Ian Hancock, Director, The Romani Archives and Documentation Center, University of Texas-Austin.
The atmosphere in the room was electric. Thursday's presentations lasted from 9am to 6pm, so there were many Berkeley students in and out all day long, as well as students who took a day off from classes to attend. Some students were Romanies, while others were non-Romani with an interest in some of the topics presented.
Julia M. White of the University of Rochester gave an enlightening yet disturbing presentation titled "We Have a Lot of Papers, Really Nice Papers", covering the educational policies, laws, their implementation, and equal opportunities for the Romanies in Slovakia. She explained the mindset of the government in regards to the minorities in Slovakia in comparison with the public policies in place for funding for Romani children. The upsetting portion of the presentation was a statement made to Ms. White by a education official and their idea of the funding for Romanies, that funding "[isn't] exactly, it's only a suggestion." She then went on to explain that funds were often used to give teachers raises, rather than help Romani children in the classroom.
In her explanation of placement of Romani children in 'backwards classrooms', 60% of Romani children are sent to specialized schools, placed there either by their social disadvantages, such as only one parent working or the fact that the national language isn't used in the home, or they are placed by diagnostic tests. Such tests are designed to segregate race and ethnicity. There is little chance for re-evaluation and once a child is placed in the segregated school, the parents are often blamed for allowing the child to be placed in the program in the first place.
Jaromir Cekota of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, spoke about the educational attainment and employment of young Roma in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. His office is studying the educational levels and opportunities of Romanies and comparing this data to non-Romanies of the same age range. He states that the Romanies are falling behind in both education and employment. He stated that when communism fell, it was the Romani workers who were laid off first due to national animosities. Few people will hire Romanies, meaning more Romanies are on welfare, meaning the public sees Romanies as lazy and using the welfare system. This circular reasoning only increases animosity towards Romanies and adds to the problem.
Mr. Cekota pointed out that for every Romani who graduates high school, he saves the government 100,000 in welfare payments, yet the government does not want to plan for the long-term, nor does any politician want to be seen as "Gypsy-friendly" since that is political suicide. Slovakia could solve some of her problems if the government re-segregated the schools.
Jack Greenberg, Columbia Law and assistant to Thurgood Marshal in Brown v the Board of Education, gave a lecture on the segregation of schools in the Czech Republic in relation to the EU's ruling in D.H. and Others v the Czech Republic. He gave a list of four practical actions that could be implemented that must be taken:
1. Europe needs information. Without data, the stereotypes rule.
2. Re-segregation must be implemented immediately
3. Private litigation should be encouraged
4. Romanies must make it clear that we will not tolerate discrimination
Gwendolyn Albert, an independent consultant for the Council of Europe's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, presented the most difficult topic of all, the forced sterilization of Romani women in the Czech Republic. She described the methods used, including the threat of removing children from the home; using doctors and social workers to tell women that pregnancy in their families has been difficult, therefore they should be sterilized to save their lives until they are strong enough to carry a child, only to be told later that the process is not reversible; or offering them money or labor saving devices such as washing machines if they will have the procedure. These women are always promised the procedure is reversible, but of course it is not.
Finally, Dr. Hanock spoke of Romani origins and identity. He explained how important it is that a people know and understand their own history, else others will create it for them. Our history is our own and must be claimed, just as we must claim our own identities, rather than allow the politicians and the media to dictate to the masses who and what we are.
The following day there was a round table discussion that included the topic of advancing Romani Studies at universities everywhere. Other topics included linguistics, education, and identity.
That evening there was a dance and music celebration with the Balkan band Edessa with vocalist Carol Silverman and dancers Stefka Kamburova, Jessiah Rose Zure, and Sani Rifati of Voice of Roma.
In all, Dr. Hancock is right. We must unite and claim our past and our identities. We must take a stand against intolerance and demand, as one, our rights. We must show the world we are ready as a people to take our proper place on the world stage.
This conference was a boon to the field of Romani Studies and I hope it will continue as an annual event.
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